The church is in its finest hour. We are in a period of recovery.
I John 3:8
For this is the purpose of the Son of God was perfect, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus said that he came to seek and save that which is lost. What is lost is the understanding of the power of who you are in Christ.
Satan came to prevent the church from knowing who she is.
Rev. 12:12b
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and the sea, for the devil is coming down unto you.
What satan wants/wanted to do:
1. Prevent the church from being born – killed the apostles.
2. Corrupt the minds of the leadership – Catholic church
3. Tried to kill the new saints being born again
The problem is the church needs deliverance.
In every warfare you must the enemy.
The devil is attacking the church. He knows that the church is in rebellion and they don’t obey God. The devil says they have not restored what Jesus came to do. He knows he has the church in captivity.
The Holy Spirit knows the church (bride) is not ready.
But God has given the church the full authority in the earth realm.
In Genesis, God told the church to be fruitful and multiply the earth.
Fruitful – take the seed inside you and use it
Multiply – reduplicate it again and again
Satan is trying to get some of you to abort the seed because he knows that if you ever deliver…there is a seed in you that God has planted that if you use it, it will destroy his works.
But those who are in bondage cannot fight. The church needs to understand her opponent and use her weapons:
For our fight is not against any physical enemy, but against all the powers of evil that hold sway in the darkness around us and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Wherefore, take up with you to the battle…Ephesians 6:12-13a
We are far above all principality, and power, and might, dominion and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Eph. 1:21) and hath raised us up together (with Jesus) and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
The authority is a possession of every child of God. You have it, whether you act on it or not. But if you don’t act on it, it will not do you any good.
Ephesians 1:3
Hath – we already have; not going to have.
As a believer:
1. We need to know our authority.
2. We need to act upon it.
Luke 10:19
Jesus gave us power over all demonic activity and nothing can hurt us.
Power – authority
Authority – delegated power
Jesus gave us this power to us. All of this is talking about the power of the enemy (serpents and scorpions).
Tread – walk on top of them
We can walk over all the power of the enemy.
You cannot tread (walk) over something unless you are above it.
Eph. 6:10
Finally (summing it up), be strong in the Lord.
We don’t need to fight the devil, but we can exercise our authority as believers.
The reason why deliverance is so important:
First I will shake all things, then I will fill this place (speaking of His people), with My glory, (Haggai 2:6-9, paraphrased).
And the glory of that house at the end of the age will be much greater than anything that has been seen in previous ages.
