SATAN DEFEATED! WE HAVE AUTHORITY
INTENTION:
Most of my life existed as a defeated
Christian. I pinballed around in life just taking what came my way and resisted
to live another day to face the same: “Que Será, Será”.
Then I came to realize that my life as a
Christian had power and authority—both my own and through the Lord. Christ
defeated Satan and he is beneath me (beneath all humans). And when I became a
believer, I inherited that same authority that Jesus Christ Himself has.
Let’s discover the authority we have to
overcome any and all challenges that come our way.
I.
TOPIC:
We want to look at Satan’s defeat and our authority; both accomplished
through the completed work of Jesus Christ. The Lord created humans with authoritative
dominion through Adam (Genesis
1:28), whom, in-turn gave it to Satan (Genesis
3). However, Jesus, as a human, not only took back what Adam gave away, we
have been given even more than what Adam ever had: Christ’s authority. Jesus
defeated the Devil and Satan, giving us authority over him too.
NB: In the following scripture verses used, we will read
about both the Devil and Satan. These are not directly one-of-the-same, but
different Greek words representing two distinct meanings, yet relatable. Take
into consideration these expanded meanings, especially when discussing the
Devil:
Devil – G1228:
diabolos
1.
prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely.
a.
a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer.
2. metaph.
applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part
of the devil or to side with him.
Satan – G4567:
satanas
1.
adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or
act), the name given to
a.
the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate
adversary of God and Christ
b.
a Satan-like man
1.
to utter maliciously false statements,
charges, or imputations about.
2.
to injure the reputation of by calumny.
1.
a misrepresentation intended to harm
another's reputation.
2.
the act of
uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm
another's reputation.
II.
READING: Ephesians
1:1-23 (CEB)
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will. To the
holy and faithful people in Christ Jesus in Ephesus. 2 Grace and peace to you
from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Bless the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every
spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. 4 God chose us in Christ to be holy
and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. 5 God
destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his
love. This was according to his goodwill and plan 6 and to honour his glorious
grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. 7 We have
been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures
based on his overflowing grace, 8 which he poured over us with wisdom and
understanding. 9 God revealed his hidden design to us, which is according to
his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. 10
This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things
together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. 11 We
have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of
God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to
be an honour to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You
too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your
salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed
in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is
applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honour of
God’s glory.
15 Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love for all God’s people, this is the reason that 16 I don’t stop giving
thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom
and revelation that makes God known to you. 18 I pray that the eyes of your
heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the
richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, 19 and what is the
overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This
power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. 20 God’s power was
at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right
side in the heavens, 21 far above every ruler and authority and power and
angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. 22
God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the
church, 23 which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ,
who fills everything in every way.
III.
RELATED VERSES AND QUESTIONS:
A. Revelations
12:7-12 (CEB)
Then there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but they did not
prevail, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 So the great
dragon was thrown down. The old snake, who is called the Devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to the earth; and his angels were
thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
“Now the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority
of his Christ have come. The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses
them day and night before our God, has been thrown down. 11 They gained the
victory over him on account of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their
witness. Love for their own lives didn’t make them afraid to die. 12 Therefore,
rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. But oh! The horror for the
earth and sea! The devil has come down to you with great rage, for he knows
that he only has a short time.”
Question: We can see that both Satan and the
Devil have been against the Lord’s creation—what did the Devil and Satan lose
here? What is he up to now—what do you think his purpose is?
B.
Luke 10:9;17-22 (CEB) {PoG}
Heal the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘God’s kingdom has
come upon you.’
17 The seventy-two returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the
demons submit themselves to us in your name.”
18 Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19 Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I
have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you
{Mark 16:15-18}. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the
spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy
Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to
babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 22 My Father has handed all
things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the
Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.”
Question:
What authority did Jesus give?
C. Matthew
11:11-15 (CEB) {PoG}
“I assure you that no one who has ever been
born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven is violently attacked as violent people seize it {because
violent people (beings) try to take things for themselves through violence}.
13 All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14 If you are
willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 Let the person who has
ears, hear.
Question: The Kingdom of Heaven is
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans
14:17)—very opposite from violence. Look back at Revelations
12:10 and Luke
10:18 above with this verse; whom do you think is
violently attacking the Kingdom of Heaven / Kingdom of God?
D. Job
1:6-12 (CEB) {PoG}
One day the divine beings {Sons of Man} came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. 7 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Where did you come from?” The Adversary answered the Lord, “From wandering throughout the earth.” 8 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you thought about my servant Job; surely there is no one like him on earth, a man who is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God and avoids evil?” 9 The Adversary answered the Lord, “Does Job revere God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you fenced him in—his house and all he has—and blessed the work of his hands so that his possessions extend throughout the earth? 11 But stretch out your hand and strike all he has. He will certainly curse {H1281: Bless} you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Look, all he has is within your power; only don’t stretch out your hand against him.” So the Adversary left the Lord’s presence.
Job 2:1-7 (CEB) {PoG}
One day the divine beings
{Sons of Man} came to present themselves before the Lord. The Adversary also
came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to the
Adversary, “Where have you come from?” The Adversary answered the Lord, “From
wandering throughout the earth.” 3 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you
thought about my servant Job, for there is no one like him on earth, a man who
is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God and avoids evil? He
still holds on to his integrity, even though you incited me to ruin him for no
reason.” 4 The Adversary responded to the Lord, “Skin for skin—people will give
up everything they have in exchange for their lives. 5 But stretch out your
hand and strike his bones and flesh. Then he will definitely curse {H1281:
Bless} you to your face.” 6 The Lord answered the Adversary, “There he
is—within your power; only preserve his life.” 7 The Adversary departed from
the Lord’s presence and struck Job with severe sores from the sole of his foot
to the top of his head.
Question: What was Satan doing when he spoke
with God (read Revelations
12:10 above)? Did God bring the calamity to Job and his entire
family/domain? Can Satan do the same thing to us that he did to Job—why?
E. John
16:7-11 (CEB)
I assure you that it is
better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to
you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will show the
world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. 9 He will show the
world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. 10 He will show
the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and
you won’t see me anymore. 11 He will show the world it was wrong about judgment
because this world’s ruler stands condemned.
Question: What does it mean to you that the Holy
Spirit is reminding the world of Satan already being judged?
F. Colossians
2:6-15 (CEB)
So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. 7
Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with
thanksgiving just as you were taught. 8 See to it that nobody enslaves you with
philosophy and foolish deception, which conform to human traditions and the way
the world thinks and acts rather than Christ. 9 All the fullness of deity lives
in Christ’s body. 10 And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every
ruler and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision
not administered by human hands. The circumcision of Christ is realized in the
stripping away of the whole self dominated by sin. 12 You were buried with him
through baptism and raised with him through faith in the power of God, who
raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead because of the things you had
done wrong and because your body wasn’t circumcised, God made you alive with
Christ and forgave all the things you had done wrong. 14 He destroyed the
record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He
cancelled it by nailing it to the cross. 15 When he disarmed the rulers and
authorities, he exposed them to public disgrace by leading them in a triumphal
parade.
Question: What are ways we re-arm rulers and
authorities that try and stand against us?
G. 1
Corinthians 15:20-28; 45-49 (CEB)
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop
of the harvest of those who have died. 21 Since death came through a human
being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. 22 In the same way
that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. 23
Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the
harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming, 24 and then the end,
when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form
of rule, every authority and power to an end. 25 It is necessary for him to
rule until he puts all enemies under his feet. 26 Death is the last enemy to be
brought to an end, 27 since he has brought everything under control under his
feet. When it says that everything has been brought under his control, this
clearly means everything except for the one who placed everything under his
control. 28 But when all things have been brought under his control, then the
Son himself will also be under the control of the one who gave him control over
everything so that God may be all in all.
45 So it is also written, The first human, Adam,
became a living person, and the last Adam became a spirit that gives life. 46
But the physical body comes first, not the spiritual one—the spiritual body
comes afterward. 47 The first human was from the earth made from dust; the
second human is from heaven. 48 The nature of the person made of dust is shared
by people who are made of dust, and the nature of the heavenly person is shared
by heavenly people. 49 We will look like the heavenly person in the same way as
we have looked like the person made from dust.
Question: Which do you feel has more authority
in life: the physical body or the spiritual?
H. Ephesians
6:10-18 (CEB)
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. 11 Put
on God’s armour so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil.
12 We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities,
forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. 13
Therefore, pick up the full armour of God so that you can stand your ground on
the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. 14 So
stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, 15
and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of
peace. 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the
flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword
of the Spirit, which is God’s word. 18 Offer prayers and petitions in the
Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all
believers.
Question: What are we fighting? Do you feel you
have the full armour of God already?
I.
Devil is trying to deceive us:
1
Peter 5:8 (CEB)
Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl
like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
James
4:7 (CEB)
Therefore, submit to God.
Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.
Question: What are we to resist (see the Greek
above)? Do you feel you have the power / authority to resist?
J.
Our position:
Philippians
2:7b-11 (CEB) {PoG}
When he {Jesus} found himself in the form of a human, 8 he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. 9 Therefore, God highly honoured him and gave him a name above all
names, 10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under
the earth might bow 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
Ephesians
2:6 (CEB)
And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus.
1
Corinthians 12:27 (CEB)
You are the body of Christ and parts of each other.
1
John 4:17b (CEB) {PoG}
because we are exactly the same as God {Jesus} is in this world.
Question: Does anything have authority over
Jesus? What is our position? If we are exactly as Christ Jesus is (right now on
this earth), should we doubt we have His authority?
IV.
FURTHER THOUGHT:
A. Christ
is our reminder:
Romans
8:31-34 (CEB)
So what are we going to say about these things? If God is for us, who
is against us? 32 He didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Won’t
he also freely give us all things with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against
God’s elect people? It is God who acquits them. 34 Who is going to convict
them? It is Christ Jesus who died, even more, who was raised, and who also is
at God’s right side. It is Christ Jesus who also pleads our case for us.
1
John 2:1-2 (CEB)
My little children, I’m
writing these things to you so that you don’t sin. But if you do sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is God’s way
of dealing with our sins, not only ours but the sins of the whole world.
Thoughts: Even if Satan still had the ability to
go before God like in Job
6:1-12 and Job
2:1-6 (which he cannot), Jesus is there as our intercessor (court-appointed
attorney). Likewise, if we ourselves condemn ourself for our actions or
inactions (sins), Jesus stands in for ourselves as well—because we are in
essence doing what Satan was doing as we accuse ourself in front of God. Jesus
not only intercedes on our behalf, He (with the Holy Spirit) remind us that all
our sins were taken at the Cross; that anything we try to bring to God as our
own offense can never have any legal hold on us: WE HAVE BEEN MADE FREE!
Remember this always.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & SUPPORT:
A thank you to Kelly and Joshua who are inspirational in this life-journey. And to all the family, friends, sponsors, and donors who have fed into this ministry and outreach.
If you would like to support this ministry and outreach, you may do so via our website or at:
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