I. Introduction
The operation of demons is a subject many believers are either ignorant of or misinformed about. Demons will come against believers if they are not coming against you You are not a Believer Maybe you are a Spiritual Giant ! , but they will also come against unbelievers.
photo right HellBoy aka the Good Demon according to Hollywood !
However, the operation of demons is different in believer’s life than in an unbeliever’s life. Contrary to what some believe, only an unbeliever can be possessed by a demon. The born again believer is possessed by the Holy Spirit and light and darkness cannot dwell together.
Although Christians cannot be possessed by demons, they can be oppressed. A believer can be oppressed in body or in mind. In Luke 16:13 Jesus said, “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” The fact that this woman was referred to as a “daughter of Abraham” indicates she was a believer. She was oppressed for eighteen years until she learned the truth that she no longer needed to be oppressed in her body by the power of the enemy.
There are some believers who attribute everything to demons. They blame everything on the devil, when they are actually being drawn away by their own lusts—allowing the nature of the flesh to control them rather than the Spirit of God. However, if a believer continually gives into the nature of the flesh, demons can eventually become involved.
Satan also imitates the signs, wonders, and miracles performed by God. We are living in a day when there will be an increase in lying signs and wonders. Matthew 24:24 says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” One of Satan’s plans is to deceive the elect—born again believers.
Many Christians are deceived into running after demon manifestations believing these manifestations are of God. It is vital for believers to be grounded in the Word of God. In 1 Timothy 4:1 a warning is given: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
For some, everything is a demon. If you cough, you have a coughing demon. If you sneeze, you have a sneezing demon. If you commit sexual sin, the devil made you do it. But if every problem is a demon, we would be able to cast out every problem! We have been given the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the flesh when necessary. We have also been given authority to rebuke or cast out demons.
II. Even the Devils are Subject to Us
Luke 10:17-20:
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
For the Weapons of Our Warfare Are NOT carnal but are mighty to the removing of Strongholds ... Casting down Imaginations & every Highthing that raises itself above the Knowledge of God
The word for “devils” means demons. The word for “power” literally means authority. In this passage, Jesus is explaining what a believer’s attitude should be toward Satan and his demons. The seventy who returned were overjoyed with the fact that the demons were subject to them in the name of Jesus. Even though they had probably seen many people saved and even some who were healed, they were most excited about casting out demons. Jesus is trying to teach them what is of greater significance.
There are some Christians today who believe they hprincipoave a special deliverance ministry. They believe they have been given a special ministry of casting out demons. When demons manifest, these people will often converse with the demons. But Jesus rebuked demons and commanded them to leave. Demons are liars and the authors of confusion, so why entertain them? There is no such thing as a “deliverance ministry” given to only a select number of people. Every believer has been given the authority to cast out devils. Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Jesus gave this authority to every born again believer.
When the seventy came to Jesus, they were not only surprised that the demons were subject to them, they also had pride about it. But Jesus directed them toward what the believer’s attitude should be toward Satan and his demons.
III. Satan is a Fallen Creature
Jesus’ response to the seventy is interesting. The seventy are overjoyed about the demons being subject to them and Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” What was His point? He wanted the seventy to realize the fact that in dealing with Satan and his works, they were dealing with a fallen creature.
Lucifer fell long before Jesus Christ came to earth as humanity and long before the creation of Adam and Eve. Satan tried to exalt himself above the throne of God and as a result, he was cast out of heaven. Jesus told the seventy, “I saw Satan being cast out of heaven. It was like lightning—it happened very quickly and the entire universe saw it happen.” When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, it was not done behind the scenes. Satan fell and has not risen since. He was cast out of heaven never to be exalted back to his original position. Jesus wants the seventy to realize they are dealing with a fallen being.
The first attitude of a believer toward Satan and his demons should be the realization that they are under our feet. Notice, Jesus said, “I give unto you authority…” The authority we possess as believers has been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. The very ability to cast out demons comes from Jesus and not from any ability we possess. Even the seventy acknowledged they could only cast out demons in the name of the Lord.
IV. Exalted Above the Level of Angels
Satan is not an exalted creature. He is a creature of the ground. At one time he was exalted, but since the time he was cast from heaven, he has been a creature of the ground. The earth is his domain. The atmosphere around the earth is the domain of demons, but they do not rule the universe. God does. They have temporary access to heaven, but they have no authority or power there. They can access heaven to accuse the brethren (believers), but Satan’s domain is in the earth.
By physical birth, the believer is below the level of angels, but the moment we are born again, we become above the level of angels by position.
Psalm 8:3-6:
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.
Man was created below the level of angels, but exalted above the level of angels. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were below the level of angels by creation, but above them by position. Since Lucifer is a fallen angel, by creation he is superior to us, but through the new birth, we have been restored to the original position in which Adam stood before the fall. Jesus was trying to explain to the seventy that the same authority given to Adam and Eve in the Garden has been given to the saints.
Satan is fallen, the believer is not. We used to be fallen, but now we have been exalted. The opposite is true for Satan. He was exalted, but now he is a fallen being. Everything Lucifer wanted has been given to the believer, an inferior creature. One day, as inferior creatures, we will receive a resurrection body that will be superior to that of angels. But until that time, we are creatures below the level of angels.
V. Nothing Shall by Any Means Hurt You
Jesus told the seventy, “…and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Nothing means nothing! God has designed that we come through every trouble, trial, and tribulation successfully. He never promised we would not have problems. Instead, He said we would be able to tread on those problems.
Jesus said to the seventy in Luke 17:20, “…rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Jesus was trying to get them to understand that it should not be a big thing that demons were subject to them because as believers they had been exalted and the demons had been demoted. Jesus had given them power to tread on them. Demons are under the feet of the Church.
Ephesians 1:21-23 says Jesus has been exalted, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Jesus wanted the seventy to rejoice in the fact that their names were written in heaven, not over the fact that demons were subject to them. Every believer’s name is written in the Book of Life; Satan’s is not. Every believer will spend eternity with God; Satan will not.
VI. The Three Falls of Satan
There are three falls of Satan. Two have already occurred and one is yet to come. All three are mentioned in this passage from Luke 10. In verse 18 Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Satan’s first fall occurred before the world, as we know it today, began.
The second fall is found in verse 19. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Satan fell a second time when Jesus gained dominion over him at the cross.
Satan’s third fall will occur in the future. It is found in verse 20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Satan will never share eternity with God. Our names are written in heaven, his is not.
VII. In His First Fall, Satan Lost His Position
Isaiah 14:12-15:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.
This passage explains a time long before Adam and the Garden because it preceded Lucifer being referred to as Satan, the name of his fallen state. Lucifer means “light bearer.” Lucifer was never created as the light; he was created to be a bearer of the light. He is called “son of the morning.” The word “son” means offspring. The word “morning” is a reference to Jesus. Lucifer was created by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 12 says, “How art thou cut down to the ground…” Lucifer’s position has never changed from the time he was cast out of heaven and hit the ground. He has been on the ground since that time.
Ezekiel 28:13-16:
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
This passage says every precious stone was Lucifer’s covering. In other words, he was entrusted with all the riches of the earth. When Lucifer fell, his position was given to Adam. When Adam failed, God sent the Last Adam—Jesus Christ—and re-instated born again believers into the position Adam once held. No wonder Satan hates Christians! We walk in everything he was supposed to walk in and it has all been accomplished by the word of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lucifer was given reign over music, but now that anointing has been transferred to the Church. Believers need to stop comparing Satan to a Goliath they need to slay. He has already been defeated. He is under our feet. He has lost his power. He has lost his authority.
Lucifer held a position, rebelled, and lost his position. God created man to hold the position that Lucifer once held. Through deception, Satan took back his position in the earth. But where the first Adam failed, the Last Adam succeeded. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the born again believer has been reinstated to the position of authority he once held.
VIII. In His Second Fall, Satan Lost His Authority
In the second fall of Satan, he lost his authority. The authority Satan operated in before the cross was stolen authority. He stole that authority from Adam and Eve. He deceived them and took it from them. But Jesus took back that authority legally. No deception was involved.
Luke 11:20-22:
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
God’s intention has been for the Church to rule over Satan, not for the Church to wait for Jesus to rule over Satan.
This passage says, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils…” It has to be demeaning to the devil to say “I cast out devils with the finger of God.” The finger of God represents the least amount of power God has.
Some believers think they have to fast two weeks before they can cast out a devil. God used His hands to create the earth. God used His arm to redeem us. But we must remember, it only requires the finger of God to cast out a demon.
Jesus is telling the seventy, “The time for every believer casting out demons has come. Anyone who accepts me can operate in this power—the finger power of God.”
Satan was the strong man who had his house well armed and protected. But Satan has met a stronger than he. Verse 21 says, “But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. The stronger man is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the stronger man overcame him (this is the ascension and resurrection). Jesus took all of Satan’s armor and divided the spoils. Today, we have the armor. Satan doesn’t. We have the weapons. Satan doesn’t. You may say, “Well, I thought he went about as a roaring lion.” That’s right. He goes about as a roaring lion. He is not a lion. All he has is deception. He is called the deceiver of the brethren. One day, when Satan is exposed for who he really is, we will say, “Is this the one who deceived us all these years? Is this the one who caused the nations to tremble in fear?”
Before that day, Jesus wants us to live in the reality that Satan was stripped completely. Jesus went to the cross to deliver us. He rose in triumph. He spoiled Satan and gave us the spoils. The good news is Jesus didn’t take the spoils with Him to heaven.
Isaiah 53:12:
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Jesus divided the spoils among the strong ones being referred to in Isaiah 53, and we are the strong ones!
Colossians 2:13-15:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
We were spiritually dead, but Jesus made us alive and raised us up with Jesus. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances” is the law we were under, the law we could never keep, the law Jesus took out of the way and nailed it to the cross.
The word “spoiled” means to disarm and to take everything away from someone in which they trusted. “Having spoiled” not only means taking their weapons. It also means taking their treasures, their wives, their children, anything in which a person trusted and to strip them of them completely naked.
Jesus “made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it.” Jesus completely disarmed Satan and gave us the weapons. Satan is out there yelling, trying to overpower our thoughts with his lies, but he has no weapons. The weapons have been given to the Church.
IX. Our Weapons
What are our weapons? Our first weapon is the Word of God—the sword of the Spirit. The Bible is not just black words on a white page. The sword of the Spirit is the spoken Word of God—rhema. Speaking the Word of God is so powerful.
Other weapons we have been given are the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Just because we have been given all of these weapons it doesn’t mean Satan doesn’t attack. There are times when the attacks of the enemy can last for quite awhile. Ephesians 6:13-14 says, “and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” We are winners. Satan has been cast out of heaven. The reason we are winners is because when Jesus went to the cross he stripped Satan of his authority.
John 12:31:
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Hebrews 2:14:
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Just as Satan was cast out of heaven, he has also been cast out of his domain of authority.
X. The Future Fall of Satan
Revelation 20:2-3, 10:
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The future fall of Satan is yet to come. We walk in the spoils of the war Jesus has already won through the cross. Satan has been cast out of heaven and stripped of his authority. But the future fall of Satan is the best yet because Satan will completely lose his freedom. He will be chained and incarcerated forever in the Lake of Fire.
Revelation makes very clear who Lucifer is: the dragon, the old serpent, the devil and Satan. Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. After a thousand years has passed, he will be loosed for a short time.
But verse ten describes Satan’s final destination. He will be tormented day and night for ever and ever in the lake of fire and brimstone. Jesus exhorted the seventy, “Do not rejoice because the devils are subject to you. Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” What was Jesus’ point? Our names are written in heaven. The devil’s is not. The next time Satan comes to harass you and tries to convince you you are losing everything God has ever given you, maybe you should remind him you will be in heaven forever and ever and he won’t! Satan pursued Jesus, wanted to exalt himself above Him and lost. Jesus pursued you and me and won! Our future is eternity in heaven and Satan’s eternity is in the lake of fire forever!
Everything we have goes back to Jesus. Satan was thrown out of heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ. He lost his authority because of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and one day very soon, he will completely lose his freedom to roam, accuse the brethren and do what he wants to do in this earth. We have been exalted because of the work of Jesus Christ, placed in a position of authority over Satan because of the Lord Jesus Christ, and will rule and reign in heaven forever because of the Lord Jesus Christ!
XI. Spiritual Warfare
Seeing Satan for who he really is should completely change your attitude about spiritual warfare. There is a truth to spiritual warfare, but nowhere near what people have made it today. Many Christians believe they need to agonize and agonize against Satan as if Satan and they are equals and must battle against one another until Satan is finally overcome. But you must understand you are dealing with a defeated foe.
Ephesians 2:1-3:
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Where Satan is, is where we used to be and where we are is where Satan used to be. In every case, things have been completely turned around. Where Satan once was, we now stand, all because of the work of Jesus Christ.
In time past you were dead. Before you were born again you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the same spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. The children of disobedience are sinners. Because you are no longer a sinner, you are no longer under the authority of Satan. Since you have been born again, Satan no longer controls you. All that he can use against you is deception. He wants you to believe he is in control but he is not. One day you were promoted and since that time you have been placed in a position just under the Boss Himself—Jesus Christ!
No longer are you a sinner. No longer are you an unbeliever. You now put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and He has quickened you and released you from Satan’s control forever!
XII. You Have Already Won
The first time you were set free from Satan’s control was when you were born again. The next time was when you began to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. The body of Christ is divided into two groups—the knowledgeable and the ignorant. Believers who know the Word of God realize Satan has no authority over them. Believers who are ignorant of the Word often believe Satan has control over their lives.
Ephesians 6:12:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
This verse defines spiritual warfare and it sounds like you enter into the ring and go round and round and if you haven’t practiced fighting, Satan will knock you out. But I want to expound on what the verses preceding this verse tell us. Satan has never won a bout yet. You going against Satan is like the heavy weight champion of the world going against a guy that hasn’t’ won a match in years. The deck is stacked. You can go into the ring knowing you have already won and the one you are fighting against has never won a match! Jesus knocked him out centuries ago. Jesus defeated Satan at the cross and since that time, the Church has had authority over him. You may be thinking, “Well it sure seems like Satan beats Christians every day.” The truth is they were ignorant. They went into the ring not knowing they were already conquerors.
Colossians 1:13:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Notice, “delivered” is past tense. Even more important, the Greek tense means “delivered once and for all.” You could read this verse, “Who has once and for all delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us once and for all into the kingdom of his dear Son.” You now belong to the kingdom of God and stand victorious over the kingdom of Satan. Before the wrestling match ever begins, you won! You won through Jesus Christ and you won through the knowledge of who you are in Christ.
XIII. Be Fully Persuaded
Romans 8:38-39:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The key to a daily life of personal victory against Satan is to become persuaded. You become persuaded through the Word of God. Principalities and powers are as powerless to remove you from the love of God or any other position you have in Jesus Christ and anything else in creation has. Jesus has been made head of the Church. You have been made head over Satan. Anything Satan is has been placed under your feet. He is past tense defeated, present tense defeated, and future tense, facing eminent defeat! And in every case, you have been exalted!
Copyright 2009 by Bob Yandian Ministries. Adapted for www.netchurch.tv
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