On the Cross, Jesus Christ made Defeated the devil, stripped him of his dominion and made and spoiled show of principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15). The Devil has no authority or power over the life of a believer. But we subtly teach believers to invite the devil in with the thinking its a show of our Spirituality.
Even Paul, due to the abundance of Revelation had a messenger of Satan to persecute him (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Devil could not Touch Paul, the devil had to stir the people against Him. If someone wants to claim they are suffering like Paul, they have to At least be able to show they have the same Abundance of Revelation to warrant that Statement. I don’t think that applies to most of us.
Our lack of understanding in the Cross, has permeated almost all aspects of ministry. I remember a friend of mine talking about his deliverance session. The team ask him if he had anything in his house that may be the cause of these demonic attacks. He didn’t think so, but he mentioned a gift that an ex-girlfriend had given him for his birthday. It was an innocuous item, with nothing inherently evil of demonic about it. The counselors advice, was to get rid of the gift.
What that counselor was in fact saying was “Greater is He that is in Him, Except for the devil that in that Gift.”
This is the subtle way we have made God impotent to protect his Children by our traditions. Instead of teaching that young man to take Dominion and command whatever demon may be attached to the gift, they are teaching him to run from the devil by getting rid of the gift.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
If we learn anything from this verse, is that the Devil cannot devour anyone he wants. He’s looking for someone. The Reason he is “looking” is because he can’t find you.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
You are hidden in Christ, the devil can’t find you, unless you stick your head out by the traditions of men. Further;
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
You are Joined to the Lord, as one, the Devil doesn’t know where you end and the Holy Spirit Begins. Its real simple, Stay Hidden!
If you are spiritual, and walking under the Power of God then demons fear you and run from you (Luke 4:34), because when you show up, they think it’s Jesus. If you are weak in faith, and caught up in the Traditions of Men, you have now made yourself known to the enemy and he will try to devour you while he can before you really become a threat.
When we read the story of the Men of Faith, they were Fearless. John G Lake used to hold his healing services in a Masonic Temple, because it was the only place big enough to house the crowd. If we tried that today, most Christians would not show up, because we have taught them to Fear. We have taught them to run from Evil, rather than to Stand and be Light in Darkness.
We can read about men like Stonewall Jackson, who sat mounted on his horse in the Battle of Bull Run, unafraid of the bullets and cannon fire zipping past him. After dismounting his horse to sign a document brought by a messenger, a cannon ball struck the tree near him, exploding wood chips all over him. Jackson didn’t miss a beat, dusted off the papers and continued reading as if nothing had happened. Once signed, he remounted his horse and remained calmed and composed through the entire ordeal.
I’ll close with what Jackson said was the reason for his composure when he was questioned about his actions on the battlefield.
“My religious belief teaches me that I’m just as safe on the battlefield as I am in my bed. The Lord has already appointed the day of my death so I need not worry about that. I live my life and prepare myself so I will always be ready to meet my Lord, when death does overtake me.”