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12 Weeks of Prayer Week 12 Day 6
LOOSENING THE BONDS OF THE EVIL ONE
By Pastor Mike Heil
“...The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:8
C.S. Lewis in his brilliant book, “The Screwtape Letters”, makes a poignant observation about how people view Satan and his kingdom. Speaking through his main character, Screwtape, he said the purpose of Satan is to create two opposite views of the devil; one that he doesn’t exist, and the other that his kingdom and demons are horrible and powerful and should be feared.
From my experience as a pastor and saint of Christ for many years, I find Mr. Lewis' observations to be actually true. Sadly, the resulting reaction in many Christians is to ignore the commission we have from our Lord “they shall cast out demons” (Mt. 8:16-17, 12:28; Mk. 16:17; Lk. 10:17; Acts 19:15). Like the little boy who whistles while he walks through the cemetery, we think it best to let sleeping dogs lie.
Mighty Warriors of the King, your Master, Jesus Christ has empowered you for victory! It is not the believer in Christ who needs to whistle in the dark, it is the demons of hell who tremble at our sight; it is Satan who knows are authority and power. You see Jesus appeared on earth to “destroy” the works of the devil. This little word, destroy, has an interesting meaning in the Greek language. It means “loose, break, dissolve, put off, and melt." In other words, any time Jesus came upon fear, sickness, captivity, bitterness, malice, or any other work of the evil one, He stopped it in its tracks. The suffocating oppression which was manifested when Adam turned over dominion of the earth to Satan, was terminated when Jesus came out of the grave alive! Amen! Here is the reality of this spiritual certainty, you and I are in Christ and possess the very power He has over Satan. Now, you and I can and should undo and loose people from the bondages of the kingdom of Satan. Remember when Jesus commended Peter’s confession, He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Immediately after Jesus told Peter and His disciples upon the rock of that confession, He would build the church and “the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.”
I have worked as a parole officer. When I did, I was commissioned by the state to write warrants to arrest criminals. No matter how big, or bad, or angry, or obnoxious the parolee was, they cowered because they knew my authority. Demons view us the same way; they know our authority (the authority of the risen Son of Man). They know the power backing up our authority (the Holy Spirit and all the angels of Jehovah), and they cower before us. Saints of God, trying times are upon the earth, but I know revival is coming. I know boldness is growing, and I know we are being prepared to loosen the bonds of those who Satan has in his clutches. As they are loosed, they will turn to the loving Lord who has loved them and redeemed them.
Heavenly Father, You are our Redeemer. Thank You for saving me. You are Victorious and have made me more than a conqueror. Equip me with power and courage to do what You would have me to do, knowing that You have made me victorious in You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and fill me with discernment and understanding. Let revival and change begin with me first that I might see as You see and think as You do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Praise & Worship: Victory In Jesus with There Is Power In The Blood - YouTube
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