Good word brother Frank!

Brothers and sisters thank you for your thoughts and excellent posts on this thread. Much to think about. But I think based on the consensus of what you are sharing we believe that Satan is defeated today. But we must claim that victory over Satan in a walk of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in His work on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. Faith that His resurrected spirit is now living in us to help us walk out that faith. His victory over Satan.

I apologize I could not respond individually to each excellent post here. But thank you again for posting and your spirit by which you posted.

I think this thread has shown what a good discussion can be on a forum. And dear Saints thank you so much for keeping the pots and pans in the kitchen where they belong. :-)

Will be thinking some more on our victory over Satan and posting from time to time as the Spirit gives lead.

Brother Blaine

Amen, Brenda. The unbelievers are held captive by his (Satan's) will.

The purpose of Christ’s coming into the world was to destroy the works of the Devil:
1 John 3:8
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Heb. 2:14
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Jesus has ALREADY won the victory over the Devil.
Col. 2:13-15
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

In His death for the sins of men and His triumphant resurrection, Christ broke the “bonds of death,” and therefore destroyed Satan’s ultimate power over mankind. The Gospel, which is the good news of the victory Christ has won for us, is the “chain” which binds Satan’s power.

This DOES NOT mean that Satan is not still active within certain spheres of worldly influence.

1. Peter says he is a roaring lion

1 Pet. 5:8
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

However, in this same context Peter goes on to tell Christians that they can resist him and overcome him.

1 Pet. 5:9-10
But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

James also gives this instruction:
James 4:6-10
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Satan is like a viscous dog chained to a pole. A dog does not cease to be viscous just because he is chained. If you enter within the range to which he is limited, he is still very dangerous. However, his range is limited or restricted. He is bound.

Before Christ’s death and resurrection – before the Gospel plan of salvation went into operation — the whole world lay in darkness due to Satan’s uninhibited dominion.

It was only the Jewish nation that kept the knowledge of the true and living God alive, and they frequently turned aside from God’s laws and became idolatrous.

What Revelation is telling us (Satan bound for a thousand years) is that during the “thousand years” (a long but indefinite period) during which Satan is bound, he is unable to destroy Christianity through a universal persecution. Notice these facts:

1. He tried it in the days of the early church, using the pagan Roman Empire as his instrument to persecute the church (Acts. 8:1).

2. Thousands suffered and died for the faith, but the Lord’s church was not wiped out or destroyed.

3. The reign of Christ has continued throughout more than 2000 years of persecution and opposition.

4. It will continue until the end of this world, when Christ returns to raise the dead, judge all men, and receive the faithful to himself (2 Thess. 1:7-10).

5. He will then deliver the Kingdom BACK to the Father.
1 Cor. 15:20-26
20* But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 6
21* For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22* For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
23* But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
24* then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
25* For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26* The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

Thank you Blaine for bringing up this subject for discussion, and for all of the good input that was made.

We can praise and thank the Lord for His victory at calvary. The saints must come to the full knowledge of what the Lord has done through His death and resurrection, as well as the authority that has been given to the Church over all of the works of the devil.

I have been in groups that have made the statement that we should not even pay any attention to the devil because he has already been defeated, and our eyes should be on Jesus only. I have to admit that some that have got into deliverance ministry, which is a very valid ministry, see devils behind every bush. Our focus should not be on the demonic, but on the other hand, we know that our warfare is not against flesh and blood. We know that we are not to be ignorant concerning the devices and strategies of the devil.

God is going to manifest His great wisdom to the principalities and powers through the Church. Even as the enemy deceived and caused the first Adam to fall, the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and the Church has been given the full armor of God, the sword of the Spirit, the name of Jesus, and blood of the Lamb to overcome all of the powers of darkness, and to live as more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

"His purpose was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 3:10)

_________________
Mike

Brother I agree. Indeed Eph. 3:10 is showing that God is working out His Victory, His Victorious Life in Jesus over the demonic realm, through his bride the church.

Bro Blaine

Brother thank you for your thoughtful posts on this thread. Indeed you are so right. The evil one cannot touch the true believer in Christ. Such a verse to take comfort in. Such a verse to know about our victory in Jesus.

Bro Blaine

Brother thank you for your thoughtful post. You are always centered on the word. And I do agree that ultimately one day the enemy will be thrown into the Lake of fire. And for sure our victory assured in Jesus by what he has done to the cross.

Bro Blaine

My brother I so appreciated your short answer. I know that answer came from my s heart filled with Jesus. So appreciate your posts.

Brother we miss you on the Friday night calls. I hope you will return soon.

Brother Blaine