Christ, our deliverer

Man's dominion over earth is to be restored at the second coming of Christ. All power of the enemy was defeated through the death of the son of God on the cross. Yes, Christ made an open show of the enemy and the powers of darkness. How, through His resurrection from the grave?

Col 2:15...And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

When the Messiah came He came to deliver Israel from Roman oppression. The Roman legions had made prisoners their servants. The people were led captive by the power of Rome. They once were slaves outside the Roman Empire. Now, they had become slaves to the Roman Empire. Likewise, Christ takes people that are slaves to sin and He leads them forth to become His sons. These believers now come under Christ's control, His authority, and His power.

Jesus Christ delivers us from the power of the enemy. He delivers us from the power of Satan, demons, and demonic forces of the world. The Holy Scripture does not say Christ is going to deliver us to the point where we will never get sick and never die. Christ's deliverance will not keep the wind from blowing or a tornado from destroying our home. Nor does this mean that our businesses cannot collapse; or the economic, political, and social structure of the world of which we live cannot fall apart. The Bible does not teach that. It does teach that Christ delivers us from the power of Satan and demonic forces that try to influence us to live selfishly, greedily, and with unholy hearts.

On the other hand, the doctrine that says that Satan is without power is unscriptural. The language of the Bible says:

1 Peter 5:8-9...Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Believers in Christ are to resist the Devil. The Bible goes on to say that the child of God wrestles with the power of darkness.

Eph 6:12...For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

Why should we wrestle someone who cannot put up any resistance? Understand, Satan still has access to earth. He can use everything. If the Devil tempted the Son of God during his earthly ministry, he can tempt you. If he tried Jesus, he can try you. If Christ suffered, you are going to suffer.

The Apostles, among them Paul, did not deny Satan's ability. Paul said he was five times beaten with forty stripes save one. He was three times beaten with rods, once stoned, and three times shipwrecked. These are just a few of the many hardships he endured for the cause of Christ.

2 Cor 11:24-33...Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Paul suffered and did not say the battle was won at Calvary. Remember this - the obstacles of life are going to continue to come against us because Satan has the wicked under his control. He is the God of this age. He is the prince of the power of the air. He can use the things man lost control over. The child of God however, by faith in Christ, can defeat the Devil every day of his life.

1 John 4:4...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Christ by His death on the cross established His right to rule and reign the earth in righteousness. When Christ comes back, He is going to establish an earthly, visible Kingdom. So many times people go around the country claiming to possess authority. This perhaps reflects a big ego. There are two things that are wrong with the religious teachers today.

1. They are giving the Devil more authority than he has.
2. They are claiming authority they don't have.

Jesus said in Matthew:

Matt 28:18...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

This should be accepted. Jesus has authority over every angel, archangel, seraphim, and over the countless beings God created in heaven. All these are subject to the King of Kings, and He has control over them all.

1 Peter 3:21-22...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

God has control over all things on the earth. He controls the political, social, and economic affairs of life. The weather is even under His control. Any time he wants to use anything on earth, He can use it.

The weather...Matt 5:45...for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God opened the bowels of the earth...Num 16:32-34...And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

God used David and one stone to render Goliath...1 Sam 17:50...So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

The Old Testament is full of accounts where God the Creator used His control of creation to bring both blessing and judgment.


In the Throne Room

All the power of Satan must submit to the authority of Christ because of His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation. When we as believers trust Christ's authority, we have victory over all circumstances and conditions of life that Satan would use against us. When we come to the realization that through Christ's exaltation we can exercise His authority by faith, we indeed understand our position at the right hand of the Father.

Eph 2:4-6...But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

By His death on the cross, Christ has put under His feet all principalities, powers, and dominions. Everything is now under Christ's authority.

1 Cor 15:25...For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Christ now has all power in heaven and in earth but remember, Satan can still use the curse of the fall to torment us. Satan is like an "illegal alien" who has no authority to use on earth. For this reason, we should recognize our position in Jesus Christ who was not only crucified, and rose from the grave but, is alive with all authority over all things!

When we accept Christ's authority over all things, we have personal victory in our lives. If Christ has all authority in heaven and in earth - we do not need any authority. For example, if a man comes to my home that stands about six-foot seven inches tall and is trying to knock the door down; do you think I'm going to go out there and exercise my authority? Never! All that needs to be done is to call the police department. They in turn send a couple of policemen over, and take the man away. He is an intruder. The Devil is an intruder. Demons are also intruders. What should I do when they try to use anything on earth to torment me? By faith, I acknowledge my seat in the throne room and ask King Jesus to exercise authority over them! By the authority of Christ, they must go.

All Christ ever had to say to demons was "Go" and they left. According to James:

James 4:7...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

So, when demons attempt to try or test the child of God all you have to do is say, "Go". You do not even have to speak a verbal command to Satan. A lot of people get the impression they must chant certain prayers in order to have the power of God. That is not true. Others believe they must pray ten hours to have God exercise His authority on their behalf. This is not true. They say, "If I pray and pray and pray, I will drive God Almighty to exercise His power in my life". Of course no man can bribe God, nor make Him do anything.

If you want more power of God in your life, recognize what the Scripture says about the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit and; about your being seated in the Throne Room, raised to sit in heavenly places with Him. Realize that your position is in the Throne Room with Jesus where He has all power and authority. If you don't know that the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, all the prayers on earth are not going to make you more spiritual.

The idea of people going around the country claiming authority and at the same time trying to regiment people to pray, pray, pray, is resented by this writer. In an attempt to teach people how to pray, what to pray, how to testify, how to fast, when to fast, and how to cast out devils is all contrary to Scripture. The Bible clarifies how all this is Holy Spirit's work, in heart of a believer:

John 15:26-27...But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness

The Holy Spirit will cause you to pray if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will cause you to fast if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will even take you to the Throne Room where Christ is seated with all power and authority if you live in a consciousness of His presence. The Holy Spirit is here to take care of you for time and eternity if you know His presence, and that He is God. He is able to minister to any believer, all the power and authority that Christ has at the right hand of the Father, over heaven and earth.

The Bible says in Ephesians:

Eph 2:18...For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

By one Spirit, both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we have a right to go into the Throne Room where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the privilege we have, to exercise Christ's authority over all the problems of life. Hallelujah!