A Cornell 20th September 2009
1 Jesus had a lot to say about Satan. – He tempted Jesus but Jesus overcame in the authority of THE WORD OF GOD
2 Jesus healed people by rebuking and binding unclean spirits – BUT he healed many more by commanding -using his authority - HIS WORD
3 Satan has power in the earth BUT we are delivered.
Galatians 1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:18-20
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

God gave man authority: Adam gave it to Satan: when he disobeyed God. Jesus took Satan’s power (authority) and gave it to us. If we receive it and keep it, it is ours.
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Satan’s power is limited to the ability to; confuse, deceive, tempt, infiltrate with doubts and fears – twisting even the word of God - to lead us into disobedience – self- seeking and sin

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,
‘Stand fast’ sounds like a term from war. e.g., a shield wall to repel attacks. Or.
Not be entangled. Keep free from bondage – the context here seems to be legalism but the passage follows on to talk about sin – the bondage of our natural man – the flesh.
In Romans there’s much about a war between the flesh and the spirit.
And in 1 Corinthians 3:3
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
But we were recreated to be free.
Ephesians 2:1-4 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

See v 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Satan still has power over the sons of disobedience

2 Corinthians 10:4 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
We are not fighting people. Or even Spiritual forces BUT strongholds. These are internal things. – The spirit of disobedience is in US which means we follow the flesh not God.

The problem is the world, the flesh and the devil all three.

The devil authors confusion. He has two extremes for us to follow.
Either he is all powerful, in everything on one extreme or he doesn’t exist.

We know better, we are aware of his lack of power and also his wiles.
Ephesians 6:10-15
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

We are able to STAND. Using what is given to us: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the word of God
Confusion, guilt, condemnation are the weapons against us, we add our reactive flesh to the things of the world – What people say and do , circumstances, accidents, disasters. We react with anger, wrath, unforgiveness or revenge. Or so we would if we were natural, unredeemed carnal people instead of blood bought new creations, forgiven and citizens of the kingdom of God

We know that - God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
We know that the same Holy Spirit lives in us! So we have the same power.
• We stand firm in that knowledge.
• We know that the devil as a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour – and it is not us!
• We know that the thief comes to kill steal and destroy BUT Jesus came --- and is in us to give us abundant life.

We Decide.
To walk in what God has given.
To shut the door on the thief.
To stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free

Margaret and I decided in 1978 to never let the sun go down on our wrath.
We will always forgive and be forgiven for anything that rises up between us.
That way we stand firm.
The door is closed to the thief who could come in and steal.

This is the battle zone.
It’s in us and in our relationships with others.
We decide and we stand firm in His forgiveness, his grace and his mercy.
Our freedom from sin, our righteousness in Him is the place where we decide to stand fast

Created by A Cornell