A Solid Foundation (part 8)

Exercise Your Authority in Christ!

3.27.2022

Review

I’ve been talking about A Solid Foundation for the future since February – the Word of God is a solid foundation for living in a changing world.

A few weeks ago I began talking about prayer as an important part of a solid foundation for the future.

Last week I began to go into detail about how important prayer is in our lives.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

So many believers do not see the urgency of praying seriously about all of life because they think it’s all going to work out the way God wants it to anyway.

It works out if we are praying and standing in faith.

Last week we discussed how Satan was kicked out of heaven by God and fell from heaven to the earth.

When Adam and Eve sinned, relationship with God was broken, the lease of dominion given to mankind was transferred to God’s arch-enemy Satan, and he began his tyrannical reign over human life on earth at that time.

Satan, fallen angels, and demons have been given a legal right for a period of time to oversee this planet and to hinder God’s plans.

At the second coming of Christ, Satan’s reign over this planet ends, and he is cast into a place called the lake of fire.

Ephesians 1:10 (PHILLIPS)

For God had allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him.

We looked at Genesis 1 and Psalm 8 and saw that although God has universe-wide authority and control, God for a period of time ceded man dominion over the earth.

We looked at Hebrews 2:8-9 and Luke 4:5-6 which shows that man’s earth-wide authority was transferred to Satan when man sinned.

Satan is called by Jesus the “prince of this world” in John 14. He is called “the god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. He is called “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the unsaved masses of people” in Ephesians 2:2. And 1 John 5:19 reveals that the whole world is under Satan’s power and control.

Jesus Christ came as the God-man. He is called the 2^nd Adam, and the last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15. Because Jesus was born of a virgin, He was born in fellowship with God, out from under Satan’s control, was not subject to death, and nullified Satan’s rule in people’s lives by healing the sick, forgiving sin, and controlling the elements.

Jesus as the representative New Man – fully forgiven and fully redeemed by God – took back the authority Adam and Eve gave away when they sinned and gave that authority back to the church – to you and me!

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

TODAY – Exercise your authority in Christ!

Live everyday with an understanding that in Christ you are free from Satan’s rule.

Live everyday with an understanding that in Christ you are free from Satan’s rule.”

Satan and his kingdom have an expectation that every person must yield to his rulership.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

The satanic kingdom does two things to attack – it will put a thought in your mind and a feeling on your body.

Are you a feeling oriented or a faith in God’s Word oriented person?

When we come to Jesus, we can learn to live by a higher law, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It frees us from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:2 (NKJV)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

If you believe the thought and yield to the feeling, it will seek to trap you in its web.

When can learn to live by the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus! We can live above the law of sin and death!

If you believe the thought and yield to the feeling, it will seek to trap you in its web.

We must choose to submit our bodies to God and His kingdom, and renew our minds with God’s word.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Walking by faith is the foundation for a successful prayer life!

Spiritual warfare has to do with controlling your thoughts and choosing to act by faith in God’s Word in every single circumstance of life.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NCV)

We live by what we believe, not by what we can see.

1 Timothy 6:12 (AMP)

Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.

Fight

agōnízomai;

To contend for victory in the public games (1 Cor. 9:25). It generally came to mean to fight, wrestle (John 18:36). Figuratively, it is the task of faith in persevering amid temptation and opposition (1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7). It also came to mean to take pains, to wrestle as in an award contest, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal (Luke 13:24 [cf. 1 Cor. 9:25; Phil. 3:12ff.; Heb. 4:1]). Special pains and toil (Col. 1:29; Col. 4:12). Implies hindrances in the development of the Christian life.

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Learning to live by faith takes you out of his control, and enables you to overcome his attacks.

Every believer that moves away from Satan’s control must learn to live by faith. That means there will be challenges.

Jesus was challenged at the very beginning of His ministry:

Jesus answered Satan’s attacks with “it is written.” A wise believer will do the same!

Matthew 4:4-11 (NLT)

4But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’” 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Personal examples:

Mentally and emotionally – you must learn to resist negative thoughts and feelings…

*Example – Satan used a pastor to seek to undermine my spiritual life while I was in Bible School.

Instead, I chose to think on God’s word.

Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Physically – you must choose to act on God’s Word first when sickness attacks.

*March 1985 – flu attack.

Proverbs 4:20-22/Matthew 8:17/Isaiah 53:4-5/Psalm 103:3

Financially – you must choose to give and expect God’s provision when things are tight.

1981 – out of the will of God – more month than money.

I meditated on scripture about giving and about God meeting my needs.

Matthew 6:33/Philippians 4:19/2 Corinthians 9:6-10/

Look at what the Bible says about about your current position in Christ:

Ephesians 1:19-23 (NLT)

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV)

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)

For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:13 (AMPC)

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

1 Corinthians 2:6 (NKJV)

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

 

Who are coming to nothing:

Amplified:

who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away.

 

Wuest:

Who are in the process of being liquidated.

 

Youngs Literal Translation:

Of those becoming useless

 

Moffat:

the dethroned powers that rule this world.

Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

 

Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

 

Colossians 2:15 (AMPC)

[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Colossians 2:15 (MSG)

He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.

 

Colossians 2:15 (God’s Word)

He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.

 

Colossians 2:15 (J.B. Phillips)

And then, having drawn the sting of all the powers and authorities ranged against us, He exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in His own triumphant victory.

 

If you’ve been watching scary sci-fi’s, or movies like Polterguist or _____, you need to reinforce the fact that you have authority…

Now you can understand James 4:7

 

James 4:7 (NKJV)

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

James 4:7 (NEB)

Stand up to the Devil and he will turn and run

 

Resist

Strongs – to oppose or withstand

 

Bullinger – set one’s self against, either in word or deed or both.

 

Elliot – The devil can fight, but cannot conquer you if you resist.

 

Wheaton – Temptations when repelled disappear, and when habitually kept at a distance, cease to exist.

 

Flee

Thayer – flee because of inspired fear and threatened danger

 

Arndt – seek safety in flight

 

Liddle and Scott – run off as quickly as possible

 

Expositor’s Greek New Testament – If you resist him, he will be vanquished and will flee from you disgraced.

 

And Ephesians 4:27

NKJV:

Nor give place to the devil.

 

God’s Word:

Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.

 

NCV:

Do not give the devil a way to defeat you.

 

Weymouth:

And do not leave room for the Devil.

 

Kenneth Wuest:

And stop giving an occasion for acting [opportunity] to the devil.

Don’t allow fear, oppression, discouragement, lack, sickness, or anything else that steals, kills, and destroys to rule your life.

Run it out by using the name of Jesus against it.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Action Points:

1. What are you doing with the authority Jesus gave you?
2. With your faith and your praying, are you actively resisting Satan’s schemes to hinder your life and family?
3. Do you live in the consciousness of your being seated with Jesus in a place of authority over Satan’s plans to hinder your life?