At Nowra City Church we have been preaching through the book of Ephesians during January 2014. Our last Sunday is on the Authority of the believer to stand against the devil. Here are my sermon notes. They are a bit rough, but it gives you the information.
Eph 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
God has prepared us for battle
Introductory comments about how I am still surprised at the ignorance of Christians to the wiles of the devil
I am also surprised at people’s lack of understand of authority and covering and being under authority.
And consequently in the day of demonic attack – they fall. They are not able to stand.
Ephesians 6: 10
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Strong in the Lord
Strong = Endunamoo
en= in
Dunamoo = dunamis = explosive power
= empowering or inner strengthening
Conveys the idea of being infused with excessive dose of dynamite, inner strength and ability
In the Lord
This locates the power in the person Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1: 3 we are in Christ-located
so is the power-power over the Devil comes through relationship with Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1:20-23
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The power of his might
Kratos Power – not power you intellectually believing
-it is power that is demonstrative, eruptive, tangible
Ephesians 1:19-21
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Matt 28:18-19
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Before Jesus said Go – he said know this – that all authority has been given to me
So first up we need to understand that Jesus has Authority
Authority of Jesus –
1) 1 Pet 3:22 – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him..
2) Matt 28:18 – He was given ALL authority on heaven & earth.
3) Cast demons out with a word –
· Mk 1:25-26, 3:11, 5:1-13, 7:29, 9:25-26,
· Luke 6:18, 8:26-33, 9:42,
Luke 4:33-36
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
4) Still had Authority after Ascension – Rev 1:18
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death
He Delegated it to us –
· Matt 16:19
· Matt 18:18
· Matt 28:18-19
· Matt 10:1
· 2 Cor 10:8
· Mk 6:7
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
5) He is Stronger than Satan – Lk 11:20-23
Luke 10:17 – 17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even (A)the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19″Behold, I have given you ( See Mat 16:17) authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
20″Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Tread Means absolute mastery
It is a position of domination
Ps 108:13
13Through God we will do valiantly,
And (J)it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.
Is 10:5-6
5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,
6I send it against a godless nation
And commission it against the people of My fury
To capture booty and to seize plunder,
And to trample them down like mud in the streets.
Delegated Authority
Matt 16:17 – “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
Power in the Name of Jesus –
Acts 4:7 – “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Acts 3:1-10 – ‘In the Name of Jesus, get up and walk’
Acts 4:30 – Signs and wonders through the Name of Jesus
Acts 8:12 – Phillip preached in the name of Jesus
Power Scriptures
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col. 2:15).
“What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (I John 4:4).
“For He (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (Satan) and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…”(Col. 1:13).
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (II Th. 3:3).
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” (II Tim. 4:18).
“Unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Eph.3:20).
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philipp. 2:13).
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (Eph. 6:10a).
We need to understand the authority that we operate in as Christians
4. Keys to operating with spiritual authority
4.1 Relationship
i. Acts 19:13-17 – 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”14Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
Authority comes through Faith in Jesus –
The authority is not in the name of Jesus, but in the belief and submission of one’s life to that Name.
Our authority comes through the faith we have in Jesus as our saviour, and because of that faith He delegates us Authority.
Speaking the Name of Jesus is not enough.
Acts 19 – Seven Sons of Sceva.
· These guys spoke ‘in the name of Jesus’, but there was no belief in Him, no submission of their lives, and therefore no delegated authority.
Simon wanted to buy the authority
Acts 8:17-19 -17 – Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
4.2 Revelation
ii. Ephesians 1:15-22 – 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church
4.3 Be Under Authority
Matt 8:5-13
5And (G)when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
6and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying (H)paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9″For I also am a man under (I)authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
11″I say to you that many (J)will come from east and west, and [a]recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
12but (K)the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into (L)the outer darkness; in that place (M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you (N)as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.
Matthew 8:10 – Now when Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
This is a challenge – because submission to authority is not something that sits really comfortable with us.
4.4 Submit to God
James 4:7
Resist the devil and he will flee from you
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
SubMission
Come under the Mission of God
Yield your life to him
As you are under Authority then you have the authority to resist the devil.
Categories: Nowra City Church, Sermon Notes
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