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Ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood; but with the despotisms; the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world; the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in heavenly warfare (Ephesians 6:12, WEYMOUTH).
What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe . . . which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion . . . and hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:19-23).
The Lord is head over all principality, power, might and dominion and every name that is named in this world and in the world to come. His position and power are supreme. The risen Lord enthroned at Gods right hand rules "far above" every other force which seeks to control and govern this dark world.
Through the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus, God the Father, "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places" with our risen and enthroned Lord. Thus, raised up together and seated together in Heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:5-7), through the grace of God, every believer is elevated with Him to the right hand of God and occupies potentially the Throne of the Lord.
Christ is the Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 5:23-24). Born-again believers are His body (Eph. 1:22-23). We share Christs authority (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:29-30; John 17:18; 1 John 4:17). Head and body have beenpotentiallyraised up TOGETHER (Eph. 1:19-23; Eph. 2:1-6).
In the purposes of God this elevation took place at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ through the believers identification with Him.
For the Church of Christ to stand victoriously in this hour when Satanic forces are united in full and deadly array against her, every believer must understand the necessity of NOW accepting with Christ the place of spiritual authority and fearlessly bind these forces of darkness, enforcing Calvarys Triumph over them.
In order to make the necessary advances in the work of the Kingdom at this hour it is absolutely essential that believers, in humility, giving honor to God, take their seat in the heavenly places in Christ at His right hand, far above all powers of the air, and from that seat hold them in subjection, through faith in the Name and authority of the Lord Jesus.
Every Believers Place of Privilege and Authority
Christ "spoiled principalities and powers" and triumphed over them. Every believer shares this mighty conquest of Calvary to the full. Jesus who has absolute command over the forces of evil confers this authority upon His disciples for He says, "Behold I give you authority . . . over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).
The believer whose eyes have been opened to the comprehension of his throne rights in Christ soon learns in the exercise of this authority that the power he possesses "in the heavenlies in Christ" is infinitely greater than that which backs his enemies. The powers of evil are compelled to obey the believer as he boldly and in faith exerts his authority in Jesus Name.
Every demon is subject to the believer in Christ through His Name (Luke 10:17). The Angelic rulers and authorities; the Potentates of the spirit-forces of evil in the heavenlies, may not yield instant obedience but the believer must speak the word of authority and rule and overrule against the evil forces of Satan wherever he sees them at work.
The powers of darkness will bitterly oppose and resist their own overthrow. They will attack with malignant hatred the believer enforcing Calvarys victory over them. The believers refuge is UNDER THE BLOOD of Jesus where no force or power of the enemy can penetrate.
The Cross has robbed Satan of his power. To overcome him, present the Blood of Jesus in the face of every attack from the pit whether the attack is upon your Church, family, mind, soul, body or circumstances. Satan is overcome by the Blood of the Lamb of God, and by the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). Bind the Blood upon him. It takes away all his abrogated authority and power.
The devil is a defeated foe. Christ overcame him on the Cross. On Calvary He triumphed over the powers of darkness.
We have now but to ENTER IN to His victory by faith. We do not need to fight Satan but to hold over him the accomplished triumph of the Cross. The Blood of Jesus is Gods provision for overcoming the enemy. The Blood of Jesus is the token of Christs complete victory over Satan and his evil forces and their complete subjection to Him as He sits on His Throne.
Challenge the Enemy
This ruling and overruling authority of the Lord is available for us, if we are under the Blood and full of the Holy Spirit. We can never employ this power in our own spirit. If, when dealing with the enemy, we give way to our own spirit it means sure defeat. In occupying the Throne-seat the enemy cannot attack. The enemys strategy is to entice the believer from his position of authority and get him vexed, burdened, confused, depressed or self-occupied.
The seat of authority far above the enemy, in union with Christ, is the believers security (Eph. 1:15-23; 2:1-6). By faith ask God to cover every part of your conscious and subconscious being with the Blood of Jesus. Then say aloud, "Jesus Blood does NOW protect every part of me and does NOW destroy the power of the devil." A definite stand in the authority of the Lord must be taken, absolutely refusing to give place to the devil in whatever form he manifests himself in the church or home, in body, mind or spirit.
"Give No Place to the Devil"
"Anything that takes us from an attitude of worship, peace and joy and consciousness of Gods Presence, has a Satanic source." Whenever the powers of darkness come anywhere near the borders of your home or church or personal life, in the Name and authority of Jesus Christ they must be challenged. Say out loud, "This is the devil, and I now resist him in the Name and power of the Lord Who conquered him on Calvary."
Dissensions arise in churches, in families, among friends. Behind all strife, perplexity and confusion is Satan. To break his power use every weapon you know by appealing to God on the grounds of Calvary and calling down Gods judgment upon the adversary (Luke 18:7-8). The devil only lets go his hold on men and affairs of church and home when compelled. God Himself resists the proud. But to us is entrusted the power to resist the Devil (James 4:6-12).
"Neither give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:27) is a commandment of God. Are we daily displacing the devil and his despotic and Satanic control in the affairs of this present evil world? Do we meet his attacks on mind and soul and body, upon church and home by counter attacks? Do we in the Name of the Lord and by His authority say, "The prince of this world is NOW cast down"? Do we live in Ephesians six and obey Gods commands to "Be Strong"; "Put on Gods Armor"; "Wrestle"; "Stand"; "Withstand"; "Take the Sword"; "Pray with all perseverance"?
Boldly Claim the Victory of Calvary
God has GIVEN us power to tread down the power of the enemy (Matt. 18:18-20). God has committed to every believer the responsibility of displacing the devil. The devil is a usurper. He has no right to any place in any life or any church. We alone are to blame if he continues in power. Christ through His death rendered the devil powerless to withstand the believer who will, by faith and obedience, TAKE the authority over the devil conferred by Christ, and USE it. The devil now has no power except what we allow him to usurp (1 John 3:8).
It is our duty to oppose the devil every place we find him at work. To leave him unchallenged is to rob Jesus of Calvarys triumph. The Lord says if we resist the devil he will flee and those who obey the Lord and put up a bold and steadfast resistance to Satan, find it is true, he flees as God said he would (James 4:7). We need daily to, in humble faith in Christs finished work, take our seat in the heavenly places at His right hand and exercise the authority which He has entrusted to us in fearlessly binding the powers of darkness wherever found.
Behind the dissension and strife, perplexity and confusion in church and home today are these malign powers of darkness. In the authority of the Lord they must be displaced.
In a certain revival center, outside opposition became so strong that it seemed the work would suffer ruin. Finally the pastor-evangelist gathered together a group of praying people and asked them to stand with him, under the Blood of Christ, and bind the power of the enemy. After a time of prayer and praise and song they definitely prayed aloud, "In the Name of the Lord Jesus and by His authority we bind the strong man from stirring up these people, and from attacking Gods work" (See Matt. 12:29). No further trouble was encountered. The opposition began to quarrel among themselves and their power to oppose the church was broken.
Enforcing the Redemptive Rights of This Dispensation
Instances may be multiplied to show that in every situation where, in faith, the obedient child of God claims his throne rights in Christ and boldly exerts his authority that none are able to stand before him. A mother was grieved with the lying disposition of her child. Learning of the authority of "His Name"quietly but firmly in the Name of Jesus she rebuked the lying spirits and saw her child delivered. In personal work difficulty is often encountered in dealing with souls. The mind of the seeker after salvation seems bound and blinded. A quiet attitude of victory over the opposing spirits often brings quick deliverance to the captive.
In another instance a Christian worker was often conscious of a stupefying power coming over his mind and paralyzing his will. He was often pressed down and perplexed. He did not know of the oppression of the evil spirits in the atmosphere and did not resist the attacks but stood passive and helpless before them.
One day it came to him from God to say out loud, "This is the devil. I resist him in the Name and power of the Lord who conquered him at the cross." He felt instant relief from the oppression on mind and body. His mind cleared. His will became strong to resist. His faith in Calvarys victory extricated him from a mass of perplexing circumstances that had for years hindered his testimony and prayer life.
Gods Word is clear, "Your adversary the devil . . . whom resist, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7).
A devout Christian with a real experience was hounded through life by trouble and misfortune. He submitted to this life-long misfortune, believing it was in the chastening Providences of God, until one day hearing a talk which clearly unveiled the sinister working of the powers of darkness, he realized the deception.
He was encouraged to take a position of authority over these powers of darkness in the Name of Christ and to challenge them. He was told to assert his rights to obtain employment and other material blessings and to forbid these powers from obstructing his prosperity and progress. It took three days of challenging the powers of Satanic opposition to his prosperity. But in that time the stream of Satanic misfortune was broken and by faith in Christs victory he wrested his life out of the hand of the adversary and obtained shortly a profitable position.
Ruling Out Evil Forces
We cry out to God to rebuke the enemy and to alter things. But God has invested us with this power on the grounds of Calvarys victory. A teacher was often distressed over the fact of a pupils violent temper over trivial matters. Coming into a knowledge of the need of refusing the working of evil spirits, he took the authority of the Lord over these demons of rage and commanded them to leave the place. The child became quiet in a few moments.
The same authority is available in its exercise of releasing funds for the advancement of Christian work. Satan is hindering Christian enterprise by tying up funds. Believers have the power to unite and agree that these barriers to Christian benevolence give way (Matt. 18:18-20).
Men and women of faith, courage and determination need to rise in our churches and bind these hostile forces, garrisoned against the financial prosperity of the worldwide advance of the Gospel.
A Christian worker whose ministry was suffering for funds, finding her prayers for Gods provisions unanswered, rebuked the "poverty" demons and bound the Satanic hindrance to prayer. Each time her funds were held up she exercised this authority in union with Christ and released funds for her blessed work for the Master.
In these perilous days, the powers of darkness conscious of their impending overthrow, are fiercely resisting on all fronts, so much so that every prayer Godward needs a resistance Satanward to prevail.
The way to have the authority of Christ is to make Him Lord of our lives! Only to the extent that we do make Him Lord are we able by faith to enter into a continual, experimental knowledge of this crowning victory which He has procured for us.
"We see Jesus...crowned" (Heb. 2:9).
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