TREADING IN TRIUMPH

Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you – Luke 10:19

“You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under foot” (Psa.91:13). These are creatures that can kill by attack or poison. Each of these designations of spiritual wickedness instils fear in a unique way: one by its look, another by its bite, a third by its roar, and a fourth by its breath. By the power of the Almighty, you can march over these dreadful forces, monstrous creatures and all that they represent. You can wade through furious floods and raging fires victoriously. In the Name of the Lord, the wildest of adversaries and the most treacherous of opponents alike you can tread and trample down as they lie impotent and defeated underneath your feet.

Consider the action words: ‘tread’ and ‘trample’. To tread is to walk on or over, to march over, step, or stride; to set down the foot or feet in walking. It means to put your foot on something or to press something down with your foot. To trample means to step heavily on something or someone, to walk so as to press, bruise, crush, cause damage or injure something. To tread and to trample are therefore not accidental activities; they are calculated and deliberate actions. God assures that in Christ, you shall intentionally tread upon the adversaries like a Conqueror, as a testimony to your dominion over them.

What are the strong barriers, fierce dangers, subtle obstacles, and limiting hindrances threatening your life and your testimony of triumph? Deuteronomy 33:25 declares: “Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.” Satan’s cruelty and poisonous deceit fitly represent the lion and the adder. But when in the spirit-realm, God makes your shoes iron and brass, lions and snakes become so easily crushed beneath your heels. You will conquer the strongest foe and the most mysterious in cunning. The lion shall lie prostrate at your feet; and you shall securely put your foot upon his neck, as the Israelites did to the Canaanite kings (Jos.10:24).

Neither the fury nor the venom of our pernicious enemies shall ever hold sway. Beloved, our dominion over the powers of darkness gives us the audacity of faith to declare: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Lk.10:17b). The Lord Jesus re-confirmed this promise: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk.10:19). As the Apostle also assures all believers, "God shall tread down Satan under your feet shortly"(Rom.16:20). Conquering enemy forces shall become a commonplace!