Authority Over Demons - UBM [David Eells]

I want to speak to you of our authority over powerless demons. (Luk.11:20) But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. (21) When the strong [man] (The word “man” is actually not in the original; it was added-in later. Jesus was calling the devil “the strong” when He was spoiling the devil’s kingdom.) fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. It actually says, (Luk.11:21) When the strong fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace. These “goods” Jesus is talking about are the things that the devil, “the strong,” has been given authority over in this world, and the “court” here represents his kingdom where he, “the strong,” rules and reigns. That’s what Jesus was talking about.

(Luk.11:21) When the strong (the devil) fully armed guardeth his own court, his (referring to “the strong.”) goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (That was Jesus!), he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted. Did you see that the devil has no armor? His kingdom and his demons have no armor. They have no protection against the authority that God has given to us. Their protection has all been taken away from them. It is God (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. He gave us authority over the devil’s kingdom and as His servants we are to fight His battles. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Notice, this has already been accomplished; it isn’t something that we have to accomplish. God has given us authority to partake of everything that Jesus did at the Cross.

(Col.1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet (The Greek there is “made us able or competent.”) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Whatever a saint in light is entitled to, God made us able to partake of that, so you lack no ability you need to do the work of God as shown in the light of the Scriptures. As a baby Christian I was devouring the Word day and night and since I had no scriptural background, or training from man to overcome, I was seeking to act out what I saw. So as a baby Christian I didn’t know much about demonology but I was casting out demons. I cast the demon of alcoholism out of my dad. He went everywhere bragging on God because he had tried everything and failed. A.A., self help, all had failed. Dont worry, baby’s sometimes make mistakes but its ok because its a part of learning. God made you able to do this and the people of God and the demonized need you so put on your armor and go to work. (Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (16) Withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. And (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. Jesus made us able to be a partaker in whatever we need. He made us able to plunder the devil’s kingdom, and the devil’s kingdom is wherever the devil rules or his curse reigns. Wherever the devil has ability, we have the ability to take it away from him. The devil has no power except what we give him in our ignorance.

Do you remember when Joshua and Caleb were seeking to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land? After spying out the land, these two said that their enemies’ defense was removed from over them. This defence includes the demons. (Num.14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. All that the other ten spies could see were the giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw that the enemy had no armor. That’s the way we have to see the enemies of God’s Kingdom. It makes no difference whether those enemies are the lusts of the flesh, works of darkness, demons, the devil, or whatever. Their defense is removed from over them. They have no power against the Word of God. Jesus was the “Stronger” Who came and took away their whole armor as we saw.

Jesus crippled the devil and divided his spoils. Those “spoils” of the devil’s kingdom are all the places where he has taken advantage of your life or taken authority over the things or circumstances that God has put in your hands. All these add up to “spoils.” When Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38), He was spoiling the devil’s kingdom. If you are being oppressed of the devil, Jesus destroyed this oppression. He broke this power everywhere He went. Whether it was hunger, sickness, demonic possession, or mental weakness, it didn’t make any difference; Jesus broke the oppression and He told us to do the same thing because (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. This scattering basically means that if you are not chasing the devil and his demons you will be running from them.

The devil’s power over God’s people rests in the fact that they don’t know that his power has already been broken, and they don’t know the authority that’s been given to them. Although the Word speaks it plainly, it still has to be a revelation that you pick up and do something with. The Bible says of Jesus that, (Col.2:15) Having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. “Triumphing” is not winning the victory. “Triumphing” is celebrating the victory that has already been won. Jesus triumphed over the devil and He rubbed the devil’s nose in what He had accomplished on the Cross. The victory was at the Cross; what came after the Cross was the triumph. (2Co.2:14) But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. We are to simply celebrate His victory.

What we need to do is repeat what the Word says about our circumstances or situation, and we do that by stating what the Word says about our authority and righteousness. All we have to do is believe that. The devil wants us to look at ourselves and our weaknesses or failures and the curse around us, but we just need to remember that we have authority over that curse because of Jesus. Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. We’ve been crucified with Christ and we’re not alive anymore; now it’s Christ Who lives in us. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. We should be confident like Paul that Jesus is in us to do this job. This is the Gospel that we must be unveiled about, that Jesus is in us to live the Christian life and do the Christian ministry. 2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Notice seeing Jesus in the mirror by faith causes us to manifest His glory in us. When we remember what the Word of God says about us and about our circumstances, we can celebrate the victory.

Demons cannot enter a person just any way or time they want. You have to open a door. They suggest thoughts to you, fiery darts, that are contrary to the Word of the Lord meant to burn you. When you accept those thoughts you can be inhabited by them in oppression or worse possession. Contrary to popular simplistic opinions the demons can reside in your flesh and oppress your soul or they can reside in your flesh and possess your soul if you sin in your thoughts. And God can reside in your spirit and possess your soul because you are full of His Word.

We have the authority to resist the demons thoughts and so win the battle for holiness. Eph 6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts (or Evil thoughts) of the evil one. (When you have faith that Jesus delivered you from sin, you do not have to fall when tempted because you are shielded.) 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (When you have faith that you are saved and helmeted from the mind control of Satan because the Word says in Col 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.) So your heart and mind is protected when you believe the gospel and you can cast down vain imaginations that come to destroy you.

2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. A stronghold is a position that the Devil can make effective war against you from. Like in all wars He sends disinformation to make of no effect your strategies. By casting down imaginations that are against the Word you are safe.

In not permitting in your mind thoughts that are against the Word you are resisting the Devil. Jas 4:7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Notice if you resist his thoughts He will flee, meaning in terror.)

If you permit the devils disinformation thoughts he has a right to bring the curse on you. Rev 22:18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. He had to get Eve to question the word to cause her to fall. Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?

Another problem is that many will not use their authority and fight for themselves and others. They just dont know why God wont do it for them.

There isn’t any place in the NT where we are told to pray to Jesus to cast out demons or to do anything with the Devil. Jesus said, “it is finished” and in Joh 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Its all been accomplished at the cross. God “delivered us out of the power of darkness and healed us, by whose stripes we were healed. Now by faith we take the authority He gave us and cast out demons or we can do without.

We have been delegated the authority of Jesus over the devil. He wants us to be Son’s of God and we wont learn any other way than to take His authority and use it. Authority is the right to use God’s power. Joh 20:21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Luk 9:1 And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. Luk 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.

He delegated his authority to us and if we dont use it it will not be done. Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Notice, according to this verse, what Jesus commanded the early disciples He commanded us today. So He told us in Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. Mar 3:14 And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out demons:

He told US to cast out demons not pray to him to do it. Mar 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. If you do pray to God to cast out someones demons He will do what He has done all though the New Testament, He will use someone with faith to do it. Who better than you who knows the problem and is supposed to be faithful and obedient. Jas 4:17 To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

We are to be on the front lines and are forbidden to give place to the devil. Eph 4:27 neither give place to the devil.

We are commanded to withstand the devils works against us and our brethren with our faith and authority. 1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9 whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

Who has the scriptural right to deliverance, healing, etc., which Jesus called “the children's bread”? Although God can give these benefits to others they are guaranteed to God’s children. 1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. Notice when we sin we are entering into spiritual death and are in need of life, which comes in many forms like healing and deliverance. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request. I.e. the one who sins unto death has no kingdom benefits.

What is a sin unto death? Heb 6:4-6 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Baby Christians cannot sin a sin unto death. But when someone who meets these conditions fall into sin especially willful sin they are reprobated. You ultimately will not succeed to deliver them.

How can we sin unto death? If a person stays in willful sin they will spiritually die because they have no sacrifice. Heb 10:26-29 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (Some in willful sin ignorantly believe the blood covers everything but we see here that Jesus didnt bear the curse for this sin so we have to. Certain judgement comes for them.) 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses' law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Preachers have turned grace into a license to sin with impunity. For this they will be judged.

Praising God is triumphing over the devil; it’s celebrating the victory. Praising God is not necessarily singing songs, and some songs that you sing in church don’t really praise God. Many songs don’t even confess the Word of God. They don’t celebrate the victory, and as a matter of fact, a lot of them just confess the problem. We are not under the curse anymore because (Gal.3:13) Christ re deemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (He became accursed for us so that we could have Abraham’s blessings. So how was Abraham blessed?) (Gen.24:1) … And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.) (Gal.3:15) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. (16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (17) Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. (18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. Now we are celebrating the victory that He already accomplished.

Jesus said, (Joh.16:33) … In the world ye have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And He said, (Joh.19:30) … It is finished… That’s what we have to remember when we look around us and, instead, we see the very opposite. If we apply the Word to the problem, we are going to spoil the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible says when Jesus took away the devil’s armor, He divided the spoil. (Isa.53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death… Jesus said, (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me… He’s talking there about those who are dividing or plundering the spoils. If you are with Jesus, then you are going to do what He did, and what He did was plunder the devil. All of His physical life, He plundered the devil, and by His victory over the devil, He made it possible for us to plunder the devil’s kingdom. We should be spoiling the devil’s kingdom; we should be destroying the curse around us. We should be bringing people into victory by putting faith in their hearts. We should be delivering those who are captive by casting out demons. And we should be delivering those who are oppressed of the devil by healing the sick. We should be doing everything our Lord Jesus did. Jesus went on to say, (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So you are either going to be “gathering” or you are going to be “scattering.” That means you are either going to be on the attack or you are going to be on the run. You’re going to be doing one or the other, and sad to say, most Christians are on the run because they don’t understand what Jesus did. They don’t understand what the Word of God says. They don’t understand what their position is in this world. We believers are on the attack. We are going into the Promised Land to take this land for Jesus Christ, and not a man there can stand before us. (Jos.1:5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Most Christians don’t understand that the victory has already been given to us.

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