01 -- MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST
Dr. Weymouth, in his translation of Romans 8:38, says that through Christ who loved us,
we are more than conquerors over the whole demoniacal host: "The higher orders and the lower
orders of evil spirits." More than conquerors: that is, victors or conquerors with a margin. This
implies, that if those demons who were so vile as to merit being now bound with chains of
darkness, were released, there is victory over them through our Conqueror.
In Philippians 1:28, Paul tells us, "In nothing terrified by your adversaries." Note the
plural; demons are many, Satan is one. There is nothing to fear from evil spirits so long as we look
to Christ the Triumphant One, who, on the cross, threw off the hosts of evil spirits. "And the hostile
princes and rulers he shook off from himself, and boldly displayed them as His conquests, when by
the cross He triumphed over them." (Colossians 2:15, Weymouth translation.)
John assures us that "greater is He (Jesus) that is in you than he (Satan) that is in the
world." So we need not get panicky because of these evil hosts. Our Champion defeats them for us
as we trust Him.
Lewis Chafer's book on Satan gives Jude's account of Michael, the archangel, contending
with Satan about the removal of the body of Moses. Moses appearing on the mount of
transfiguration necessitated that his body be resurrected, glorified and removed from its burying
place. Michael, as the angel of the resurrection, had something, under God, to do with that
removal. Michael, though an attendant around the throne of God, and endowed with vast powers,
yet recognizes in Satan, in his fallen state, such dignity and power that he durst not bring a railing
accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." In substance, Michael said, "Satan, you
are too great for me; in my own strength I am not able to rebuke you, but I know One who can --
'The Lord rebuke thee.'" Oh, that we all may learn the futility of trying to fight Satan and his fallen
hosts, the evil spirits, in our own strength, and, following the lead of, the archangel, confess our
weakness, and turn Satan over to God. He assures us, "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle." But
we may witness it -- "The Lord shall fight for you" -- and through Him we shall do valiantly. "For
He it is that shall tread down our enemies before us." "God shall bruise Satan shortly, under your
heel." "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His
might," was given in connection with the warfare against the evil principalities' and powers
(which refers to Satan and demons) in the heavenly or high places above us. -- Eph. 6:12.
Jesus only can sustain. Shibboleths, slogans, blessings, or historic experiences,
identification with movements, terms, or modes of interpretation are powerless in the wrath Satan
is letting loose against the church. It can only be met by dependence on Christ. Satan fears nothing
we seek to anchor in short of Jesus.
"More than conquerors?" What can that mean but conquering with ease and having reserve
power to conquer more? Christ conquering with a margin for us, defeating the whole Satanic host
and able to defeat more if they exist.
The two aviators who made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic were not
conquerors with a margin. Their oil and gas was gone before reaching the Irish Coast. They were
compelled to volplane to make the landing at all. Had they been in a condition in machine
endurance, fuel, oil, and human power, to start back to Newfoundland, or go on to London, 'they
would have been more than conquerors; they would have crossed the ocean and could have done
more. So Jesus defeats for us the prince of evil spirits and also the "higher and lower orders of
demons" and more than does this -- we are conquerors and "then some" as one Chinese translation
reads. (Romans 8:38.)
Thank God, and fear not this terrible host. They are defeated and conquered for us by our
mighty Champion. Accept the fact. When Jesus said, "I have won the victory over the world" (John
16:33, Weymouth), He included the world's prince and all the hosts of evil spirits in league with
him.
Victors in the Enemy's Territory
Satan is the god of this world. He resented Christ's first advent to it, resented His
remaining in it. He hates Christ's followers because of their relation to Christ. He would kill every
one now who names Christ's name if he could get God's permission, as he will, during the Great
Tribulation. God's children are victors in the enemy's country, conquerors in his camp. It is as if,
during the war, an allied officer had walked boldly into the presence of the German General Staff.
They threaten, but are powerless to injure him. An invisible presence gives victory among his
enemies. So we are in the presence of countless demons who are our enemies. They resent our
being on their territory, try to eject us, shoot us, shoot their fiery darts at us, but God has ordained
that we shall not weary where Satan rules. When we lie down to rest, it is in the enemy's
country-territory where Satan's seat is.
We are surrounded by countless thousands of evil spirits but our life is "hid with Christ in'
God" and into the place of security Satan can not enter. Praise the Lord for victory through Christ
in a hostile country!
One morning in the post office of an Ohio city a company of little boys and girls were
having great fun pushing and riding around in the revolving door, Finally the postmaster, much
vexed, and annoyed, came out of his office. He did not speak a word. The sight of him was enough
to send them scampering in every direction. We could not repress a smile as we saw the parallel
between those children and the scampering demons who have sought to annoy us. A simple
reference to Jesus, and at the sight of his towering, majestic Presence, they cry out as of old, "We
know thee, Jesus, who thou art," and away they scamper.
May the blessed Jesus teach us we are not sufficient of ourselves but our sufficiency is of
God in whom is everlasting strength. We are without strength in ourselves but we are strong in the
Lord.
