Colossians 2:11-15, “In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts). [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead. And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] HE SET ASIDE AND CLEARED COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR WAY BY NAILING IT TO [HIS] CROSS. [GOD] DISARMED THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS THAT WERE RANGED AGAINST US AND MADE A BOLD DISPLAY AND PUBLIC EXAMPLE OF THEM, IN TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN HIM AND IN IT [THE CROSS].” (AMPC)

The Scripture teaches us that Satan has been stripped of his right, power, and authority over all those who have bowed at the foot of the cross and received the precious blood of Christ as atonement for their sin. “[GOD] DISARMED THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS THAT WERE RANGED AGAINST US AND MADE A BOLD DISPLAY AND PUBLIC EXAMPLE OF THEM, IN TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN HIM AND IN IT [THE CROSS].” (AMPC) The Message Bible reads it like this, “Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It’s not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you’re already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! ALL SINS FORGIVEN, THE SLATE WIPED CLEAN, THAT OLD ARREST WARRANT CANCELED AND NAILED TO CHRIST’S CROSS. HE STRIPPED ALL THE SPIRITUAL TYRANTS IN THE UNIVERSE OF THEIR SHAM AUTHORITY AT THE CROSS AND MARCHED THEM NAKED THROUGH THE STREETS.” (MSG)

THE CROSS DISPLAYED SATAN: Christ made a “…SHOW OF THEM OPENLY…” (vs. 15 MEV). Someone might object to this passage and say, ‘Wasn’t it Christ who was made a public show that day?’ Indeed He was. He was stripped of His garments and made a public spectacle before men. But we must remember there was another public spectacle going on in the unseen spiritual realm. In the spiritual realm Christ made an open show of Satan and all of the demonic forces. Jesus displayed him before the angelic world, the demonic world, the spiritual world, and before “…JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.” (Hebrews 12:23) The Amplified Bible reads it like this, “And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) WHO HAVE BEEN MADE PERFECT,” (AMPC) They saw Satan not as an angel of light, as he so often would make himself appear, but rather they saw his true nature. They saw him as a rotten, filthy, lying thief. John 10:10, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy…” (AMPC); John 8:44, “You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.” (AMPC) Satan and all of the demonic forces were viewed in their true nature. When the smoke of the battle had lifted, there was an empty cross and an empty tomb! Jesus defeated Satan on Satan’s home field. He was put on display as the defeated foe he really is. At His ascension Jesus passed through the atmosphere, declaring that neither the laws of gravity nor the powers of hell could hold Him back.

THE CROSS DEFEATED SATAN: The power of Satan was shattered at the cross. Triumph over Satan has come at last. However, the question remains, “If Satan has been disarmed, displayed, and defeated at the cross, why is my life so far from victorious?” Number one, if you have not been saved, then you are fair game for the attacks and residency of Satan in your life. You cannot have victory over Satan apart from the application of the blood of Jesus to your sins. Second, if you are a believer, then the only way Satan can attack you is if you have given him the right to: Ephesians 4:27, “Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].” (AMPC) If you have given place to the devil by living in sin, then you have put out a welcome mat for the enemy to enslave you. Which is why you should make sure you are daily dressed! Ephesians 6:11-18, “Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).” (AMPC) Remember: the devil is always on the prowl! 1 Peter 5:8, “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.” (AMPC). There is victory in the cross! The blood wiped out our sin and left Satan powerless. Every blow that drove the nails into His holy hands was also a nail in the coffin of Satan. Every Christian is set free. Christ’s death was a battle in which God achieved an immortal victory. The conflict was furious and mysterious. Our Lord died to win the battle and rose from the dead to enforce the victory. When Satan comes, we simply remind him of our Savior. If he accuses us, we point to forgiveness. If he desires to tempt us, we let our Lord’s words fell him. If he would touch us, we declare that he has no authority over God’s property.

John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live; And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?” (AMPC)

1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (AMPC)

2 Timothy 1:10, “[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.” (AMPC)

Revelation 12:11, “And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].” (AMPC)

Hebrews 5:7, “In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].” (AMPC)

Colossians 1:14-15, “In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.” (AMPC)

Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.” (AMPC)

Romans 6:1-14, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (AMPC)

Source: Ron Phillips, “Everyone’s Guide to Demons and Spiritual Warfare.”

MAIN INGREDIENT: TODAY, KNOW THE POWER OF THE CROSS!

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