VICTORY OVER EVIL FORCES Lesson 6 for November 10, 2012

THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF GOD’S POWER “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…” Ephesians 1:17-19 In the context of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, we need God to give us wisdom so we can understand the privileges of being in Christ’s side. The hope of His calling. Satan may offer deceitful hopes, but our live is already full of Christian hope. The glorious inheritance. God has made us His children and heirs; we enjoy all the privileges of being heirs. The greatness of His power. The divine power is at our disposal. He has already overcome; we may overcome because of His power.

THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF GOD’S POWER “…which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church” Ephesians 1:20-22 The apostle uses the resurrection and exaltation of Christ as an indubitable proof of His power to overcome “principality and power and might and dominion”; that is, any satanic power that might harm us. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

THE SURENESS OF VICTORY How can we be certain that we’ll have victory when reading Romans 8:26-39? The Holy Spirit helps us; He intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (26-27) All things work together to those who love God. He calls us and helps us in growing. He has prepared a glorious future for us (28-30) God justifies us through the sacrifice of Jesus. No one may condemn us (31-34) Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS (35-39) Victory is ours, but that doesn’t save us from the difficulties of the battle. We need God to give us faith so we may cling to that sureness in our hard times.

THE ENEMY TO BE DEFEATED Although we already know that Satan is a defeated enemy, we must not despise his power. We must remember that we cannot defeat Him by ourselves. The Bible tells us to yield to God; then we will face up the “roaring lion”, resist it and overcome. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9) “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)

THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES AND THE SEVENTY EXAMPLES OF VICTORY THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES AND THE SEVENTY The fallen angels were ready to putting up strong resistance when the apostles were sent to spread the Gospel. That’s why Jesus “gave them power over unclean spirits”, telling them to: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew, 10: 1, 8) The seventy came back joyful because the demons surrendered to them. The disciples received authority “over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10: 19). The enemy is ready to plant difficulties in our way when we proclaim the Gospel. That must not stop us, because Jesus gives us the power to overcome all his difficulties so the Gospel may be spread all over the world.

PETER EXAMPLES OF VICTORY “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people… so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them” (Acts 5:12-15)

PAUL EXAMPLES OF VICTORY “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour” (Acts 16:16-18)

As we so well know, the great controversy between Christ and Satan, though settled finally at the cross, is to rage until the end of time. Thus, Christ’s followers must be engaged in the victorious side of the conflict by seeking to fulfill the gospel commission. “Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they could ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil; and that the bloodstained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter” E.G.W. (The Desire of ages, cp. 73, pg. 633-634)