A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Satan’s goal is to eventually control all of mankind on the earth. The culmination of his diabolical schemes will be the revealing of the the person the Bible calls the man of sin, or the antiChrist. His goal will be to annihilate from the earth all things Christian and biblical. He is working behind the scenes right now to bring this to pass. So, you and I who believe in Jesus feel the pressure every day!
This is not a day to compromise your walk with God. This is a day to exercise your authority in Christ and keep Satan and his minions in their place – under your feet!
The only group of people on earth that have the authority to put Satan in his place are informed Christians! Jesus gave us authority to tread on “serpents and scorpions” and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). When Jesus was raised from the dead, and just before He ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Jesus already had authority over Satan before He died and rose from the dead. The authority that He proclaimed there was the authority that He legally obtained over Satan as the representative man! As a man Jesus humbled Himself and lived as we do, facing our every challenge and temptation without sin. Then He submitted to becoming our spiritual death and becoming a sacrifice for our sin. He then submitted to death. In His resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan and took from him the keys of hell and of death. Keys represent authority. Jesus took from Satan His authority over the human race and gave that authority to the church.
Satan is called the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). John declares that the rest of the world around us is under Satan’s power and control (1 John 5:19 – Living). Satan still rules over the masses of the unsaved, and seeks to dominate world thought.
We are called to exercise authority over Satan. We are raised up together with Jesus, and are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus is seated far above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. God has 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 who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:21-23).
We must not sit back in a lukewarm position, holding authority yet refusing to exercise it. We must become and remain vigilant in faith, prayer, and action!
Let me encourage us all in a practical way to command Satan to take His hands off of our nation, our community, our families, our children, our bodies, our finances, and all that belongs to us. Let us cry out to the Father for a great moving of the Holy Spirit in convicting power over the unsaved in our communities. And let us stand for an increase in the proclamation of the word of God, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
The Father is waiting today for you to exercise your Jesus given authority of Satan in your life and in your family. Let Him wait no longer!
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).