Understanding the Spiritual Struggle to Break the Power of Satan
SATAN’S DOMINION
“The devil led him (Jesus) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me. All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan! For it is written, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended to him.” Matt 4 & Luke 4
“And even if our gospel is veiled (hidden, unknown, unable to be understood), it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
“Take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 (powers, principalities, rulers KJV)
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses, and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Jesus said of Satan – “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10
GOD’S SOLUTION
“To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” Acts 26:18
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:8
Jesus speaking – “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come that they (you) might have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“…now the prince of this world will be driven out.” John 12:31
“…the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:11
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins… that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“He too shared in their humanity so that so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery…” “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved… But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us…” Titus 3:3
Christ is now seated at the right hand of God in the heavenly realms, “…far above all rule and authority, powers and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this present age, but in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet…”
Ephesians 1:21
Christ now extends and exercises his authority through his people…
BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY
“Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed and they asked each other,” What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him!” (Also Luke 4:31-36 specifies the spirit came out, “without injuring him.”)
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20
“…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
“Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7-8
“…greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
SATAN’S END
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimomy and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:10-12
“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him… He threw him into the Abyss, and locked it and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore…
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever…
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:1-4, 21:10, 14-15
PRACTICALITIES – (1) RECEIVING THE PROMISE
“Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7-8
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” 2 Peter 3:9-13
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? … For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah when the ark was being built. In it only a few people were saved, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:13 – 22
Practicalities – (2) – THE UNBELIEVER’S LACK OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Acts 19:13-16
“When an unclean spirit is driven out, he goes through dry places seeking rest, and finding none, he says, “I will return to the house from which I came out of. Then he goes and takes seven other spirits stronger than he, and they enter and dwell there. And the later state of that person is worse than at the beginning.” Luke 11:24-26
Practicalities (3) – FAMILY MATTERS
“For I The Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6 – The Second Commandment
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Acts 16:10
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:18
“If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband that is not a believer and if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy … God has called us to live in peace.” 1 Corinthians 7:12-14
(However…)
“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them out two by two…” Luke 10:1
Jesus – “Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” Matthew 18:19
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Continue on to see Testimonies of Stopping Abductions