Skip to main content
Revelation 20:1-5

Binding the Enemy

  • Rich Jones
  • Weekend Messages
  • January 28, 2018

If Christ is to rule and reign on the earth, then Satan must be removed. That is what we are studying – the binding of Satan. That will be wonderful day for the world, but there are important applications for us here today as we will see as we study through this section of scripture.

  • Sermon Notes
  • Transcription
  • Scripture

Binding the Enemy

Revelation 20:1-5 

Last week we looked at the end of the Tribulation period when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to defeat the nations that will have assembled on the plains of Megiddo in one last attempt to destroy Israel; the battle of Armageddon.

Christ will set foot on the Mount of Olives and enter into Jerusalem to shepherd the nations with a rod of iron. He will come to set things right. There is so much that is wrong today that much of the world thinks is good, which reminds me of Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

I was thinking the other day of a lighthearted example.When I was growing up we had our own slang expressions, but they made sense; words like, “hunky-dory,” or “geewhiz,” or “holy smoke,” or “groovy” and “far out!”But today, things mean the opposite of what they sound like.If a car is really good, you say, “how fast can that bad boy go?”And then, if something is really good, it’s either ‘wicked,’ or ‘sick,’ or ‘killer.’If something’s really cool, it’s hot.I’m confused.

Jesus will come to set things right. The world system will be destroyed, nations will be defeated, but there will be one more thing that will need to be set right. You could say it this way, when Jesus returns the world will be under new management.

In other words, if Christ is to rule and reign on the earth, then Satan must be removed. That is what we are studying today – the binding of Satan. That will be wonderful day for the world, but there are important applications for us here today as we will see as we study through this section of scripture.

I. Satan is a Defeated Enemy

  • In the popular Star Wars movies, evil and good are seen in an epic battle of forces and the outcome is far from certain. The dark side and the good side of the force must be balanced. But that is Star Wars and not biblical warfare.
  • The reality is that Satan is a defeated foe by the victory of Christ on the cross of Calvary.

A. Yet he fights on

  • When God decides the time has come for Satan to be thrown into the abyss, there is no epic battle of massive forces, He sends one angel and it is done! Satan is bound and thrown into the abyss.
  • By the way, at the point the Antichrist and the false prophet have been seized and thrown into the lake of fire.
  • Someone once asked, If Satan knows he cannot defeat God, why does he keep fighting?
  • Answer: 1) he knows he has a little time, so he seizes the opportunity;

Revelation 12:12, Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.

  • 2) So he can destroy as many as possible.

John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;”

Illus – On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces invaded Normandy. 155,000 Allied soldiers fought in the greatest single invasion in world history. From that point forward, Hitler knew the war would be lost, but continued fighting to the bitter end, refusing to acknowledge defeat. Satan knows he is defeated; but he will also fight to the bitter end.

Peter 5:8, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

B. He deceives the nations today

  • The number one, greatest, most powerful thing that Satan does is to deceive.

John 8:44, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

  • Verse 3—When Christ comes to rule and reign on the earth Satan must be removed so he can no longer deceive the nations.
  • Beware of his schemes and his lies; they are the main weapons of his warfare; many are defeated by these kinds of lies…

You cannot be satisfied unless you have more… This is the lie behind drugs, worldly sexuality, lust for power and greed.

Psalm 73:2, 5, 13-14, 16-17, 23-26, As for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped.For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked… They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind… Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure and washed my hands and innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning… When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight… until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.Surely You set them in slippery places; you cast them down to destruction.How they are destroyed in a moment!…You have taken hold of my right hand.With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.Whom have I in heaven but You?And besides You, I desire nothing on this earth.God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

You are unworthy of God’s love. Satan is the accuser of the brethren and will try to convince you that you don’t deserve God’s grace.

He is the one who will remind you of your past failures.

Illus – This reminds me of when I was in fifth grade and was elected to be the sergeant of arms for the class…

God gives grace with love that has no boundary known unto men.

Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 2:1-2, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

  • To counter the enemy’s lies we need the truth; it is the truth that sets us free…

John 8:31-32, 36, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”The word “imitate” in the Greek is “mimic.” 

II. Bind Satan in Your Life Now

  • Though Satan seeks to destroy and is a liar and deceiver, you do not have to be defeated byhim!
  • There is great victory in knowing who you are in Christ and that our victory is in Him.
  • You have authority in Christ to bind Satan from your life because you are now in Christ.

A. Greater is He who is in you

  • The church has authority to take a stand right now.
  • When Jesus asked His disciples who the people were saying He is, they said, “Some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah, but still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus then asked, “But who do you say I am?” Peter was the one who said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded …

Matthew 16:18, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”

  • Gates are for defense. We don’t have to go through life trying to outrun the gates of hell. Jesus was saying that the church will have authority to prevail over satanic forces. We know that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but we can prevail…

James 4:7-8, Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

  • God has victory in mind for His church.

1 John 4:4, You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Romans 8:31, 33-34, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? …Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?

B. Keep growing spiritually

  • In regard to spiritual warfare:

Stand firm in your faith…

Ephesians 6:13, 16 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm, stand firm therefore… in addition to all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Be victorious in your mind…

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Keep growing in Christ. Stagnant water stinketh; God is committed to transforming us into who He wants us to become.

Illus – When the Midianites were oppressing Israel, an angel came to Gideon, who was hiding in a cave, and said, “Hail, O valiant warrior!” He most certainly wasn’t, but God saw who he was to become, a valiant warrior who would defeat the enemy – God sees us the same way; as who we will become.

C. Walk in the ways of your King

  • When you choose to live by God’s ways rather than the ways of the enemy, you are binding Satan in your life.
  • God’s ways and the ways of Satan are opposites.

Note: Satan is the accuser of the brethren, so don’t be an accuser yourself. Jesus edifies and builds the church, so you edify and build up those around you.

  • Satan is bound when we operate our lives in a completely different way than those who are led by the ways of the world.

Romans 12:17-18, 21, Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

  • James gives a great list of those qualities of those who choose to live by the way of the One who is the victor.

James 3:17-18, But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  

Binding the Enemy
Revelation 20:1-5
January 27-28, 2018

Last week, we were looking as the Lord was describing for us the events that happened at the end of the tribulation period when the Lord returns. The second coming of Christ is such an amazing, wondrous day of victory as He comes against those nations that had assembled against Israel there in Armageddon. One last attempt to destroy Israel and the battle of Armageddon ensues. Christ sets foot on the Mount of Olives, He enters into Jerusalem, and it says, to shepherd the nations, to rule the nations with a rod of iron, and He comes to set things right because there’s a lot of things wrong.

I think there’s many people in their heart who say, “Oh, Lord Jesus, come quickly because there’s a lot of things wrong in this world.” Which reminds me of that verse in Isaiah 5:20, where it says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, and substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, and substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” It seems like that is like the theme of the age in which we’re living today. Things seem to be upside-down. I was thinking of some examples of that, and I was thinking of maybe somewhat of a humorous example. I was thinking about when I was growing up. When I was growing up, we had slang expressions. They have slang expressions in every age, but our slang expressions made sense.

Hunky dory, that makes sense. Right? Gee whiz. That makes sense. Holy smokes. There was slang that came out of the 60s. That was before my time. Groovy. Far out, man.
I was there, but I was so young, I had no idea what was going on. Or something like that. Today it seems like words mean the opposite of what you think they mean. Someone has a really good car, then you say, “How fast can that bad boy go?”

Well, is it good or-- if something’s really good, then it’s “wicked.” That doesn't make sense to me. Or if something’s really, really good, then it’s sick.

Or it’s killer. Or if something is really, really cool, then it’s hot. Just like, “Okay, Lord. Come and sort all that out." Actually, when the Lord returns, it’s the nations that he will set right. When you look at what’s happening in the world, isn’t there something inside of you that says, that there is something very deep. What’s wrong in this earth is very deep. There’s a deep, deep darkness that is arising in the world today, and Jesus is going to come to set things right. The world’s system will be destroyed, nations will be defeated, and yet, there will be one more thing that will need to be done to set things right.

You might say it this way, when Jesus returns, the world will be under new management. Christ is to rule and to reign on the earth, but first, Satan must be removed. Satan must be bound. That’s what we’re going to be studying today, the binding of Satan that he might not deceive the nations any longer. What a wonderful day for the world. There’s a lot of important things for us to grasp when we see it.

Revelation chapter 20, let’s just read the first three verses. He says, “I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss." Now remember, the abyss is that place where the demons will be held, and they have been held. In fact, if you remember when Jesus encountered that demoniac filled with the legion of demons at Gerasene. Remember that scene, “We know who you are.” They pleaded with Jesus not to throw them into the abyss, the abusso. “Don’t throw us there. Don’t cast us into the abyss. We beg you.” That tells us the significance of the abyss, the abusso.

He says, “He had the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand, and He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan.” Makes no mistaking who he is referring to here. “He laid hold of that dragon, that serpent of old, and bound him for a thousand years.” He will be held in the abyss for a thousand years. It says, “He threw him,” verse three, “into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he should not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed. After these things, he must be released for a short time.” I’ll speak more on that on Wednesday, a little more detail added at the Wednesday service.

By the way, on a side note, you might wonder, “What has happened to the anti-Christ? What has happened to the false prophet? What happened to them?” That’s a great question. At the battle of Armageddon, when Jesus and the armies of heaven confronted those nations that came against Israel, He defeated those armies, and it says that He gave command to take hold, to seize the anti-Christ. Seize him, and they cast him into the lake of fire. He is finished, in other words. That’s the end. Cast him into the lake of fire. The false prophets seize him and cast him into the lake of fire. Satan is held not in the lake of fire but rather in the abyss, the abusso, until the thousand years are completed. After these things, he must be released for a short time.” Again, we’ll look at that Wednesday.

Then he says, “I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they came to life.” This is the bodily resurrection of these who have been martyred and died. "And, they came to life and they reigned with Christ on the earth for a thousand years.” The scripture describes the church coming back with Christ to rule also with Him for a thousand years. “The rest of the dead, they did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.” Now, he’s talking about-- He says, “This is the first resurrection.”

We’re going to look at more verses, but I want us to look at this tonight because this is important for us to have the insight into binding the enemy, so let’s start with that, which is to say, “Satan is a defeated enemy, and his destiny is made clear. Satan is a defeated enemy.”

I. Satan is a Defeated Enemy

In the Star Wars movies, in the popular Star Wars movie, they depict evil and good as being in a balance. The dark side of the force and the good side of the force are in some kind of balance. If they’re not in balance, then there’s a disturbance in the force. That Star Wars, that’s not Biblical wars. Amen. In the understanding of the kingdom of God, there is no equality between darkness and light. God reigns over all, and when He gives the word, Satan is bound, finished. The power of the Lord is over all. Satan is a defeated enemy. This is important because the reality of that is very, very important because he was defeated on the cross when Jesus died that day on Calvary.

A. Yet he fights on

He is a defeated foe, he is a defeated enemy, and yet he fights on. It’s important for us to recognize, yet he fights on. When God decides the time has come for Satan to be thrown into the abyss, there is no epic battle. It's is not an epic war. He sends the angel, He’s got the key, He’s got the chains. He just has to do it. He seizes hold of him and casts him into the abyss. It’s important to recognize, He sends an angel and it’s done. Someone once asked, “Well, if Satan knows then that he cannot defeat God, then why does he keep fighting?” If he knows he’s defeated, if he knows what's his destiny, he knows what his future is, he knows the Word of God, then why does he keep fighting?

Two answers. One, he knows that he has a little time and he will seize that opportunity. He has a little time and he’s going to seize it. Revelation 12, verse 12, when we were there. “Woe to the earth and the sea! Because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” He will seize it, he will take that. Number two, because he will destroy as many as possible. He knows that he is the defeated foe but he is going to take as many with him as possible. John 10, verse 10, very famous. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.

Now, maybe an illustration from history might help us. June six, 1944, the Allied forces-- this is World War II-- Allied forces invaded Normandy. 155,000 Allied soldiers-- the greatest battle, greatest single invasion in world history to that point. From that point forward, Hitler knew that he was defeated. He knew that he could not win. He knew that it was only a matter of time and yet he kept on fighting. He kept on fighting, even to the bitter end. That to me is a good illustration of that. Satan knows that he is defeated but he will also fight on and he will fight on to the bitter end and take as many with him as he possibly can.

First Peter 5:8. “Be of sober spirit. Be on the alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” It tells us that He will be down for that thousand and years, so that he cannot deceive the nations any longer, which is to say, now today, he is deceiving the nations today.
B. He deceives the nations today

It’s important for us to recognize that the number one most powerful thing that Satan does is to lie. He is a deceiver. He is the father of lies. Deception and lies is his most powerful weapon. If he can convince you, if he can have you believe a lie, he will defeat you.

In fact, John eight, this is verse 44. Jesus is speaking about him and he says he was a murderer from the beginning, does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own nature. He is a liar and the father of lies. It’s important for us to recognize that spirit of the age, that’s happening right now. When Christ comes to rule and reign, he must be removed so that the nations are no longer deceived. It tells us that when Jesus rules and reigns, the nations will come and give Him glory. They will give Him honor. So, it is important to recognize that he is not bound yet and he is influencing the world. He is influencing the nations.

We must beware, beware of the schemes, beware of his lies. They are the main weapons of his warfare. I’d tell you what, many are defeated by lies. There are many lies. It’s good for you to be able to say, “Now that's a lie. That is an untruth. I will not be held by that one. I will not believe a lie. I’ll stay in the truth.” That is your victory. It’s important to recognize. There's so many lies the enemy would try to convince you of if possible. Here’s a lie that’s in the spirit of the age in which we’re living. In German, the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age. You cannot be satisfied unless you have more. That’s the spirit of the age.

This is the lie behind drugs, and worldly sexuality, and lust for power and greed. More, more, got to have more. One of the best Psalms that speaks to this has to be Psalm 73. If you have your notes there-- the notes-- By the way, I don't put the whole Psalm 73, but I want to just give you some highlights because it’s so insightful into the perspective that God will have for us. Listen to these verses, Psalm 73. Again, I'm just picking through various verses. “As for me,” he says, “my feet came close to stumbling.

My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant. As I saw the prosperity of the wicked, they are not in trouble like other men, nor they played like mankind.” Then he said, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence, for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.” Then he said, “When I ponder to understand this. It was troublesome in my sight. But, listen, I love how he moves in the Psalm. When I ponder to understand it, it was troublesome in my sight.” That is, he says. “Until I came into the sanctuary of God. It’s like everything, light came on his but his heart understood.

It was troublesome to me, when I saw what was happening in the world and I saw the success of the wicked and I saw the arrogant and the prideful. It bothered me, until I came into the sanctuary of God, and then light dawned in my heart.” He says then, “I perceived their end. Oh, surely, You will set them in slippery places. You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are destroyed in the moment. With Your counsel You will guide me and afterward, You will receive me the glory. Whom have I in heaven but You Lord. Oh, he’s always changed his perspective. Besides you, I desire nothing on this earth. God is the strength of my heart and my portion [sic] forever.

What a glorious, victorious conclusion he draws to. I love that Psalm. It is a powerful, powerful Psalm. They set your heart in the right place. We’re looking at these lies of the enemy. Here's another lie of the enemy. If he can convince you of this, he will defeat you. You are unworthy of God's love. Satan is the accuser of the brethren and if he can remind you of your failures, if he can remind you of your mistakes, if he can remind you of your past and continually convince you that you're not worthy of love.

Now, there is an important aspect of that we really need to understand. Must we be worthy in order to be loved? Do you see the lie? Must we be worthy in order to be loved? Do we have to earn God's love? Do we have to demonstrate that we’re worth it, that we’ve earned it, we deserve it because we’re such wonderful people. No. The enemy is the accuser of the brethren and if he can, he will convince you by bringing up your mistakes and he will shame you with it.

I was thinking about this and thinking of some examples and I was thinking about a time in my own life. When I was in fifth grade. We’re going back in the archives,
I was in fifth grade and for whatever reason, the teacher had a student be the enforcer of rules. I was elected sergeant of arms. I’m telling you this true story. I was sergeant of arms in my fifth grade class. Why they would choose a student to be the enforcer of rules? I don't know. I am beyond that. I have let go of it. I just want you to know, I've let go of the thing but, I let’s just say, took my job [laughs] a little too seriously. I was the enforcer of the rules. The kids got pretty tired of it. It just so happened we were learning about government and how things happen in government and they were talking about learning about how petitions work.

Are you following me on this? One day a fellow student came up to me and he said. “Hey, we're circulating a petition and we’re wondering if you want to sign it.” I said, “What’s it about.” He said. “We’re doing a petition to ask for more recess time.” I went, “Sure, I’ll sign that.” I signed it. They said, “Aha! This was a petition to remove you as sergeant of arms.”
I have been in counseling ever since.

“Oh. It’s not enough. No, it’s not enough to do a petition. No, you're going to deceive me into signing the thing. I'm over it, I’m telling you.” But, really isn't that just like the enemy. I really am over it. But isn’t it just like the enemy. Just do to shame you in it, not just to bring it up but to shame you in it and I tell you what, so many people have been defeated by shame, but I love the grace of God. In fact, Romans 5:8 is such a beautiful verse. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That's love, that's amazing love 1 John 2:1-2 "My little children I am writing these things to you so that you might not sin."

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the father. If you sin, if you fail, you blow it, you actually have an advocate, Jesus Christ is your advocate for sinners. I don't know about you but that's amazing. Jesus Christ the righteous and He Himself is the perpetuation for our sins, not only for ours but also for the whole world. To counter the lies, he is the spirit of the ages the is deception, to counter his lies why do you need? You need the truth. Jesus said, John Chapter eight, "If you continue in my word, if you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free."

Then I love this in verse 36, "And, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." You will be free. If the Son makes you free, you will be free, indeed. Now, the binding of Satan is such a momentous day for the world. Such a momentous day, deceiving the nations no longer but may I suggest to a Christian that you can bind Satan in your life right now.

II. Bind Satan in Your Life Now

It's important for us to recognize the victory that God has for us though, Satan seeks to destroy, he is a liar and a deceiver, you do not have to be defeated by him. There's a great victory. God has won a great victory for us in Jesus Christ and you are in Jesus Christ, therefore you can have victory now.

It's important for us to recognize we do not have to be taken by the spirit of the age. You have authority in Christ even to bind Satan from your life even now, because of who you are in Christ. In fact what does the Scriptures say? It says, "Greater is He who is in you, than he was in the world."

A. Greater is He who is in you

Greater is He who is in you than he is in the world. Who is in you? The spirit of the Living God Himself is in you. Greater is He who is in you than he who is the spirit of the age. The church now see, He has won a victory for us now. Yes, this is a momentous day here in Revelation 20, but for the Christian, your victory is now.

When Jesus asked his disciples and he said, "Who do the people say that I am?" They said, "Well, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah one of the prophets." Then Jesus said, "But, who do you say that I am?" It was Peter who answered, "You are the Christ, you are the son of the Living God." Now, that is a powerful statement. Do you know who he is? You begin by understanding who he is. You are the Christ you are the son of the Living God. Start with that. Then Jesus responded, this is Matthew 16:18. Jesus responded and said, "I say to you.
You are Peter, it's rock, right? I say you are Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not overpower it." What a statement, what a powerful declaration of the authority that he speaks to. Notice that phrase, "and the gates of hell". Gates are not an offensive piece of war, they're defensive. You don't have to go through life trying to outrun the gates of hell, the gates of hell are not pursuing you. Jesus is saying that the church has authority to prevail over satanic forces even now. We know that he comes to steal and kill and destroy, but we can prevail.
It's important to recognize the victory that we have now. James 4:7-8. Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. This is a great key and then God has in store for us. God has for us, he has victory in mind for the church. Listen to these verses First John 4:4. You are from God little children and have overcome. This is the verse I was quoting, "Because, Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." Then Romans eight, famous Romans eight, one of my favorite chapters, "What then shall we say to these things, if God is for us who can be against us?" Who will bring a charge against God's elect?

B. Keep growing spiritually

God is the one who justifies who is the one who condemns. If God justifies you, then who can condemn you? It's important for us to grasp what God has given to us in Jesus Christ and so this is what he's telling us. This what he's telling us for spiritual victory, "Keep growing spiritually." Understand who you are and keep growing in the spirit, keep growing, right? Stand firm, stand firm in your faith. That's one of the keys to victory. He who overcomes is he who stands firm, keep standing. Ephesians chapter six, really famous spiritual warfare chapter, "Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day."

Having done everything to stand firm then stand firm therefore, and in addition to all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Victory is yours, stand, keep growing, stand firm in your faith and then he wants us to grasp the significance of being victorious in the mind. The mind is such a key to victory spiritually. 2 Corinthians 10. There are several other verses that are very much like it, "Though we walk in the flesh, we don't war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are divinely powerful." What does that mean divinely?

It means of Godly power, divine God, divinely powerful for the destruction of forgers as we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. To be victorious in your mind, is to grasp the truth and to stand on it. So, He's telling us to keep growing, keep growing in Christ. Stagnant water will eventually stink. Freshwater is on the move, is alive. God is committed to transforming you and bringing that which is life, Spiritual victory comes from spiritual life. He sees you as who he is transforming you to be.

There's a great story out of the Old Testament when the Midianites had come against Israel and they were oppressing them. They held them down, and an angel came to Gideon and this Gideon was hiding in a cave and the angel said to him, "Hail oh valiant warrior." Which in many ways is humorous because that not exactly what he looked like, but he hailed him as who God would make him to be. I just love that picture, he hailed him as who God would make him to be. God is not finished with you yet, God is still in the process of transforming by his powerful Holy Spirit and we are all in the process of being transformed. Because, God is not finished but God is absolutely committed to seeing it through to the end, Amen?

C. Walk in the ways of your King

Lastly is telling us victory is ours, bind Satan and walk in the ways of your King. We will rule and reign. Scripture says we will rule and reign with Him. We will be with him, we will walk with Him, we will reign with Him. Therefore he is telling us, walk in the ways of your king even now. When you choose to live by God's, ways rather than the ways of the enemy, you're binding Satan in your life. God's ways and Satan's ways are opposites, opposites. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, Jesus speaks life.

He edifies, He builds, He gives grace. Satan is the accuser, Satan criticizes, Satan tears down. God builds up. God speaks life. It's like He's telling us, "I want you to walk in the ways of the king." God builds up. God edifies, "I want you to walk in the way of your King." What a picture for us. Satan is bound when we operate our lives completely different than the way the world operates.
Romans 12 is another example, "Never pay back evil for evil." That's what the world does. "Respect what's right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." You're different now. You're in the kingdom of God now. There's a whole different set of principles at work now in your life. Be victorious. Walk in the wisdom of the Lord. Walk in those things which God is moving in your life even now, because that will be a glorious day for the earth, but God has already purchased it for us, and we can walk in it right now.

Revelation 20:1-5         NASB 

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 

 

Audio

DonateLike this sermon?

If you enjoyed the sermon and would like to financially support our teaching ministry, we thank you in advance for partnering with us in sending forth the word.

Donate

We have a service in progress. Would you like to join our live stream? Join The Live Stream No Thanks