Exercise Your Jesus-Given Authority Over Satan (part 6)

You Can Overcome Worry

12.4.2022

Review

In this series, my heart is to prepare you to win the spiritual battles ahead of you.

There is a world of darkness that is rising up everywhere, and I want you to be ready for it!

Our vantage point for talking about this is a place of spiritual authority!

Satan was expelled from heaven due to sin – pride and slander…he fell to earth…

1. Satan has an authority right now on earth that was given to him by Adam when he chose to sin.
2. Jesus went to the cross as the representative man!
3. Jesus’ resurrection gives you a delegated authority over Satan.
4. Build up your faith in the authority Jesus has given to you.

You have authority over demon spirits, not human personalities.

The last two weeks we looked at:

Two Areas to watch out for:

1. Deviant sexual behavior (Baal and Molech)

2. Participation in any form of occult practices

Today: You Can Overcome Worry!

1. There is a strong push today to control you with fear and worry.

There is a huge push to control what people think about today. It is more important to have a free mind than a full belly.

Keeping your mind on God, His will, and His promised grace and supply will be the biggest challenge you face in your future!

The most important thing we can do when we are in a hard place is to keep our thoughts strong and free from fear and worry.

Luke 21:25-26 (AMP)

And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea, (26) Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

Luke 21:34-35 (NLT)

Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Philippians 4:8 (NET)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

2. Give your worries to God.

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

Casting all your care on Him; for He cares for you.

 

Casting

Greek – epiripto – to fling or quickly toss upon. To deposit with.

 

Same word used in Luke 19:35 – NLT

So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

 

All – The whole of your future worries…

Care – Merimna:

to be drawn in two different directions, to be distracted.

 

Used in Matthew 13:22 (NLT)

The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

 

Used in Mark 4:19 (NKJV)

And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 21:34 (NLT)

Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap.

 

For He cares for you…translations:

 

TCNT – HE makes you His care.

 

BECK- He takes care of you.

 

MOFFAT – His great interest is in you.

 

NEB – You are His charge.

 

KNOX – He is concerned for you

1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

 

Proverbs 14:30 :

Berkeley Translation

A relaxed mind makes for physical health; but passion is rottenness to the bones.

 

Amplified

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are as rottenness to the bones.

 

God’s Word Translation

A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body – but jealousy is like bone cancer.

 

Worry Quotes

Charles W. Mayo, M.D.

Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects the health. You have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt.

 

Swedish Proverb

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.

Anonymous

Worry is a futile thing; it’s somewhat like a rocking chair. Although it keeps you occupied, it doesn’t get you anywhere.

 

Charles H. Spurgeon

It has been well said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.

 

3. Satan attacks through the avenue of thoughts.

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV)

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

 

Sober – nepho – free from mental intoxicants. Be mentally self-controlled.

 

Drunkenness produces:

 

* Distorted perceptions.

* Physical limitations.

* Evasion of responsibility.

* Problems overtaking a person.

Be vigilant – be ever on your guard.

 

Thought Quotes:

Kenneth Hagin

You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head. But you can keep him from building a nest in your hair!

 

Tim Lahaye

You live the way you think- so what the mind feeds upon becomes the most influential force of your life.

 

Smith Wigglesworth

The devil knows that if he can capture your thought life, he has won a mighty victory over you…I come across people everywhere I go who are held bound by deceptive conditions, and these conditions have come about simply because they have allowed the devil to make their mind the place of his stronghold.

 

Lester Sumrall

The soul must be conquered before the spirit can be free.

4. Satan enters your life on the road of thought.

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 (NCV)

Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks.

Ephesians 6:11 (CJB)

Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.

 

Wiles :

 

Greek – Methodia– from 2 words

 

meta – with

 

oidos – road, highway, route

 

Satan comes “with a road.”

 

Satan comes with a road or down a path into your life. He comes through your thoughts!

 

5. Don’t allow Satan to play mind games with you!

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (CJB)

11 so that we will not be taken advantage of by the Adversary—for we are quite aware of his schemes!

 

Devices –

Greek – Noema:

To exercise the mind; that which is thought out; “mind games.”

 

Worry is a spiritual attack against your mind. Satan wants you to get drunk with worry so you will view life from a distorted perspective and give up your faith. Worry is allowing doubt and fear to dominate you and gives Satan a foothold.

 

6. Use the weapon of the Word of God to challenge wrong thinking.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 (NIV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

 

Pulling Down, Casting Down

Greek- Kathairesis

To bring to extinction, to demolish

 

Strongholds

Greek – ochuroma

A fortress, a castle, to fortify by holding. A thought that becomes a pattern or way of thinking or living.

 

Arguments

Greek- Logismos

A thought or reflection that proceeds conduct.

7. Detailed prayer can cure worry.

Philippians 4:6 (J.B. Phillips)

Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your need in sincere and thankful prayer.

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 (BBE)

24 For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.

Cover everything with believing prayer, and then live in the expectation of the answer.

 

Leave in-between stuff, between the prayer and the answer, in God’s hands by faith!

 

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

 

Psalm 37:5 (AMPC)

Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

 

Psalm 55:22 (AMPC)

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose confidence is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and it does not fear when heat comes; for its leaves remain green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, for it does not fail to yield fruit.

 

Proverbs 16: 3 (AMPC)

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

 

Matthew 11:28-30 (AMPC)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

 

Action Points:

1. Do you immediately resist negative thoughts that come, or do you alow yourself to ponder them until fear appears in your emotions?
2. Do you pray about everything in detail, or do you just hope that things work out?
3. Do you expect God to answer your prayers, and do you live in the expectation of the answer to them?