Disarming Moments

Colossians 2:15 - "When He had disarmed rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him."

disarmed - apekduomai (ap-ek-doo'-om-ahee) - to strip away, to cause to sink out of, unclothe

Have you ever caught someone so "red-handed" that there wasn't any other word left to be spoken? The "exposed" feeling leaves all involved almost speechless. Even stronger than the provebial "hand in the cookie jar" is the strength of what the Lord Jesus did to the "ruler of this world". (I won't give him any honor by even capitalizing his name.)

This picture of "disarmed" is more than leaving one speechless or a little embarrassed. "Disarm" means to unclothe or strip away knowing that the one being stripped will never return the same. There's a scene in "The Wizard of Oz" where the wicked witch shrinks away and all that's left is the pile of clothes where she'd been. That's the beginning of the idea of "disarm". The "disarmed" one literally sinks out of the existence from where they'd been.

While that's a good picture, we must understand that the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus is much much more extensive. It not only covers the physical body (like the witch in the movie), but also the soul and spirit of every person who believes and receives Him as Lord and Savior. As the Lord Jesus brought us into Himself (at salvation), He stripped away everything that tries to rise up against us. We are with Him above all things.

Consider these scriptures.

John 12:31 - Jesus said "the ruler of this world will be cast out"

Colossians 2:10 - "In Him you have been made complete (full), and He is the head over all rule and authority"

Ephesians 1:22-23 - "He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, and the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

Hebrews 2:8 - "For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him."

Imagine if we lived in the freedom of knowing that the enemy has no power or authority over us! The enemy's power has been completely stripped and there is nothing left but a shell of accusations. Of what power are mere accusations when you and I are "in" the Most High God? How would we approach our daily lives? What would become significant to us? Would we walk with intimidation or courage?