Defeating the Enemy: Authority and Victory in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Recognize the Enemy’s Strategy: The Thief Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy

There is a real spiritual enemy who seeks to undermine, deceive, and destroy the lives of God’s people, often by convincing them he doesn’t exist or isn’t a threat. The Bible warns us not to take him lightly, for his only agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy everything good in our lives—our faith, our families, our hope, and our purpose. Jesus Himself made it clear that the enemy is relentless, but He also made it clear that we are not left defenseless. Awareness of the enemy’s schemes is the first step to standing firm in the victory Christ has won for us. [17:29]

John 10:10 (ESV)
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense the enemy trying to steal your joy, kill your hope, or destroy your relationships? Ask God to reveal any area where you’ve underestimated the reality of spiritual opposition.

Day 2: You Are Kings and Priests: Living in Your God-Given Authority

God has not called His people to live as weak, defeated victims, but as sons, daughters, kings, and priests with spiritual authority and purpose. Too often, believers live beneath their calling, believing lies that they are powerless or insignificant, when in reality, God has elevated them to a place of honor and influence in His kingdom. The enemy’s strategy is to dethrone us by deception, making us forget who we are in Christ. But when we know and believe what God says about us, we become unstoppable for His kingdom, equipped to make a difference in the world. [20:12]

Revelation 1:5-6 (ESV)
"And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been living as if you are powerless or insignificant? How can you begin to walk in the authority and identity God has given you as His child?

Day 3: Arm Yourself with the Word: The Sword of the Spirit

The Word of God is the only offensive weapon believers have against the enemy’s attacks, and without a firm grasp of Scripture, we are left defenseless. Many Christians are defeated not because of a lack of effort or desire, but because they lack knowledge of God’s Word and how to apply it to their lives. Jesus Himself modeled victory over temptation by declaring, “It is written,” showing us that knowing and speaking God’s Word is essential for overcoming the enemy. To be armed and ready, we must be people of the Word—reading it, knowing it, and using it as our sword in every battle. [24:17]

Ephesians 6:10-17 (ESV)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to know “what is written”? Choose a verse today to memorize and declare over that situation.

Day 4: Stand Firm and Consistent: Rooted, Grounded, and Unshakeable

God’s will is for His people to be stable, consistent, and deeply rooted in faith, not tossed about by every challenge or new idea. The enemy seeks to disable believers by robbing them of spiritual balance and consistency, making them unreliable and easily discouraged. But Scripture calls us to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, like a tree planted by streams of water. Consistency in spiritual disciplines and community is key to standing strong and not being easily shaken by life’s storms. [30:53]

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Reflection: In what area of your spiritual life do you struggle with consistency? What is one practical step you can take this week to become more rooted and established in your faith?

Day 5: No Condemnation: Living Free from Shame and Defeat

The enemy loves to disgrace and discourage God’s people by reminding them of their failures, sins, and shortcomings, using shame as a weapon to keep them living “under the table” instead of at the table God has prepared for them. But God’s Word declares that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; we are forgiven, free, and clothed in Christ’s righteousness. When shame and accusation come, we must stand on the truth of who God says we are, not on our feelings or failures, and live in the freedom and victory Jesus purchased for us. [33:11]

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Reflection: What is one area of shame or regret that the enemy uses to discourage you? How can you remind yourself today of the truth that you are forgiven and free in Christ?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on an obscure but powerful story from Judges 1:1-7, where the Israelites capture the ruthless King Adonai Bezek, known as “Lord Lightning.” This king had a brutal practice: after conquering other kings, he would cut off their thumbs and big toes, rendering them powerless and forcing them to live under his table, surviving on scraps. This ancient account, though strange, is loaded with spiritual truth for our lives today.

After Joshua’s death, Israel faced the daunting task of conquering the Promised Land, which was still full of enemies. God chose the tribe of Judah—whose name means “praise”—to lead the charge. In the ensuing battle, they captured Adonai Bezek and treated him as he had treated others. The story is more than a historical footnote; it’s a vivid illustration of how the enemy of our souls, Satan, operates in our lives.

Just as Adonai Bezek sought to dethrone, disarm, disable, and disgrace his enemies, so too does our spiritual adversary. He wants to strip us of our God-given authority, rob us of our spiritual weapons, destabilize our walk, and shame us into living beneath our calling. Too often, believers live unaware of the spiritual battle raging around them, or worse, convinced that they are powerless to resist.

But Scripture tells a different story about our identity. In Christ, we are not weak, defeated, or destined to live on scraps. We are called kings and priests, given authority and power through Jesus. The enemy’s greatest weapon is deception—convincing us that we are less than who God says we are. Like the elephant chained by a tiny stake, we can be held back by lies if we don’t know the truth of God’s Word.

The only offensive weapon in our spiritual armor is the Word of God. If we don’t know it, we are defenseless. Jesus himself modeled this in the wilderness, countering every temptation with “It is written.” Consistency, stability, and a firm foundation in God’s truth are essential to resist being disabled by the enemy. And when shame and discouragement come, we must remember that in Christ, there is no condemnation. Our authority is not in our own strength, but in the delegated authority—exousia—that Jesus gives us over all the power—dunamis—of the enemy.

We are not called to live under the enemy’s table, but to take our seat at the table Christ has prepared for us.

Key Takeaways

1. The enemy’s first strategy is to dethrone us—removing our sense of spiritual authority and identity. If we don’t know who we are in Christ, we will never step into the fullness of our calling. The enemy cannot break the kingdom until he breaks the kings, and so he works tirelessly to convince us that we are powerless, when in reality, we are sons, daughters, kings, and priests with spiritual authority. [19:08]
2. Disarming believers is a primary tactic of the enemy. By keeping us ignorant of God’s Word, he renders us defenseless, unable to wield the sword of the Spirit. Victory in spiritual battles comes not from effort or ability, but from a working knowledge of Scripture—knowing what is written and standing on it in every circumstance. [25:20]
3. The enemy seeks to disable us by robbing us of spiritual balance and consistency. A believer who is unstable—up one day, down the next, lacking spiritual discipline—cannot stand firm or bear fruit. God’s will is for us to be rooted, grounded, and steadfast, like a tree planted by streams of water, not blown about by every wind of doctrine or emotion. [30:23]
4. Shame and discouragement are tools the enemy uses to disgrace us and keep us living beneath our calling. He will remind us of our failures and struggles, hoping to convince us that we are unworthy of God’s love and power. But in Christ, there is no condemnation; our identity is not defined by our past, but by the righteousness of Jesus imparted to us. [33:47]
5. Our authority over the enemy is not based on our own strength, but on the delegated authority Jesus gives us. We do not fight the enemy with our own power (dunamis), but with the authority (exousia) of Christ. When we stand in this authority, the enemy recognizes the power of Christ in us, and we can walk in victory, refusing to live under the enemy’s table. [38:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:57] - Greeting and Online Family
[08:29] - First Time Guests and Series Introduction
[09:07] - Familiar and Obscure Old Testament Stories
[09:53] - Reading Judges 1:1-7
[11:31] - Joshua’s Death and Israel’s Next Steps
[12:31] - Judah Leads and the Meaning of Praise
[13:04] - Adonai Bezek: Lord Lightning
[13:54] - The Power and Humiliation of Adonai Bezek
[14:50] - The Modern Lord Lightning: Our Real Enemy
[16:59] - The Enemy’s Greatest Trick
[18:35] - Four Strategies of the Enemy
[19:08] - Dethroned: Losing Our Authority
[24:05] - Disarmed: Losing Our Weapon
[29:06] - Disabled: Losing Our Balance
[32:00] - Disgraced: Living Under the Table
[35:34] - Jesus Sends Out the Seventy
[37:19] - Authority Over the Enemy
[38:43] - Exousia vs. Dunamis: Delegated Authority
[41:47] - Living in Victory, Not Defeat
[42:16] - Closing and Final Challenge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 1:1-7 (ESV) — > After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” The Lord said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.” And Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you.” So Simeon went with him. Then Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them at Bezek. They found Adoni-bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

Ephesians 6:10-17 (ESV) — > Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Observation Questions

In Judges 1:1-7, what specific actions did Adonai Bezek take against the kings he conquered, and what was the result for those kings?
According to the sermon, what does the name “Judah” mean, and why is it significant that God chose this tribe to lead the battle? [[12:31]]
In Ephesians 6:10-17, what is the only offensive weapon listed in the armor of God, and why is this important? [[24:56]]
How did Adonai Bezek respond when he was captured and treated the same way he had treated others? What does this reveal about his understanding of justice or consequences?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon compares Adonai Bezek’s treatment of kings to the way our spiritual enemy tries to “dethrone, disarm, disable, and disgrace” believers. What does it mean for a Christian to be “dethroned” or “disarmed” spiritually? [[19:08]] [[24:05]]
Why do you think the enemy’s first strategy is to attack our sense of identity and authority in Christ? How does this affect the way we live out our faith? [[19:35]]
The sermon says that many Christians are “disabled” by a lack of consistency and spiritual discipline. What are some signs that a believer might be spiritually unstable or lacking a firm foundation? [[29:24]]
According to the sermon, how does knowing and using God’s Word help us resist the enemy’s attacks? Can you think of a time when a specific scripture helped you in a spiritual battle? [[25:20]]

Application Questions

The enemy wants to convince us that we are powerless and should live “under the table,” settling for scraps. Are there areas in your life where you feel like you’re living beneath your calling or identity in Christ? What would it look like to take your seat at Christ’s table instead? [[14:11]] [[41:47]]
The sermon described how the enemy uses deception, like the story of the elephant chained by a small stake. Are there any lies or limiting beliefs you’ve accepted about yourself that keep you from stepping into your God-given authority? How can you start to break free from them? [[22:06]]
The only offensive weapon in our spiritual armor is the Word of God. How consistent are you in reading, memorizing, or meditating on Scripture? What is one practical step you can take this week to become more “armed” with God’s Word? [[25:20]]
The enemy tries to destabilize us by making us inconsistent in our walk with God. What is one area of your spiritual life (prayer, worship, church attendance, serving, etc.) where you want to become more consistent? What’s a small, specific change you can make this week? [[29:24]]
Shame and discouragement are tools the enemy uses to keep us living beneath our calling. Is there a past failure or struggle that the enemy keeps using to shame you? How can you remind yourself of the truth that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”? [[33:47]]
The sermon talked about the difference between “dunamis” (raw power) and “exousia” (delegated authority). When you face spiritual opposition, do you tend to rely on your own strength or on the authority Jesus has given you? How can you shift your mindset to stand in Christ’s authority? [[38:43]]
Think about someone in your life who seems to be living “under the table” spiritually—struggling with shame, defeat, or a sense of powerlessness. How can you encourage them this week to see their true identity and authority in Christ? [[41:47]]

Sermon Clips

If you're in a fight and you don't know you're in a fight, you're a sitting duck. If you're in a fight happening and you have an opponent, but you don't know that you're in a fight and have an opponent, you're a sitting duck. And it's one of his strategies. One of his greatest strategies is for people to not take him seriously or for him to go unnoticed and for people not to be aware of him. [00:16:23] (22 seconds) #FightWithEyesOpen

The thief, he comes and he's only got three things on his mind. There is nothing else that the thief is about. There is nothing else the devil is about. This is his entire plan. To steal, to kill, and to destroy. That's all he's about. It's all he's ever been about. It's all he's ever going to be about. To steal, kill, and destroy. [00:17:39] (18 seconds) #StealKillDestroyTruth

Contrary to popular belief, y'all, we are not just little weak weary pilgrims pressing on in this life, holding on and trying to survive another day. When we were saved by grace, we have been given an elevated status by God. He says we are sons, we are daughters, we are kings, we are priests. One scripture says we are heirs to God and joint heirs with Jesus, made to sit together in heavenly places. Listen, man. We have been given spiritual power to live a different life, to walk a different way, and to accomplish meaningful things for God, for his kingdom, and for other people. [00:20:33] (33 seconds) #RoyalIdentityInChrist

Because listen, it doesn't matter how much spiritual power you actually have. If you don't believe that you have any power, you will never attempt, you'll never strive, you'll never try, you'll never exercise it. It doesn't matter what you actually have. It matters what you know, believe, and understand that you have. [00:21:31] (19 seconds) #BelieveYourPower

He could pull the whole place down, but as long as he feels it around his ankle, they have killed his will to pull and to fight. The enemy wants you to believe you're nothing. He wants you to believe you're nobody. That great things are only accomplished by people better than you, other than you. Because he knows that if you ever truly discover who you are in Christ, you are unstoppable and the greatest nightmare that he's ever seen in his life. [00:22:51] (26 seconds) #UnstoppableInChrist

If you ever discover who you are in Christ, if you ever figure out what he has given you, deposited to you, what he has prepared for you, and what he has imparted to you, you are going to be unstoppable. You'll live for the kingdom. You'll share Jesus with others. You'll give hope to the hopeless. You'll live the love. You'll live for Christ. You'll do good everywhere that he goes. The only way, and he knows it, the only way to stop the kingdom of God is you have to break the kings. So he's after you to dethrone you. [00:23:17] (29 seconds) #DethroneTheEnemy

If you don't know the word, you don't have a weapon. You become defenseless. You know what God said in Hosea 4 and 6? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Not lack of effort. Not lack of ability. Lack of knowledge. People are not defeated because of situations and circumstances. They are defeated because they lack a working knowledge of the Bible to be able to address and counteract what the enemy is throwing at them in life. [00:26:12] (25 seconds) #KnowledgeIsSpiritualWeapon

When the enemy attacks your marriage and he's going to, you better know what's written. When he comes after your children and he's going to, you better know what's written. When he comes after your peace with anxiety and fear and depression and discouragement and he will, you better know what's written. [00:27:25] (17 seconds) #GuardYourMarriageAndPeace

God says, I don't label you by your faults. I don't label you by your frailties. I don't label you by your failures. I do not label you by your shortcomings or by those moments where you stumble and fall. Because if you are in Christ, here's what God says. I no longer see you as you are. I see Christ as he is. When he looks at you, he doesn't see a struggling weakling. If you are in Christ, he sees the righteousness of Christ. He has imparted his righteousness to you. It's the great exchange. He took your sin and he gave you his righteousness and you stand not in your own power, but you stand in the imputed power of Jesus Christ. [00:34:48] (44 seconds) #RighteousnessImputed

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