On To Victory!

In Luke 4, we see Jesus commanding evil spirits to come out of people with just a word. The devil is not a match for Jesus, but all too often he seems to be a match for us. It seems that often times he can push us around and his whim and bully us into weakness.

I want to make something VERY CLEAR to us. There is no reason that believers in Jesus Christ should ever be pushed around by the devil. He has won the victory for us. Christians who are bullied by the devil are either uninformed of his tactics, spiritually asleep, or unaware as to who they are in Jesus Christ. Take a moment to read these five simple truths that help define us

1. Jesus has disarmed the enemy

Colossians 2:13-15 says that on the cross, Jesus disarmed the enemy and triumphed over him through the cross. In other words, the enemy has no weapons, power, or authority over those who belong to Jesus Christ!

2. Jesus uses us to subdue the enemy

Romans 16:20 says “the God of peace will soon crush satan underneath your feet.” We were made to participate with God. God chooses to work with us, and He looks for people who will obey Him. He has won the victory, but it requires us to be active—it is under our feet that satan will be pushed back.

Luke 10:19, Jesus said to His disciples that He has given them the authority to “trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you.”

3. We are not to be ignorant of the enemy’s tactics

2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us to understand our enemy. Here is a short sum up of the enemy’s tactics: since he has already been disarmed, he has no weapon against us, so he uses lies, intimidation, and fear. It’s like the robber who puts his hand in his jacket and tells you he has a gun. But the fear that he instills in us through his lies instead cause us to lay down our weapons instead of dominate him. Fear, more than anything else, will cause us to react in the flesh instead of faith in God, and then we play right into the enemy’s hands.

4. We are to be aware of spiritual attack

1 Peter 5:8 says to be vigilant because the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. Those who are devoured by the lions are those who are young, sick, or isolated. We cannot let our guard down for even a moment. We must be spiritually alert in our personal lives, families, jobs, and recreation not giving any chance for sin or entrance for the devil’s tactics to have place.

5. God has given us everything that we need to win

Ephesians 6:10-18 says that God has given us all the weapons and armor that we need to win the battle! Do not fear, because the devil has nothing on you! Jesus won the victory, now it is our turn to stand and fight and never again be pushed around, bullied, or intimidated by an enemy whose power has been taken from him!

On to victory!

Pastor Kyle Bauer