Many Christians these days are tending to overlook the fact that Satan is still an active adversary even though the other part of John 10:10 clearly tells us that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." It's certainly true that he's already a defeated adversary because Jesus vanquished him at the Cross of Calvary. But for the time being he's still permitted to operate in the World that surrounds us and is more than able to interfere in our lives unless we actively and forcefully resist him. This is why the Bible tells us/warns us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11) and to take up the armor of God so that we can resist the "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12-13). If Satan weren't a threat to the Body of Christ then it wouldn't have been necessary for the Word to instruct us to arm ourselves, to be watchful (1 Peter 5:8), and to resist him (James 4:7).

Following are some of the powers he retains that can affect Believers:

• He is Prince/Ruler of this World (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 John 5:19)
• He has the ability to tempt us (Matthew 4:3 and 1 Corinthians 7:5).
• He can influence our flesh through the World (1 John 2:15-16).
• He can influence our minds through the flesh and the World (1 Corinthians 7:5).
• He works to separate us from the Word (Mark 4:3-8 and 13-20).
• He inflicts disease (Job 2:7).
• He can lie to us and try to deceive us (John 8:44 and Revelation 12:9).
• He can appear to us in disguise as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
• But because of Jesus he can only do to Believers what we allow.

The Bible says that Satan remains in the World, even though he has been defeated, in order to blind the minds of unbelievers (the lost) so they can't see the light of the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). Also, Satan's continued presence provides the alternative to Christ that prospective new Believers must consider in exercising their free will to make their choice between life and death (Acts 26:18). In the meantime, as we wait and work for every last new Believer to come into the Kingdom, it's God's intention that we resist the enemy's efforts to subject us. Believers are in this World but we are not of it so we aren't subject to his rule unless we allow ourselves to come under it through sin or by failing to resist him.

Therefore, the obvious question is this: Why do we permit Satan, a proven enemy, to come into our lives and spoil our stuff? A fundamental cause is that many Believers are too close to the World and have come to identify with non- believers as they struggle through life. After a time of living this way, we become desensitized to all the defeat and confusion there and we come to accept these things as the reality for our own lives. We forget that we are supposed to be different, that we are supposed to manifest the victory that Christ won for us at Calvary. We lose sight of the fact that it's Satan causing the defeat in the World and we stop calling on the authority of Christ to deliver us from it so we can grow to higher levels of spiritual development.

Now, in order to contend victoriously with this adversary, we must separate ourselves from the World, submit ourselves to God (James 4:7) and continuously use the authority in Christ we've been given. If we don't know enough to do these things or if we think we can get by without doing them, or if we're just sleeping on the job so to speak, the result will be that Satan slowly inserts his darkness into our lives and corrupts the prosperity and success God wants us to have. Instead of "nothing missing, nothing broken," a lot of things can become both missing and broken. Successfully overcoming the devil requires that we make an effort to do the following:

1) We must understand the authority Jesus won at Calvary and how it works.

The Bible says in Hebrews 2:14-16 that by His death, Jesus rendered Satan powerless and set free those who were previously subject to a fear of death. 1 John 3:8 says that Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. In fact, the destruction was so complete He then made a public display of His defeated foe (Colossians 2:15). In Revelation 1:18 Jesus told the Apostle John that He had in His possession the keys to death and Hell. In sum, the defeat of Satan was total and absolute and provided for a transfer of authority.

And so, Matthew 28:18 tells us that all authority was then given to Jesus. Now He is seated in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named. And, He has put all things in subjection under His feet (Ephesians 1:20-22). In short, Christ has been given total and absolute authority to rule over all things. Satan, now stripped of power, has been allowed to remain in the World as a defeated adversary for the reasons cited previously. The authority Adam lost to Satan has been totally and completely regained by Jesus.

2) We must know who we are in Christ.

The Bible says Believers have been raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places over all things (Ephesians 2:6). Therefore, we are called to participate in the exercise of His authority over ALL the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Thus, the authority and power of Christ has been delegated to Believers and we are to use it to bless others and help establish the Kingdom of God.

Further, Jesus has been given to the Church and made the head of it; and we are His Body, the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23). Thus, we are closely joined together. He is the head and we are His Body; He does the leading but we are called to exercise His authority! Now it is Believers who are to cast out demons and to lay hands on the sick so they can recover (Mark 16:17-18) as Christ once did in His earthly ministry. And, thanks to Jesus we have been redeemed from the Curse and restored to the Blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14) so we are no longer subject to the works of the devil. We are children of God, joint-heirs with Christ for the glory that is to come (Romans 8:17). Indeed, we are a new creation!

3) We must use the authority we have been given.

Friend, Believers have been called to rule and reign with Christ. Our present assignments through the Church are to build/expand the Kingdom of God on the earth and to keep Satan from interfering in that process. In order to rule, we have to exercise our authority. Another word for authority is "power" so we are to exercise our power over the adversary. We are to confront Satan boldly and without fear and continually resist him in the name of Jesus (James 4:7) not only so he can't interfere in our lives but for the good of the entire Kingdom of God that's in the process of being established. No one who rules successfully allows opposing and rebellious viewpoints to invade their kingdom at will because the objective of any invading enemy is to take over the ruler's domain just as once happened in the Garden of Eden. We must guard against and then repel the invasions of our enemy with the weapons we have been given. And when we stand against him, he will/he must flee.

A lot of great things happened at Calvary. Yes, Jesus shed His blood on the Cross and one of the results was that you can have eternal life by believing and trusting in Him. But the other part of the story is that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day and in the resurrection we have the possibility of a victorious life in this present age characterized by prosperity, success and abundance in every area of life. But victorious living requires that we resist our enemy and contain him inside the World separated from the part of God's Kingdom each of us has been assigned to guard.

Therefore, if you want the fullness of biblical prosperity manifesting in your life, you must continuously resist the devil and cast him out of your affairs. You have the authority and the power to make him flee from you so confront him boldly always in the name of Jesus and with the assurance that His name will protect you and provide victory.

But, some Christians are concerned that if they confront Satan and actively resist him, he will react and cause them to experience trials in their lives. The truth is when you begin to exert your authority you can count on facing a time of testing so be ready for it. The enemy's objective is to make you lack confidence in your authority and to get you to back off. But don't give in; God will see you through the test and you will come out of it with stronger confidence and at a higher spiritual level than where you were before. If you desire God's best in your life, if you really want to experience the fullness of biblical prosperity, then you must confront, resist and overcome the enemy. According to the Word of God, there is no other way.

May God bless you and bring you into remembrance each day to resist your enemy the devil. Thanks for reading Prosperous Life Newsletter. We'll be looking for you again in three weeks.

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