"For He has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan's kingdom and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13).
A famous general invited me to his office. He was hungry for God and eager to become a Christian. Yet as we counseled together, he seemed reluctant to pray. I inquired as to his reluctance, and he said, "I don't understand myself. I want to receive Christ, but I can't."
I turned to Colossians 1:13,14 and asked him to read it aloud. Then I asked him to tell me what he thought it meant. The light went on. Suddenly he realized that he was a member of Satan's kingdom, and Satan was trying to hinder his being liberated from darkness and gloom into the glorious light of the kingdom of God's dear Son. Satan did not want him to receive Christ into his heart.
As soon as the man realized he was a member of Satan's kingdom, he was ready to pray and receive Christ into his life so that he would then become a member of God's kingdom.
I, too, was once in Satan's kingdom - not a very pleasant thought, but true. And so were you if you are a Christian. Every person born into this world is a part of Satan's kingdom; all who are not now experiencing the saving grace and love of Christ are a part of his kingdom.
It is God the Holy Spirit who enables men to comprehend spiritual truth. It is God the Holy Spirit who liberates men from darkness into light. It is God the Holy Spirit who is responsible for the new birth that brings men into the kingdom of God.
When we go out to witness, it is not enough to know God's plan. It is not enough to know the Four Spiritual Laws. It is not enough for us to be nicely groomed and properly scented. We need to go in the power of God's Holy Spirit. He alone can change men.
Today's Action Point
My first concern in everything I do and every contact I make today will be that the power of God's Holy Spirit will be operative in my life, so that others will see His supernatural qualities in my life and want to join me in following Him.
