Destroying the Works of the Devil

I. Introduction:

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan.

Lets look at what the works of Satan are.

1. Sin: Satan is our tempter (examples) alcoholism, drug addictions, lying, murder, sexual sins etc. John 3:8 above.

Whenever we sin or someone sins against us doors are opened up to demon oppression, to demonization and to curses.

2. Sickness: cancer, diabetes, migraine headaches, hypertension, osteoporosis, paralysis, mental disorders, pain. Acts 10:38( I believe sin and Satan are behind every sickness to one degree or another. It all began when Adam and eve sinned in the garden of Eden, before that there was no sickness at all. In heaven where there is no sin and no Satan there is no sickness.)

3. Brokenheartedness or hurts or wounds to our soulish realm ex. depression, rejection, self hate, bitterness, hopelessness, fear, mental torment, night mares, etc. Luke 4:18 (We are a spirit, we live in a body and we possess a soul. Our soul is our mind, our will and our emotions. When we were born again it was our spirit or the real us that was was saved.)

4. Poverty- nakedness, starvation, homelessness, never enough, barely enough, no education, etc...Poverty is a curse that we have been redeemed from. 2 Corinthians 8:9

II. Jesus Ministry - His ultimate goal was to:

A. Defeat Satan setting us free from Satan's bondage. He wanted to restore a right relationship between us and God.

1. Taking a beating-by his stripes we are healed 1 Peter 2:24
2. Dying on the cross. He bore our sins our sicknesses and our poverty
3. Going into hell and bruising Satan head and taking the keys of hell: Genesis 3:5,Rev 1:18
4. Rising from the dead–victory over death 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
5. Ascending to the right hand of the Father-A position of authority. He was promoted and so were we. We were given His name which is His authority. Act 2:30-36 His name was given to us for the express purpose of doing the works of God or destroying the works of darkness. Just as Jesus did what he saw and heard his father do what we see and hear Jesus do. That way we also are one with God, not obeying our own will but rather His will.

For a quick review:

By Jesus shedding His blood and giving his life He: paid our sin debt, He made us to be the righteousness of God( Romans 5:19),He reconciled us to God, He defeated sin and death, He raised us up to sit in heavenly places with Him, He set us free from all the works of the devil, and gave us authority over all the powers of darkness!

Jesus set us Free but we still have work to do.

John 8:36 says whom the son sets free is free indeed, so we are indeed free.

1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be on guard because our enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

But Ephesians 6:12 warns us that we still have an enemy to deal with.

We are free if we have received that freedom by accepting Jesus, but we have to know we are, we have to excretes our authority because the devil is still on the loose and will be until Jesus locks him away.
(Joshua and the Israelites having to clear the promised land before inhabiting it)

B. Another reason Jesus came was to Set an example for us. He began the work of Gods Kingdom here on the earth and then turned that ministry over to us, his disciples. His three year ministry was our example of How to do Gods work in the earth.

Jesus example of preaching, teaching, casting out devils, working miracles and healing the sick are our examples of how to take up his ministry of destroying the works of darkness.

Mark 1:32-34 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

III. We also are commanded to do these same things that Jesus did.

A. Our commands:

1. John 14:12-14 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

2. Our Commission Mark 16: 14-20 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table: and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So then after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs . Amen

B. Example of First Disciples (All born again Christians are disciples of Jesus)
Mark 6:7-13

C. Example of the 70
Luke 10:1-24
Jesus has given his disciple power and authority over all the power of the enemy!

D. Early Church examples
Acts 3: 1-9 Peter healed a lame man
Acts 5:12-16 sick were healed and demons cast out by early church apostles

 

IV. The needs in our day (the last of the last days) are just as great or probably even greater than when Jesus walked the earth and the church first began.

A. Needs in the body of Christ: many are both sick in body and mind , tormented by evil spirits, plagued by fear, insecurities, hurts, past wounds which manifests themselves in all sorts of ways. Much of the body of Christ are just as plagued by the works of darkness as the world, even the clergy!

B. Needs in the world: the hospitals, prisons and mental institutions are full of people tormented in one way or another by demons.

Satan and his demons are behind every form of evil. Sin, sickness, poverty and brokenheartedness..
This is what Jesus came to destroy and this is what he left us in charge of doing. But are we??

V. The church has not done it's job. Churches are full of Christians that have many unresolved problems in their lives caused by demonic activity to one degree or another.

They are not getting the help they need

They are not being taught how to help themselves or others or how to fulfill their commission

If not the church then who is to do the works of God??
If not the church then who will

The church are the only people on the earth that has authority over demons. Are we being good stewards of the authority God has given us? Shamefully, no.

We should:
1. Get free ourselves
2. Exercise our authority and set others free.
3. Teach others to do the same

VI. So how do we obey our commission?

1. Get knowledge and understanding from Gods word on who we are in Christ, who our enemy is, etc.
2. Study Jesus, our example.
3. Learn from others who have practical experience
4. Step out and act by faith in God.
5. Trial and error: we are going to make mistakes but That is better than doing nothing and just letting Satan have his way in tormenting souls and causing so much pain.
6. Trust God for results
7. Brace for that persecution. In the word every time the power of God went fourth, persecution came back.

 

VII. Conclusion: Will we be ashamed at His appearing? Have we been good stewards of the authority and power he has given us?

I want us as a church to be challenged tonight.
Jesus died so we could be free from demons so why do we put up with them?
He died so we could walk in His supernatural powers, exercising His authority over darkness setting others free.

Luke 19:11-2711 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, F122 and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' 15 And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' 17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' 18 And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' 20 Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' 24 And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' 25 (But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') 26 For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' "

(Prayer of repentance and commitment.)

Thank you for authority, power, and a commission.
Forgive us
Teach us
help us
We commit to stepping out by faith