This week we will be looking at the subject on dominating the devil which often finds many believers avoiding for lack of proper Scriptural knowledge. Many folks, simply see life's afflictions as nothing more than just a run of bad luck; and therefore, conclude that you just have to accept what life gives you, whether its good or bad. This is an amazing assessment considering how very little of the evil within this world is referenced as being caused by demonic influences within people's lives. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that a great deal of our problems develop through our own destructive decision making and cyclical patterns that go unchecked. But even much of this difficulty could be minimized if we would just pay more attention to making our decisions based on the wisdom from God's Word. Renewing our minds in the Word of God is paramount to getting results.
In just about all circles of life around the world you will see more domination of the devil with his diabolical advancements in the lives of people, instead of witnessing it being the other way around. This is a bit upsetting to say the least, when we consider what the Word of God expresses in countless ways concerning this subject. Let's take a look at a passage from the Bible to lay the foundation for this weeks devotional on dominating the devil.
1 John 4:4 (NIV)
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Now assuming that you are a child of God that has received Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Savior and Lord; by confessing Him as the Son of God who died for your sins, was raised from the dead and is alive for evermore, and seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Then our passage in 1 John 4:4, has everything to do with you. It says that we His children are from God and have overcome "them." Who is "them," that the Word is speaking about here? We will need to rewind to verses 1-3, to find that out.
1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
According to this passage we see that a spirit is in operation within this world, it is a spirit of anti-christ that speaks and acts through people who are deceived; and we are instructed to test every spirit to see if it be of Christ or not. If you know your Bible at all, then you know that it says unreservedly, that we have an adversary who seeks whom he may devour. In other words, he looks for an advantage point within the lives of people. When there is no resident of authority in Christ present within a person's life, then he, the devil is able to have access into that life through his many lies. However, this verse tells us that we are of God and have overcome them; speaking expressively about these spirits of anti-christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has the ultimate power that far exceeds any other that may flex its muscles against us. Look with me over in the gospel of Matthew and let's validate this truth.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus told us with His own words, that He has ALL authority in heaven and earth. Then He goes on to say, I send you out in that same authority that is established and executed through My Word and My name! All through the Bible you will find that Jesus gave us this delegated authority that would stop the works of the devil. As a matter of fact, Jesus did not come to this world to condemn it, but to save it. Jesus, also declared that He came to destroy the works of the devil, while at the same time explaining to us the difference between His purposes that were to be filled with abundant life; whereas, the devil our adversary came to steal, kill and destroy.
I have listened to alot of conversations over the years from believer's in Christ who are faced with difficulties and terrible circumstances who reguraly spoke in contradiction to the Word of God, and it saddens me to no end. Their own mouth conceded to their destruction in an area that Jesus paid the full payment for them to be made whole. Some might be thinking to themselves, if that is the truth then why don't God just turn it all around and honor His Word? My friend, God always honors His Word; in the written Word it tells us that God will not be mocked, whatsoever a man sows (believes) that will he reap (results). Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Then over in Proverbs, it tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Again, the Scriptures tell us, that if My Word abides in you then you will ask what you will and my Father will do it unto you. Go with me over to the gospel of Luke.
Luke 10:17-20 (NIV)
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
This same glorious Jesus Christ who has received all power and authority from His Father, has now given that same power and authority over the devil to you and me. In these passages of Scripture you will notice that Jesus witnessed Satan fall from heaven, for the devil had been stripped of his power and cast out of the heavenly realm. This dilemma motivated Satan who was very cunning to survive as a self-made god, to deceive Adam in order to steal away his rightful authority over the earth which God had given to him.
As you obviously know if you are a student of the Word at all, the devil succeeded and took the authority from man and used it to control the world and its inhabitants. At least until Jesus came to the earth and lawfully took back what belonged to the family of God and His righteous ones. This is a fact that cannot be disputed in all actuality if you are a true believer! Sadly though, there are just too many believer's in Christ who received salvation to avoid hell only who do not know they can enforce power and authority over the devil. Therefore, Satan keeps much of the body of Christ in the dark about what they have in Christ Jesus, which is to keep the believer out of the Word of God at all cost. The Word is a lamp unto our feet. It assists us to walk in safety within a dark and troubled world. Satan however, does not have that authority that he stole from Adam anymore, but he does have a great deal of schemes that he uses to suggest to the believer today what they don't have, and what he can do to them at will. Look with me at something very important to substatiate what I am saying in this lesson.
Romans 5:17-19 (NIV)
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
I hope you can see in these passages how we were all condemned through one man's (Adam's) sin; whereas, the same is now true through Jesus Christ who came and gave His life a ransome for the sins of the whole world that in His sacrifice we are made righteous; to those who believe. It is a work of God and not the work of man who strives to be good on his own merit. Therefore, if this is a truth that you can really trust in; then we can fully accept that we are now righteous in Christ and filled with His glorious power and authority to overcome the devil at all levels of life. All of the promises of God are yes and Amen! God is not like man that He should lie. We are told to resist the devil and he will flee. Draw closer unto God and He will draw near unto us as the Scriptures reveal. Look with me one more time at a few passages of Scripture that will help us fruitfully connect everything that we have been saying up to this point with a undeniable conclusion of what we have received to dominate our adversary the devil.
Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
It is very clear that according to these Scriptures from a God who cannot lie. That we can have our eyes opened in such a way that we can experience His power if we believe, and that power can operate over our enemy successfully. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been seated above every rule and authority that would try to exert itself. He is above every self ascribed power or dominion known to man, and every name that can be named whether in this world or the one to come. God the Father has placed all things under His feet and nothing can usurp itself above Him.
I realize that most will have no problem acknowledging that that is the truth concerning the Son of God. But we are not like Him you might be thinking to yourself. Well, I stand to challenge that wrong perception outright with the last part of this passage of Scripture. According to God's Word, Jesus has been appointed to be the head over everything for the church; putting all things under His feet, which includes the devil and his attempts to release destruction in our lives. Praise God! But listen up! This gets even better. Then it goes on to say that Jesus is the head over the church which is His body, that body in particular is you and me that believe. Therefore, if the devil is underneath the Lord's feet then the devil is underneath us because we are His body! My friends, it is time to stand on the sure Word of God and exercise your authority over the devil and his destructive devices. He has made enough havoc already in our lives, now it is time to spoil his game and put him in his place. We have been given all power over our adversary. However, you must believe it is so, and never defuse it by contradicting what the Word of God clearly says. Let me show you something as we close this devotional, that is sure to change your perspective about how I hope you will view the devil's power from here on out. He only fabricates a power in order to steal it from those who are unaware of what they truly have over him, in Christ.
Isaiah 14:15-16 (KJV)
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
This shall be the final observation as the people of God look from their risen perspective at this one called the devil who portrayed himself to be so much of what he never was! The devil's revealed end will shock many believer's beyond words as they gaze at this one who caused so much havoc in this world and in their life personally. Why will they be amazed? Because they will see him as he really is, a nothing who excelled in his activities successfully, because of the ignorance of those who failed to learn all that Jesus Christ had given them through His death, burial and resurrection! It's in the Word! Start dominating the devil by enforcing what our Lord accomplished on Calvary. Let's name a few of these benefits: power, authority, peace, joy, healing, prosperity, miracles, signs and wonders. I suppose the devil will be a bit upset over this teaching today; but hey! I don't really care, I just enjoy too much the fact that he is upset for a change. Therefore, put on your suit of armor and go slay the enemy and spoil his plans.
