Overwhelming Power

UV 2761/10000 Overwhelming Power
Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut
Isaiah 45 v 1
The Lord God alone knows the end from the beginning. He knows ahead of time the exact course of events and of history. It is His foreknowledge that sets Him apart. He is sovereign and is in control of the events of our lives. Hence, there is no need for anxiety about the future. The Lord spoke to Cyrus personally. The Lord named and anointed Cyrus as a powerful Persian king many hundred years before the latter was born. The word the Lord spoke to Cyrus strengthened him. Cyrus in turn as king representing the Lord on earth spoke to Jerusalem and the foundation of the temple to be built. He held his right hand, implying that Cyrus was guided, led and strengthened by the Lord. Likewise, He has seen us before we were even born. He has chosen us and we have not chosen Him. He has anointed us to strip the armour or the strong defences of kings or authorities of the spiritual realms. He will use us as a battering rod and sharp weapon to remove barriers to faith and knowledge of the truth and love of Jesus. He holds our right hand, emboldens us with a vision and stirs our spirits to do that which He bids. He gives us decisive and strategic victory over powerful forces. Nothing can stop us, neither bronze gates nor iron weapons or chains. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. But the Lord can chose the weakest of us and make us strong like Cyrus. His speaking to us is enough to anoint us with power and purpose and we, in turn will speak to and of the purposes of the Lord that these be fulfilled on earth.
Unlike Cyrus, our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers, authorities, strongholds and principalities of darkness. He anoints us with the Spirit of truth- the Holy Spirit to take on these powerful forces and render them weak and ineffective. Cyrus was inspired by the Spirit to proclaim that Jerusalem and the temple in Jerusalem be re-built. Our spirits are stirred to build the kingdom of God and to offer our bodies as living temples to the Lord. We need to claim grace from the Lord and proclaim victory for Jesus in this world of darkness. As He holds our right hand and anoints our head with wisdom, He will guide us on which instrument or weapon we need to use. As a mighty ruler and conqueror like Cyrus was used to subdue nations, we will be used to subdue, overthrow and defeat powerful spiritual strongholds. Unlike Cyrus, we do not have to fight our battles. The Lord will fight for us and wrest victory in that which we have believed, claimed and proclaimed in faith.
The gates of Babylon could not prevail against Cyrus and his army. Likewise, the gates of hell cannot prevail against the will of God. Jesus came to set the spiritual captives free from bondage of fear of death and judgement. The word “gospel” has two hidden words in it: “go spell.” We need to go into the world and spell or proclaim that all captives of sin, guilt and fear are set free. This uni-verse encourages us to believe that we have royal authority- the authority to proclaim that which is truthful and beneficial to all mankind.
Prateep V Philip