All Christians have the power to cast out and to overcome demon spirits in the name of Jesus. And most of us know about the Spiritual Weapons of Warfare and how they are used. The most commonly used weapon is the blood of Jesus and is usually used in reference to Revelation 12:11.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 KJVR)
However, the “B” part of Revelation 12:11 is widely ignored regardless of its significance in that it is the “B” part that strengthens the “A” part of the verse.
The Holy Spirit revealed through Apostle Paul that in the last days men shall be lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God. Lovers of themselves usually have no power to overcome Satan even if they are in possession of all the spiritual weapons of our warfare.
There are three categories that lovers of themselves fall into:
1. Those that lust after the flesh. E.g. Gluttons
2. Those that lust after the things that they see. E.g. Fashions
3. Those that pursue the pride of life. E.g. fame
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16 KJVR)
Now don’t get me wrong on the examples I have chosen. I too love being well feed; I love fashion; and I want to be famous. However the lusting after these things that I have listed is ungodly. Let me site an example of a lady I love and respect, Joyce Meyer. She is a fashionable lady indeed but I do not think that she lusts after fashion. She can afford fashion and that makes all the difference. What I am talking about when lust takes the place of Christ. For instance many cannot fast today because food has taken the place of the word of God.
How Adam lost dominion over Satan
Adam and Eve lost dominion over Satan through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The bible says,
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food , and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6 KJVR)
Here we see things that made Eve partake of the fruit; the same things that lovers of themselves lust for. Consequently, our ancestors lost dominion to Satan until Christ Jesus restored it back to us through the blood sprinkled on the cross at Calvary.
Satan tempted Christ with the love of the world
After Christ had fasted for 40 days Satan tempted Him with the love of the world. Satan knew that Christ is the son of God and hence He had power to overcome him and that for that very reason Christ descended from heaven to the world. Nevertheless Satan attempted to abort the mission through three temptations that lovers of the world fall prey to.
The account is found in Matthew Chapter 4 and verses 1 through 11. In verse 3 Jesus was tempted through the flesh i.e. food. In verse 5 and 6 he was tempted through pride if life i.e. throw thyself and the angels will bear thee up. And lastly in verse 8 he was tempted through the eyes i.e. the promise to offer him the kingdoms of the world.
Had Jesus succumbed to these temptations He would have never been able to overthrow Satan from the King of the World to the Supreme Angel of the Bottomless Pit.
In my conclusion, I urge you to enjoy all things given to us richly by the living God but do not lust after them lest you lose your power over the enemy Satan and his cohorts.
MATTHEW RECOMMENDS
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Spiritual Warfare By Derek Prince / Whitaker House Publishers |
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Warfare Prayer: What the Bible Says About Spiritual Warfare By C. Peter Wagner / Destiny Image |
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Dressed to Kill: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare and Armor By Rick Renner / Teach All Nations |
Faith Life 