Beginning from the day that sin entered the world and big brother Cain murdered his sibling and younger brother Abel (See Genesis 4:1-24), oppression has become a problem among humans and no one has been able to stop ever since then. It happens in every nation in the world; both the big cities and rural towns. Everyday people are getting raped, murdered, robbed or stabbed; spouses are cheating on their marriage partners, parents hitting their children and the police brutalizing unarmed people.
But it doesn’t have to be that way; unfortunately, most people don’t know that there is something stronger than the human will – and that is what is responsible for pushing or manipulating people to become oppressors of one another rather than protectors of one another. The Scriptures identify and label it as the power of darkness; this is what makes people love sin & wickedness; and even when they try to become good people – they soon find themselves being bad again – and they can’t just help it. Simply put, they try in their own strength to overcome the power of darkness ruling their lives, and they keep failing and falling flat on their faces. Another name for this evil force is sin; and it lives primarily inside people’s hearts.
Understanding the human condition and their inability to overcome this evil power by their own strength, God worked out a miracle for His beloved creation. You know what He did? He sent Someone stronger than the power of darkness; He sent Jesus to deliver us from this evil force that drives humans and produces the fruits of oppression in their lives.
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:13-14
And He did not only redeem us; He also forgave our sins and brought us into a new life that operates by love – the same love in the heart of Jesus. He does this to transform us into agents of love toward one another and not agents of oppression as Cain was. Also, He empowers us to stand toe to toe with the devil and announce his total defeat by the One who has delivered us from his grip!
When we know this, it will be difficult to be ruled by the power of darkness and even more difficult for the devil to operate in and around our lives! Because we can stand in the name of Jesus and sack the devil from any area of our lives where he’s had us bound for any length of time!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. – Luke 4:18-19
It’s nothing short of a miracle that we are able to live free from and above the power of darkness (sin) that causes humans to oppress one another! It’s one of the greatest miracles of the age – and what makes it even so amazing is that it’s not a miracle for just one person but for all who would say ‘yes’ to Jesus and allow Him into their lives and homes.
If you can’t say yes to Jesus, you don’t have what it takes to say no to the devil! Let Him have control of your life; and you’ll keep the devil running from you all the days of your life!