Understanding Jesus' Authority Over Spiritual Warfare

This teaching about Jesus, in many ways, is about the devil. A being in the scriptures from Genesis three to the end of Revelation takes extremely seriously. Yet in our own time, there had been great distortions that have arisen about the nature and work of Satan. We need to listen to the teaching of Jesus to get a proper understanding of this diabolical person who seeks our destruction. This record of this event comes through us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it carries the full weight of the authority of God himself and I trust that you will receive it as such. [00:02:03]

The first time we meet the devil in the bible is in the Garden of Eden where he is introduced in chapter three of Genesis with the somewhat cryptic and ominous foreboding words. The serpent was more subtle or crafty than any of the beasts of the field. Jesus tells us that this serpent was a liar from the beginning and he used the power of the lie to seduce or primordial parents and to bring the whole creation into ruin. [00:03:45]

It’s the same serpent that assaulted our Lord in the wilderness and did everything in his power to seduce Jesus and to prevent him from fulfilling the mission that the Father had given to him. But fortunately for us and for the world, the second Adam stood firm and overcame the enemy. Even with that victory of Jesus, the assault against him by Satan did not at that moment seize but followed him every step of his earthly ministry. [00:04:44]

The enemies of Jesus, chiefly, the Scribes and Pharisees took this occasion to bring perhaps the greatest insult against Jesus that they ever did. It was in this moment that they came this close to committing the unpardonable sin. They said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub. By the power of the prince of demons. By the power of Satan. That’s one thing to be hostile to Jesus and something else to say that he is in league with the Devil. [00:06:33]

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against a house falls. If Satan is divided against himself, how long will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.” What is he saying here? He says that’s a foolish supposition. How stupid would Stan be than to use his power in me to destroy his own kingdom? Haven’t you seen what I just did? Delivering this man who is under the control of a junior grade demon who answered and reported to Beelzebub, one of his minions, one of his lieutenants. [00:07:15]

Do you think Satan is going to destroy his own army if he expects his kingdom to stand? This is how Jesus gave his initial response to the charge that he was doing his miracles through the power of Satan. There are few things we need to get clear. In the first place, these leaders, many of whom were scholars did not deny that Jesus was doing miracles. They didn’t accuse him of duplicity of performing sleight of hand or cleverly devised tricks. They fully acknowledged that Jesus was doing miracles. [00:08:09]

What Nicodemus was thinking was that only God can empower a miracle, that Satan does not have the ability or the power to perform miracles. Now, if we took a poll of all the evangelical Christians in America and we ask the question, “Do you believe that Satan has the power and the ability to perform miracles?” I haven’t taken this poll and I’m only guessing. My guess would be that the overwhelming majority of professing evangelical Christians in this country and probably around the world would say, “Yes, Satan can perform miracles.” [00:10:30]

I doubt if you and I will ever meet Satan in our lives because as a creature, he can only be at one place at one time. He’s spending his time assaulting the big boys and the big girls. He sends his junior grade demons to torment us. We’ll never have to deal with him like Jesus did and Luther did and Edward did because he’s not divine. He doesn’t have the attribute of omnipresence nor is he omnipotent. Again, his power is greater than mine and greater than yours but there is a limit to that power and that limit falls far short of the power of God. [00:12:05]

Here, in his warning, the apostle Paul says that the one who comes in the power of Satan will come with the power of lying, signs and wonders. So wonderful, so powerful as if possible even to deceive the very elect. Now here’s the question. What does Paul mean? What does the bible mean when it gives or attributes to Satan the power of performing, lying, signs and wonders? What does it mean by lying? Does Paul mean that Satan will come doing bona fide authentic miracles in support of a lie? Or, does the term lying here mean that those signs and wonders are not true signs and wonders establishing a lie, but they are false signs and wonders trying to establish a lie. [00:14:18]

I believe and agree that Satan never works against evil, against “peccatum.” He works “pro-peccatum,” for evil. I disagree that he has the power to work “contra naturam” because that is the basis for a real and truthful miracle. Why am I exercised about this and concern about it? If I take you please to Hebrews chapter two, where the beginning of chapter two of Hebrews starts with these words, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, less we drift away. For the words spoken through angels prove steadfast and every transgression and disobedience receive a just reward. How then shall we escape if we neglect? So great a salvation.” [00:22:26]

The truth of sacred scripture, the truth of the gospel, the truth of Christ was authenticated by miracles. Because that was God’s way of certifying and confirming that this is his truth. Do you see what’s at stake? If Satan can really perform true miracles, then the miracles of Christ, the miracles of the apostles, the miracles of Moses confirm nothing. No, no, no, Satan is clever. He can disguise himself as an angel of light. He goes about as roaring lion seeking those whom he can devour, but he’s not God. There is a limit beyond which he cannot go. [00:26:50]

When those miracles, true miracles come to past, they bring with it divine certification. That’s what the point of the miracles were, principally and chiefly to prove once and for all that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. You can have a demon cast out and that they may roam about the dry places but if he’s not replaced by the Holy Ghost. He’ll come back with all of his friends and your end will be worse than the beginning. We can respect the power of Satan, but let’s not give him the power and authority that only God possesses. [00:28:00]