Ending the "Joshua Syndrome"

“One thing for certain: satan is not God's adversary; God has no enemies. They are all under the feet of Jesus Christ (Eph 1:20-23). The devil is not God's adversary; he is yours!” - Kelly Varner

A Kingdom Generation acknowledges and embraces that the war was fought and won 2,000+ years ago. Now, we appropriate the bounty of Jesus' victory. The good fight of faith is to arm ourselves with the settled and firm conviction that the Bible correctly declares the warfare is accomplished. My good friend, Mic Cox (www.micisliving.com ), says it this way, “We live in the place called Done”. Jesus did just what He set out to do, destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). We as His Bride (Rev 21:2), the Church/Ecclesia (Matt 16:18), are now those that implement His victory.

Col. 2:15 spells it out well. Jesus disarmed, spoiled principalities and powers. He made a show, a spectacle of them openly, publicly. He TRIUMPHED over them! This conveys the understanding that Jesus “exposed” the devil. Jesus publicly showed everyone for all time who satan is, the defeated. Satan is not waiting to be defeated. He is the defeated one! His only workable tactic is deception. He masquerades. He twists truth. He hides. He distorts. He lies. He is not a lion; he pretends to be one (I Peter 5:8). Jesus exposed it all! Because of Jesus, we are able to have the lights turned on and see the truth. We are able, through Christ, to discern and see the deception of satan. Therefore, we don't have to fall into his snare. We get to walk the path of victory with Jesus. Our adversary can not claim us or defeat us as we now see him for who he is and see his exposed lies.

Having the understanding of Jesus' accomplishment, we no longer live with the “Joshua Syndrome”. We are not those that are “taking the land”. We live by faith that the “ground has been taken” by the finished work of Jesus. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as certain, assured, settled. We are to live as those certain/assured of His completed victory and that the devil possess no ground for us to go take. Jesus claims it all (Col 1:20)! As those “in Christ”, we sit, walk, and stand with Him in His victory (Eph 2:6; 4:1; 6:14). We are those of a victorious Kingdom because of the Victorious King! Its time a Kingdom Generation takes its focus off trying to get something back and walk out the faith and understanding He succeeded in His work of putting all things under His feet. Our posture is not one of getting something back, but one of our authority in Christ makes all things available. His heel was bruised, but He crushed a head (satan's). We are not fighting to beat the devil or take something back. We are to be those displaying and revealing the fullness of all Jesus achieved.

“On Calvary, the stronger Man prevailed”, Kelly Varner (Matt 12:29). Jesus entered the house and bond the “strong man” (satan). The house has been spoiled. Jesus is the Stronger and bound the weaker. Then He began to seize and plunder the goods (creation, cosmos Jn 3:16). Lk 11:22-23, but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away is armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (ESV). Its a settled fact, Jesus prevailed. The joy before us is being those that “gather” the spoils with Him. Our efforts are shedding the light of His victory so those in darkness can see and walk free. We are those that turn the lights on for people, families, and nations to see they don't have to live in the deceptive ways of satan that tortures, destroys, and creates chaos. We reveal all Jesus did so all people in all nations can live in the glorious light that brings liberty and blessing to all that walk in it. We are a Kingdom Generation walking out the victory of our King and joining with the Spirit to call all into the city/light of God (Rev 22:17).

God has no enemies, they are defeated. Satan has no opportunity or efforts to contend with God. His contending is with mankind through his work of deception (1 Peter 5:8-10). Satan is seeking who he can devour by getting them to believe he has place/right/authority to do as he wants. We are to be those that resist him, and by our faith (the firm assurance that Jesus has full victory) are strengthened and established (I Peter 5:8-10). Its deception by which satan holds man. The only battles satan can win are those in which we do NOT engage him. He wants to deceive man to believe he still has a place of ownership/rulership here. If man believes satan has a right or place here to rule, his lie gives way to man being bond needlessly. We overcome that false proposition by the Word that pronounces Jesus as total Conqueror (our sword), and by our faith and assurance He has won (the shield that stops the fiery arrows aimed to get us to lose hope that victory is assured).

The ground we claim as a Kingdom Generation is not the ground of victory or ground satan holds (Jesus won it all, and satan has no deed to any ground). Its the ground of turning on more lights to the accomplished/finished work of Jesus and the ways of His Kingdom. This is how the defeat of satan is walked out in life and history. Our adversary can not work his deception as a generation rises in the truth/light of His glorious triumph and lives out the good fight of faith in the assurance that victory has been obtained. Celebrate all He did; live to the fullest gathering the spoils with Him!