CHRIST HAS CONQUORED SATAN 

                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

          Satan is a liar, a thief, and a killer. He is the original Sinner, Deceiver, Murderer and God hater. He is called the Devil which means Liar. The word Satan means enemy or opposer. He is the Enemy of God and man!

         Jesus Christ said, “He was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is No truth in him. When he speaketh a Lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a Liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44).

        He deceived our first parents, encouraging them to sin against their Creator, thereby bringing death and destruction upon the entire human race!  

    The Bible says:  “And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

      “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof,  and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Gen. 3:4-6)

                                              SERPENT’S HEAD CRUSHED!

     Through His vicarious Death for us on the Cross, Jesus Christ fulfilled Almighty God’s judgment against Lucifer: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her SEED. It shall bruise (crush) thy head and thou shalt bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

     This is the law of the first mention of the VIRGIN birth of Jesus, by which He was declared God the Son, and thereby SINLESS. Through His substitutionary death, Jesus met the righteous demands of Divine Justice against lost humanity. All the sins of mankind from Adam until Christ’s Return have been paid for, but only those who desire Him and come through repentance and faith receive God’s Pardon through Jesus Christ our Lord!

     Jesus said: “And the seventy returned again with JOY, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld SATAN, as lightening fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the Enemy.” (Luke 10: 17,18)          

                                   BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSES!

     St. John wrote: “And these things I write unto you that your joy might be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth;

     “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all SIN. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

     “Again, a new commandment I write unto you which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the True Light now shineth.” (1 John 1:4-10; 2:1,2)

     St. Paul writes: “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to  the good pleasure of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace, whereas He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.

   “In whom we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the MYSTERY of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

     “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1: 4-14)

                                         NO CONDEMNATION!

    “There is therefore now No Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me Free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8: 1,2)

     The Bible says: “Ye shall know the truth and the Truth shall make you free. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son [A1] therefore shall make you Free, ye shall be Free indeed.” (John 8: 32-36)

    Jesus Christ stated: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

        The Bible states: “For God hath not given us the spirit of Fear but of Power and of Love and a sound Mind.” (2 Timothy 1: 7). The Devil uses fear, condemnation, and anxiety to steal, kill and destroy! It is a potent weapon in his hands. Jesus does not bring Fear. He gives us Power over fear. He gives us His Love and with it comes Peace!

      Our Lord said: “Peace I give unto you. My PEACE I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27).

     Writing to young Timothy, St. Paul reminded him of the call of God he had received by the ‘laying on of his hands’. He must not be ashamed, but be strong and not fearful because God would use him:

    “Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Who hath Saved us, and Called us; with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

     “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 1: 8-10, 13, 14)   

                                            POWER, LOVE, SOUND MIND!

    Here is the profound formula for spiritual, mental, and physical wellness which St. Paul lived by, and gave to the young and fearful Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of Fear but of Power and of Love and a sound Mind.” (2 Timothy 1: 7).

     The Devil uses fear, condemnation, and anxiety to steal, kill and destroy! It is a potent weapon in his hands. Fear is a destructive, negative, and evil force that can cripple a person who does not recognize it. St. Paul made it clear that God is not the author of FEAR!

     The Holy Bible declares: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him and He in God. And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us; God is Love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in Him. Herein is our love perfect. That we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in the world.

      “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because Fear hath Torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”  (1 John 4: 15-18)

     God gives us LOVE because He is pure LOVE and because of His love, He gave us the amazing Gift of Eternal Life though Jesus Christ’s substitutional (vicarious) Death on the Cross on Mount Calvary:

    “This is My commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as have loved you, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. These things I command you, that ye love one another,” (John 15:12-14,17)

     Nothing is greater than Love: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (agape love), these three: but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Cor. 13:13). Jesus does not give Fear. He gives us Power over fear. He gives us His Love and with it comes Peace!

                                    HE GIVES US A SOUND MIND!         

      Our Lord said: “Peace I give unto you. My PEACE I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27).

     He loves us all with an amazing love that supersedes any earthly love. It is agape love directly from His heart to ours! The Bible states: “For God so loved the world that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3: 16,17)

      “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be known unto God and the Peace of God which passeth all understanding flood your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 5-7)

      A SOUND MIND DOES NOT PANIC. IT WAITS IN GOD’S PRESENCE. IT GETS THE BEST POSSIBLE ADVICE AND BELIEVES THE PROMISES OF JESUS!

     The Bible states: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet  to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we  have Redemption  through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

     “And having made PEACE through the Blood of His Cross, by Him, I say to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.” (Colossians 1:13,20); “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out if the way, nailing it to the Cross. And having SPOILED principalities and powers, He made a show of then openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2: 14,15)

                             CHRIST SPOILED SATAN’S KINGDOM!

     St. Paul compares Jesus Christ’s victorious death and resurrection to a great king returning to his capital city with his army following in their chariots and the streets lined with people welcoming him home. With his hands tied to a leash and almost naked is the enemy king running behind the King’s Chariot, in which lays his crown and armour!

    Satan’s kingdom was shaken and the whole world was shaken, by Christ’s glorious and eternal VICTORY on Golgotha. The empty tomb of Jesus still removes all fear of death for believers in our precious Lord and Saviour!

     The Apostle declares: “That I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 10,11.14)

    The Bible says: “For this Purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might DESTROY the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3:8). Jesus said, “…They that be whole need not a physician but they that are sick…for I am not come to all the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9: 12,13)

    “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and Healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

    “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with Compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then sayeth He unto His disciples, The Harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9: 35-38).

      Jesus still invites: “Behold, I stand at the (heart’s) door, and knock: and knock; if ant man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). Amen.

                              HE HEARD ME & DELIVERED ME!

     The psalmist wrote: “I will bless the Lord at all time: His praise will continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

     “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard Him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

    “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

    “The Lord is nigh unto them that ate of a broken spirit; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalms 34: 1-19). Amen.