Acts 10:38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Scripture reveals the spiritual condition of every person born after the Fall: “under the power of the devil.” This is not merely because of the sins people commit during their lives, but because of the consequences of original sin (Genesis 3:1–6). Through Adam’s fall, sin entered the world, and with sin came death for all humanity:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
The Bible says that the devil holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Apart from God’s grace, no one can escape the bondage of sin or its eternal consequences. The power of sin manifests itself in every area of life, bringing suffering, separation, curses, disasters, and death (Genesis 3:16–19). Human effort, knowledge, wealth, or power cannot ultimately solve the spiritual problem rooted in sin.
Yet this is precisely why God sent Christ into the world. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to save those who were held captive by darkness. God has now called us to proclaim the finished work of Christ to the nations, just as Jesus went about “doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil” (Acts 10:38). This is our mission in the midst of spiritual warfare.
The One who called us has also given us His unchanging promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We do not fight alone. The risen Christ goes before us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us. With this promise, we are sent into the world to “open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:7). What an incredible blessing and privilege it is to participate in God’s work of saving lives through the power of the gospel.
We have received the anointing of “the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). Therefore, we go into the world as ambassadors of Christ Jesus our Lord. Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in Jesus’ name, the works of the devil are destroyed (1 John 3:8). Through Christ, people discover the only way back to God (John 14:6), and they are set free from the law of sin and death through His redeeming sacrifice (Mark 10:45).
To carry out this God-given mission faithfully, we must exercise the spiritual authority Christ has entrusted to us (Luke 10:19). Jesus taught that the “strong man” must first be bound (Matthew 12:28–29). God has not left us defenseless in this battle. He has given us spiritual weapons with divine power:
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Always stay spiritually alert in prayer and engage courageously in the battle against the evil schemes of the enemy (Ephesians 6:11). We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness that seek to deceive. Therefore, stand your ground in faith. Stand firm in the gospel. Be clothed with the full armor of God and remain prepared at all times for the spiritual battle before you (Ephesians 6:13–17).
Always remain on the offensive through prayer, the Word of God, and the proclamation of the gospel. Do not become spiritually complacent or let your guard down. Resist the devil by the authority God has given you through Jesus Christ, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). The believer does not fight for victory, but from the victory Christ has already won through His death and resurrection.
Our God-given mission is far too important to treat lightly. The eternal destinies of souls are at stake. Countless people remain trapped in darkness, separated from God, and without hope apart from the gospel. This is why we must hold firmly to the mission Christ has entrusted to us. Let us carefully consider what Paul said concerning his life and calling:
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
To Paul, the mission of God was worth more than comfort, reputation, possessions, or even life itself. His passion was to finish the race faithfully and proclaim Christ to the very end. And ultimately, he did give his life for the gospel. Although Scripture does not record the exact details of his death, church tradition teaches that Paul was beheaded in Rome under persecution, dying as a faithful martyr of Jesus Christ.
Today, that same mission has been entrusted to us: We have only one name to proclaim:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
We have only one message to preach:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
And we have only one goal in life:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
This is the purpose of our lives—to glorify God by proclaiming Christ to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Whether through our words, prayers, service, suffering, or daily lives, we are called to bear witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ until the ends of the earth hear the gospel.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the mission You have given me. Use my life to do good and heal those who are under the power of the devil. Strengthen me to stand firm in spiritual battle and to proclaim the gospel boldly. Thank You for Your constant presence and for the authority You have given through Jesus Christ. May my life be used for Your glory and for the salvation of souls. In Jesus’ name, Amen.