As Christians, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). People are not our enemy, the devil is. There are evil spirits in the heavenly places that are trying to hinder us from walking in the Spirit and fulfiliing our purpose in God.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
When Jesus Christ went to the cross and rose again, he triumphed over all evil spirits and won an eternal victory over them. Now it just remains for us to believe in this victory and walk in this victory that Jesus has already won.
One of the most powerful ways to defeat evil spirits is through the word of God. The word of God is a spiritual sword that cuts down the power of Satan. When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he defeated him through the word of God. We also defeat Satan through the word of God, which is living and powerful.
At the beginning of the world God prophesied that the Seed of the Woman would come who would crush the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15). The Seed of the Woman is Jesus Christ. Approximately 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to earth and crushed the head of the ancient serpent, Satan, on the cross.
Jesus told his disciples, “I give to you power to trample on serpents and on scorpions” (Luke 10:19). Serpents and scorpions represent evil spirits. Jesus has given to his people power over evil spirits, to cast them out.
Jesus said, “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons” (Mark 16:17).
Every child of God has the Holy Spirit inside them. The Holy Spirit is greater than every evil spirit. We have nothing to fear, because we are empowered to cast out evil spirits.
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).
Principalities and powers are fallen angels. Jesus defeated them on the cross. He disarmed them and took away their power. He even went so far as to make a public spectacle of them, putting them to open shame. They are afraid of Jesus because he defeated them. They are afraid of the people of God, because the Holy Spirit is inside us who is greater than them.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
When we submit to God, we are under his covering and protection. When we resist the devil, he has to run away from us.
These verses show that Jesus Christ has defeated Satan and given his children power against evil spirits.
Sometimes we must wrestle against evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12). Wrestling is the Greek word palay.
Wrestling is one of the most ancient sports. The goal of the ancient sport of wrestling was to drive an opponent off a ground, or make an opponent submit on a ground. When he submits or is driven off, he loses the match. Then he must leave the ground, and the winner stands on that ground victoriously.
This ground is the place of struggle. It is the potential place of victory. We will manifest this victory not in our own strength or ability, but in the spiritual strength and ability of Almighty God. Christ has already conquered the devil, and he calls us to be more than conquerors, as we participate in his victory.Let’s take the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) so that we might stand on the ground God has given us and take new territory for the kingdom of God.
We gird ourselves with the truth of God. We put on the righteousness of Christ. We stand on the truth of the gospel, praising God that Jesus Christ has died and risen up again. Through faith, we defeat Satan’s fiery arrows. Our minds are protected from doubts by the truth of our salvation. We speak out the word of God, wielding the powerful sword of the Spirit, crushing Satan afresh. And we pray for each other, that we can be victorious together as the body of Christ.
Praise God for the victory that we have in Jesus Christ. He is for us, and no one can stand against us. He is our safety and our victory, for he is the eternal conquering Son of God.
Lincoln House Churches 