The Devil is Defeated

By Tony V. Hammack

I met a very interesting person today while out sharing the Kingdom of God with people.  His name was Benjamin and we had a talk about evil, demons, and the Devil.  It was an interesting talk and I want to state some things here for you that may help you.

Genesis 3:15; Luke 10:19

• The Devil Did not Want Jesus to Go to the Cross

You know, in the 1990's I was a pretty big fan of Carmen and some of the dramatic music videos and portrayals of spiritual battles he created.  I however have come to understand, from my take on what the scriptures say, that Satan "did not think he'd won" after Jesus died on the cross and I have some scripture to substantiate my beliefs about this.

• Matthew 16:21-23  ²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”  ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

We see from this passage, that the Satanic agenda that Peter has come into agreement with for Jesus, didn't include suffering and being raised from the dead.  So where does Satan take the biggest hit?  The suffering or the resurrection?  Well I don't think Satan much liked any of it but let's look at how the suffering of Jesus dealt a huge blow to the enemy.  The cross is the culmination of the suffering Jesus endured.  What a contrast to the idea that some have of the Devil thinking he'd won when Jesus was dying on the cross.  I think Satan knew, if Jesus went to the cross, he was toast.  This is the reason why Satan prompted Peter to try and stop the suffering. 

•  Colossians 2:15 ¹⁵ [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. 

The imagery that this scripture portrays is of a conquered king being pulled through the city of the winning nation.  The king is in a small cage where He can't stand and has possibly had his thumbs removed while the citizens of the conquering city throw trash and mock the disposed king.   So, Satan has been defeated and if you believe the Bible you must come into agreement with this scriptural reality. So, how does evil still exist?

Even an enemy that's been disarmed will continue to fight and take territory if not challenged.  Many today in the Christian Church are completely ignorant (lacking revelation knowledge) to the authority they've been deputized with to disposes the enemy.   This is exactly the way the Devil wants the Church to stay.  He's even convinced many that he doesn't even exist!  What a brilliant ruse the enemy is playing on the people of God.  I have to share with you that you are not what the Devil says you are.  You are what God says you are. 

• Ephesians 1:17-22 ¹⁷ [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), ¹⁹ And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, ²⁰ Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], ²¹ Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. ²² And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],  

Now this passage that talks about us understanding who we are and what Christ has given us is great.  It's cool how Jesus is seated above all rule authority power and dominion and every name that is named.  Basically I understand this passage to say that Jesus is above every demon, every principality and he's above Satan.  Well, that's great for Jesus but how about you?  Where are you if you are a believer in Jesus Christ?  

• Ephesians 2:6  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 

So the great news is that the follower of Jesus is seated with Christ positionally above all these nasty realities that are on the Earth.  I also believe that the believer has available to him/her deputized authority over these principalities because of what Colossians 2:15 says.  So as long as people stay in darkness to their God given authority they will not exercise it and therefore evil will remain.  However when the Church rises up into her role of Kingdom of God establisher, the enemy will have to flee.   The days are coming when Christian people will rise up in this authority because they don't see them selves as only "sinners saved by grace", but they see themselves as saints, son's and daughters of a mighty king, who has paid a great price to equip them to extend his kingdom.  This is why Paul was praying Ephesians 1:17,18 for the Church of his day.  How we today need this revelation that we have been made mighty because of the work that Jesus did. 

Rise up Church!

(see also Philippians 2:1-11; Ephesians 6:12) 
 

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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