Dethroned!!!

Prior to the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul telling us of Christ being raised from the dead and seated in the highest position in the heavenly places and that we are seated with Him, he said, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." (Ephesians 1:17-18) In many sectors of the church today, believers tend to not understand Jesus’ complete defeat over Satan. It is apparent that many believers today need to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Christ, the eyes of their understanding enlightened.

Having the eyes of our understanding enlightened is the wisdom of God, that God wants each believer to have. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "We do discuss 'wisdom' with those who are mature; only it is not the wisdom of this world or of the dethroned Powers who rule this world, it is the mysterious Wisdom of God that we discuss, that hidden wisdom which God decreed from all eternity for our glory." (1 Corinthians 2:6-7 Moffatt) WOW!!! Verse 6 tells us that Satan has been dethroned. The wisdom of the mature believer whose understanding has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit is that Satan has already been dethroned and the believer has victory over him in Christ.

In other words, Satan has been removed from his throne of authority. Jesus has already accomplished this for every believer. Satan has no authority over the believer, unless the believer gives him the authority. This may occur through ignorance, the lack of knowledge of God's Word, disobedience, or simply a failure to exercise his/her rights in Christ. I believe the greatest effort on Satan’s part is to keep believers from knowing their identity, position and authority in Christ.

The fact that Satan has been dethroned and stripped of his authority is the wisdom the Holy Spirit wants every believer to fully understand, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened." The wisdom of God is that believers simply stand in, uphold and enforce Jesus' victory over the devil because we are in Christ. The Apostle Paul reveals to us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) The Apostle John tells us, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith." (1 John 5:4) When we truly see that  Jesus' victory over the devil is our victory also any arguments or thoughts of the church living in defeat or even being militant will simply find no place.

This is why believers do not need to live in defeat, failure or even make war on the enemy, because he is already defeated, dethroned, brought to nothing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Apostle James tells us, "The worlds wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:15-16) The wisdom of the world is that believers still have to struggle and war against the hosts of darkness in an effort to try to defeat and overcome them, but remember, James tells us, the wisdom of the world is earthly, sensual, demonic.

However, we need to keep in mind, that Satan still maintains his authority over unsaved people because they do not know of Jesus’ triumph over him. The wisdom of the world or Satan's wisdom still rules in their affairs. Paul tells us, "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:4) Another aspect of the wisdom of God that those who are spiritually mature in the Word will see and understand, is the knowledge of the inheritance that God has already prepared for them in Christ; it is the wisdom of knowing who they are in Christ.

The wisdom of God is that believers only need to stand against demons in the victory that Jesus Christ already accomplished for them. If believers would begin to stand in their position in Christ against a foe that has already been defeated and dethroned, it would solve so many of their problems. The wisdom of God is the wisdom of His Word. Solomon tells us, "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:1-6)

Again, we find God’s wisdom in His Word and when His Word becomes a part of us, as James says, “receive with meekness the implanted, the engrafted Word of God” (James 1:21) there will be no more questioning our identity, position or authority, in Christ. Also, let’s keep in mind, as Peter tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Every believer will still need to stand their ground with the Word of God against Satan because his wiles are deceptive, and he will try to blind your eyes to make you think he has power and authority over you. The devil works against the flesh trying his best to get you out of the realm of faith in God's Word by making you doubt the Word, through either fear, doubt or unbelief. That is why Peter goes on and says, "resist him, steadfast in the faith...." (1 Peter 5:9) So, always remember, the fight against the devil and all demons is in the arena of faith. Faith in God and His Word, because Satan and all his kingdom of darkness has been dethroned by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. PTL...