I watched wrestling ( WWE) with my dad on TV when I was a kid. It was something we did together. We went to the Washington Avenue Amory in Albany to watch wrestling in person several times, such as Andre’ The Giant, Hulk Hogan, Chief Jay Strongbow, and others whose names I forget now. I don’t follow WWE anymore, but it was exciting as a kid. These wrestlers were so strong. It seemed like they could do anything. To see them body-slam an opponent on the mat was crazy. For them to get an advantage over them, pin them to the mat for the count of three. I did wrestling in junior high for a while which is in some way was different kind of wrestling. There were no throwing chairs and choking. It was all about applying different moves and grips to gain an advantage over our opponent and eventually pin them to the mat. As Christians today, we have a different type of wrestling. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)-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.
The real battle is not the WWE but a spiritual battle against a host of darkness. The Greek word wrestle in Ephesians 6:12 is pale( payla), which comes from the Greek root word ballo which means to throw or thrust, The word pale means to vibrate, shake, or sway. In Roman games, it was fierce hand-to-hand combat. To gain an advantage over the enemy to defeat them by any means. Since Satan and his demons are already defeated and stripped of their power and authority, our battle truly is overcoming his lies and deception. Jesus through the cross and the resurrection has defeated Satan. He shook up his kingdom of darkness. ( Col 2:15, 1 John 3:8, Matt 12:29, Luke 10:18, Heb 2:14, Luke 11:22). His only power is lies and deception. Jesus has all authority and power in heaven and on earth ( Matt 28:18). People give Satan and demons the power to operate on the earth in wickedness. ( 1 John 5:19, 2 Cor 4:4, John 13:2). The Apostle Paul tells us to give no place or foothold to the devil ( Eph 4:27). Look at 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)-11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. In context, it talks of forgiving someone. Satan gains an advantage when we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts. We are forbidding him or permitting him through our words or actions. We have an advantage over the enemy because of Christ. We enforce Christ’s victory over him. Jesus threw Satan and his demons to the mat and we keep them there!
Look at Luke 11:21-22 (NKJV)-21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. Another reference is found in Matthew 12:29 (NKJV)29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. The strong man is Satan and his demons. His home or palace is the world. His spoils are everything lost in the fall of Adam and Eve through their sin and giving their authority to him (Gen 1:28, Luke 4:5-6). Here is the good news: Jesus is the stronger one! He entered our world ( John 3:16, Gal 4:4). He overcame Satan and his demons and took back what was rightfully ours before the fall. Jesus had bound Satan and plundered his goods in redemption. He stripped him of his armor of deception and lies. The divided spoils are all that is in Christ such as; love, joy, peace, healing, provision, spiritual birth, righteousness, fellowship with God, eternal life, and spiritual authority.
It was because of original sin that the enemy was given an advantage over mankind. It was Christ’s righteousness, His sinless life that gave Jesus authority in the earth to defeat Satan. This is why Jesus could preach the Good News, cast out devils, heal the sick, multiply food, perform miracles, and raise the dead with great authority ( Luke 4:36, Matt 8:26, Matt 17:18, Luke 4;39). Jesus spoke, rebuked, and commanded. He taught and he preached with great authority because of His righteousness. Jesus loosed a woman bound by Satan because of His righteousness by speaking with authority. Luke 13:11-12 (NKJV)-11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” That spirit of infirmity had to obey Jesus and His words! It was because of His righteousness He could exercise authority(Luke 7:7-8). Authority is released through words of faith spoken.
One man, Adam gave it all up, and another one fully God, fully man took it all back. That was Jesus, the righteous! We gained more in Christ than we lost in Adam. Righteousness is what bound Satan. Authority flows through righteousness! Effective faith comes from righteousness and understanding our authority. This is wonderful news! Why is this so? Because we have received His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21, Eph 4:24). We have a right standing with God. We have been justified and declared righteous ( Rom 5:1)It is not based on our works, our performance but on what Jesus has done for us in redemption. We not only have delegated authority but inherited authority in Christ, because Christ by His spirit lives in us! ( Gal 4:6). Luke 10:19-20 (NKJV)-19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, ( Satan, demons)and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 9:1). Notice it says “I give you”. It is not God’s responsibility to rebuke the devil it is ours. ( 1 Peter 5:8-9).
We hear at times people binding Satan or demons in prayer. It is taken from Matthew 16:19 (NKJV)-19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 (NKJV)-18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Let me share the verse in another translation. Matthew 16:13 (WuestNT)-And the councils of the unseen world shall not overpower it. I shall give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth, shall have been already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth, shall have already been loosed in heaven. When we say prayers like that we are forbidding the enemy. To loose or bind is to permit or to forbid, to open or shut ( Matt 23:13). This speaks of our authority in Christ. Essentially this is resisting the devil. It is giving him no place in our lives(John 14:30). It is standing against him and his devices. There will be a time when Satan is done away with. Satan will be bound physically as we see in Revelations (Rev 20:2) after the seven years of tribulation for a thousand years, and then ultimately thrown into the lake of fire forever ( Rev 20:10). Right now his lease is running out. He goes about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour( 1 Peter 5:8). This binding and loosing has to do with authority and the proclamation of the gospel and all that the Gospel provides( Luke 4:18). It is forbidding the works of the enemy and permitting or releasing the works of Jesus through our obedience. Heaven has permitted us to do so ( John 14:12).
One interpretation of Matt 18:16-18 is also deals with forgiveness of an offending person and restoring them. So in one sense through the act of forgiveness or unforgiveness, we are forbidding or allowing. How many relationships are bound up where Satan gains an advantage? We loose ourselves or someone through forgiveness. This permitting and forbidding in Greek is perfect tense, meaning it is already permitted or forbidden in heaven. What is true in the past is true in the future. This authority is following the parameters of God’s will in heaven as well as His written Word ( Matt 6:9-10). God’s Word is His will! It agrees with what God’s Word already says. The keys of the kingdom are the proclamation of the good news and the authority to do so. Apostle Peter opened the door to the Gentiles because that was God’s plan!( Col 4:3, Acts 14;27). Heaven already permitted the preaching of the gospel ( Matt 28:18-20). It is God’s will! Heaven approves of preaching the Gospel, laying hands on the sick, casting out devils, etc. Knowing who we are in Christ, and our righteousness allows us to effectively walk in the authority we have in Christ over the enemy, and to do the works of Jesus (John 14:12). Heaven is backing us up!
This causes our faith to work effectively with confidence and trust. Romans 5:17 (NKJV)17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) The stronger one lives on the inside of us! Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)-6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” The gift of righteousness gives us the faith and authority to reign in this life. 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV)-4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? One minister said, “We don’t have a faith problem, it is a knowledge problem ( Hosea 4:6). We need to know who we are in Christ and our identity in Him and we can flow in that revelation.
Authority in Christ is based on our righteousness in Christ. Our spiritual authority comes from being seated with Christ in heavenly places ( Eph 2:6). Satan is defeated, he is really under our feet! Our battle is really in the mental, soulish realm. Overcoming the lies and deception of the enemy ( 2 Cor. 11:3, 2 Cor 10:3-5). Adam’s fall gave Satan legal right on the earth and Jesus took it back as a sinless and righteous man. You have authority over your body, over your circumstances, over your words. You have the authority to heal the sick, cast out devils, and minister the Word of God( John 14:12, Mark 16:17-20).
In closing: If you struggle with unworthiness, guilt, condemnation, fear, and insecurity about who you are, you will struggle with your faith and with exercising authority. There is a lack of understanding of righteousness that is ours in Christ. There will be a lack of trust and confidence and the enemy will gain an advantage over us ( 2 Cor 2:11). We need a revelation of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)-17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. We have His righteousness and if we never sinned. We are faultless, blameless, sinless in our born-again spirit where righteousness dwells. The greater one lives within us and it is time to take back what the devil has stolen from us. The stronger one lives in our house. ( 1 John 4:4). 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV)-4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? God has done His part and now it is up to us to do our part! Are you ready to believe what God’s Word says? We have covered a lot of scriptures in this blog. Spend some time meditating and getting this into your heart.
In Christ Love;
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Brent and Linda Bushen