C. DEMONS WERE DEFEATED BY JESUS CHRIST
Our victory over demon powers is clearly stated in Scripture. One of the key verses is found in Paul’s Letter to the church at Colossae: “God disarmed and defeated the principalities and powers – ruling demonic spirits. He made a public display of them. God won the victory through Christ and his cross” (Co, 2:15 smf).
In this passage we are told that God has disarmed and defeated the ruling powers in the world of evil spirits. This refers to powerful demons in the forces of Satan. They were stripped of their arms and authority. They are now defenseless and disgraced.
The language used in this verse describes a military custom of the Roman armies. After a great victory, they had a parade. The conquering general put iron manacles and chains on the defeated leader. He then tied the defeated leader to his chariot with a chain. The defeated armies were forced to march, bound in chains, behind the triumphant general.
This is a vivid picture of Christ’s victory parade in which the defeated enemy (the devil and his princes) are put to public shame. It is a victory which was won by the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary, when He was crucified.
1. Authority Surrendered
In 1945, when Japan surrendered to the United Stated, the ceremony was most dramatic. The Japanese General boarded the Battleship Missouri in his full dress uniform. With him were men of high rank in both government and military circles.
The General came representing the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Armed Forces. General MacArthur, who represented the United States, then boarded the ship with men who represented the government and the Armed Forces of the United States. It was a personal, face-to-face meeting.
General Mac-Arthur reached out and removed all of the General’s military medals, ribbons and decorations. He then reached up and took the emblems of authority from his shoulders.
He was reduced to a man of defeat and disgrace without power or authority. The surrender ceremony was finalized by the Japanese General taking the sword at his side and handing it over to General MacArthur.
When the General surrendered, it was not just his own personal defeat. All the combined air force, army, navy and military forces of Japan surrendered and were rendered powerless. It was a moment of victory and triumph for the United States and her allies. it was total defeat and surrender for the Japanese generals and their troops. The war had been won!
This is what happened at Calvary! Satan and all of his demons were totally defeated. They were put to an open display of shame and disgrace on that first resurrection Sunday morning.
The words of Robert Lowry’s famous hymn tell the story in a most beautiful way:
“Up from the grave He arose
with a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose the Victor from the dark domain
and He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”
2. Authority Transferred
Christ now holds in His hands forever the keys of Hell and death. He holds them because He was victorious over sin, Satan, demons and death. He was totally triumphant – over the devil, over all principalities and powers. He won it all!
Not only was the victory His, but ours as well. General MacArthur’s victory was not just for himself. It was a victory that all the people of the United States and the allied forces enjoyed. Jesus’ victory is the same for all of us who love and serve Him.
Jesus experienced the shame of dying like a criminal on a cross that we might know it. We must walk in the light of the revelation. It is our key to victorious Christian living!
No Authority Over Believers. It is important to know that when the devil was defeated, so were all of his demon forces. They have no authority or power over our lives except that which we allow them to have.
The story is told of an army sergeant who was imprisoned in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. After Japan surrendered, the Japanese general in charge of the camp kept his command. He was expecting a high ranking officer from the United States forces to arrive and take over. He was to learn that a defeated general has less authority than a sergeant, if the sergeant belongs to the army who won the war. Upon hearing of the surrender of Japan, the sergeant quickly informed the Japanese general that he and his men would now take charge.
There was no need to wait. With the signing of the surrender papers, the change of command reached down to the lowest ranking soldier. Even a lowly sergeant in the army could command a high ranking officer, if that officer was a member of the defeated forces.
What a powerful picture this is of the believer’s authority. It is ours when we come under the head-ship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
D. BELIEVERS HAVE AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS
Christ’s triumph over satan on the cross of calvary means we are now in charge also. Every Christian who is living under the authority of God has the right to assume command and take over his part of the world. He has the authority and legal right to tell the devil (and his demons) where to go and what to do.
1. Authority Through Submission
We are taught to resist the enemy and see him flee. the Apostle James uses a military term in explaining this truth in his Epistle:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7).
The Word “submit means to be under obedience to a higher rank, or come under authority (that is, be totally obedient to the Lord).
When we come under the authority of God, His authority comes upon us. Under that authority we can stand up and firmly resist the devil and his demons. When we do, they will turn in fear and run away.
This principle of gaining authority by being under authority is illustrated in the ministry of Jesus. A Centurion came to Jesus wanting his servant healed.
Jesus agreed to go to the servant and heal him. The Centurion responded, “.. it isn’t necessary for you to come. If you will only stand here and say.’ Be healed, ‘ my servant will get well!
“I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers, and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come.’ and he comes, and to my slave boy, ‘Do this or that,’ and he does it. And I know you have authority to tell his sickness to go – and it will go!” (Matt 8:5-9.
The Centurion had authority, because he was a man under authority. In the same manner, when we submit to God, we come under His authority. Then when we resist the devil, the devil flees from us.
2. Headship And Authority
The headship of Christ and the Christian’s authority is an important truth to understand. As we have said, it is the key to victorious Christian living.
a. David and Goliath: The Characters.
There is a familiar and interesting story in the Old Testament that clearly explains this idea. It is the story of a young Jewish warrior named David and a great Philistine giant named Goliath (1 Sam 17).
The characters and armies in this story fall into four main types:
- David represents or is a type of Christ.
- The Israelite army is a type of the believers in Christ’s Body.
- Goliath represents or is a type of Satan.
- The Philistine army represents Satan’s demonic agents.
b. David And Goliath: The Story.
With these allegories in mind, let us review the story and see what meaning it brings to our warfare in the spiritual realm.
1. The Challenge. Goliath came forth from the Philistine army roaring like a lion. What did the people of God do? They reacted like many Christians do today when they face the devil and his demons. They were dismayed and greatly afraid. Therefore, they turned and fled in terror. They had no faith to resist.
A young shepherd boy (probably no more than 15 or 16 years old) then appeared on the scene. His name was David. He knew God as his good and great Shepherd. He had come to bring food for his brothers who were in the army of Israel.
He had recently been chosen by God for a special purpose. The godly prophet Samuel had anointed David with oil to be the next king of Israel. David came, therefore, as the “anointed one” to visit the Israelite camp. No one knew at that time, however, that he would one day be their king.
Upon seeing Goliath, and hearing him shout out his insults upon the armies of Israel, David said in anger, “Who is this heathen Philistine. Anyway? Why is he allowed to defy and insult the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam 17:26).
There was no fear or timidity in the heart of David. The anointing which he had just received was powerfully at work in him. While everyone else drew back in dismay. David boldly stood his ground and made ready to meet Goliath face to face.
He chose not to use the armor and weapons of King Saul. Rather, he would rely upon five smooth stones from the brook and his shepherd’s slingshot. He decided the best defense is a strong offense. So he strode forth to respond to the challenge of Goliath.
2.The Victory. The battle was over almost before it began. One well-aimed and Spirit-directed stone struck mighty Goliath in the center of his huge head. As he fell to the ground, David rushed up, took Goliath’s own sword, and cut off his head.
At once, the entire Philistine army fled in great fear. Goliath had been their champion – their head and mighty leader. He was a symbol or sign of their military power and authority. When he fell, they realized they were defeated and fled.
You will recall from our first chapter that “headship” refers to dominion, power and authority over others.
When David attacked and cut off Goliath’s head, he not only defeated Goliath, but the entire Philistine army. Goliath’s “headship” was destroyed. All his power and authority and that of his Philistine army were made of no effect. The Philistines were left powerless before David’s powerful victory over their leader. No wonder they fled in fear!
This story illustrates the powerful victory of Christ over Satan and his armies of demons.
c. Jesus
Our Anointed Shepherd-Savior. Genesis 3:15 foretold that one day the “seed of the woman” would fatally wound (bruise) the head of the serpent. In due time a “Great One than David” appeared on the scene. His Name was “Jesus Christ” which means, The Anointed One Who Saves. He is our anointed, Shepherd-Savior. At Calvary, He engaged that old serpent, Satan, in the conflict of the ages.
Satan’s headship and dominion were destroyed by Jesus when He died on the cross, descended into Hades, conquered all the forces of Hell and arose from the grave, triumphant over death.
Therefore, the devil’s troops (demons) no longer have any power or authority over believers who are under the headship of Christ Jesus. When His Name is spoken in authority, they tremble and must bow their knee in submission to His Lordship.
This response of demon powers to the presence of Jesus was clearly seen throughout His earthly ministry. We will want to study this a little more. It is a truth which is worthy of our attention, for it has the power to set the fearful Christian free.