Do you believe in a real devil as described in the Bible? Some think that the devil is just a leftover remnant Bible? Some think that the devil is just a leftover remnant from the Middle Ages. Others believe he is a myth that he doesn't really exist. What do you believe?

Bruce G. Frederickson

The Son of God Speaks Hebrews 1:1-14

The prophet Isaiah tells of the birth of the Son of God (Isa. 7:14; 9:6).

In Matthew 1:23 the prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ is repeated.Mary is told that her Son's name would be Jesus, and He would save people from their sin (Matt. 1:21). When Jesus was baptized God spoke from heaven, saying He was well pleased in His Son (Matt. 3:16, 17). Today, God speaks to us through His Son.

The Scriptures and Christ (Hebrews.1:3).

In the Old Testament God spoke through the prophets. Both the major and minor prophets spoke God's Word, revealing man's sin. They also spoke of Christ's birth, suffering, and death.

Today God speaks to us through His Son. Christ became human. When God created the world He said, "Let us make man" (Gen. 1:26). In Colossians 1:16, 17 we leam that in Christ all things consist. John 1:3 tells us that all things
were made by Him--Jesus, the Son of God.

Salvation (v. 3). Jesus became man to understand man. Now He controls the world. He lived, taught, suffered, died, arose, and ascended into heaven. Through this we have salvation. (John 3:16).

The Superiority of Christ

Superiority (v. 4). Christ is above the angels. He is equal to God (see Phil. 2:6). The Old Testament people had to pray through the Jewish priest. Now we call on Christ (Rom. 10:13).

Son (vv. 5, 6). "For God never said to any angel, 'You are my Son, an today I have given you the honor that goes with that name. But God said it about Jesus. Another time he said, 'I am his Father and he is my Son. And still another time--when his firstborn Son came to earth--God said, 'Let all the angels of God worship him'

Savior (v. 7, 8)

Spirits (v. 7). Angels and ministers are ministers of a flame of fire (Ps. 104:4).

2) Savior (v. 8). "But of his Son he says, 'Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever; its commands are always just and right' " (LB).

The Supernatural Christ (v. 9-14)

A. Power (v. 9). Christ was given power greater than any man.

This is a prophecy from Isaiah 61:1, 2 (see Luke 4:18). B. Personal (v. 10). Note how God called Christ "Lord." C. Permanence (vv. 11, 12). All things and all people will pass,

but Christ will remain forever. D. Position (vv. 13, 14). Christ would rule over all. Never did this

happen to an angel. Angels are servants; Christ is the Son.

Jesus told us to believe in God and in Him (John 14:3). Note the equality of Christ with God (Phil. 2:5-11; cf. John 1:1-3). It shows Christ equal with God, as well as living eternally. God loved the world and gave Jesus. Jesus loved the world and gave His life. God has spoken. Christ has spoken. Now they await our response.

The Controller of the Universe Hebrews 2:1-7

God is the creator of the world (Gen. 1:1). He put man in charge of the garden (Gen. 2:15). God controls the world. Someday Christ will rule and reign. Men and angels are not capable of ruling the world. The Bible speaks of Christ reigning (Rev. 11:15). He will reign in the new world, and we as God's children will reign with Him forever.

The Faithful Warning (Hebrew 1-3) Take heed of the teachers and teachings we have heard. The false teachers forget the truth of salvation (II Peter 1:4-10).

• A. Departure (v. 1).
• Disobedience (v. 2). Those who rejected the teachings of our Lord were punished (see II Peter 2:4-8).
• 1) Angels (Jude 5-7; Isa.. 14:12-15).
• 2) Noah (Gen. 6-8).
• 3) Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1-26).
• Destroyed (v. 3). If God destroyed these people, how can we escape His judgment? (Cf. Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15).

The Faithful Witness (v. 4)

A. God's work. He gave witness by:

• Signs, wonders, miracles (Mark 16:17, 18, 20)
• Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:1-3).God's will--"according to his will."
• Seeking God's will (Ps. 143:10)
• Surrendering to God's will. (John 7:17).
• Sincere to God's will (Eph. 6:6)
• Separation and God's will (Rom. 12:1, 2).

The Future World (v. 5-7)

• God's plan (v. 5). God did not create the angels to rule the world. Christ controls all things (Col. 1:16, 17). He is equal to God.

• Man is nothing in the sight of God. Isaiah says man is a grasshopper compared to God (Isa. 40:22)

God's provision (v. 7).

Condensation

• "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels." Christ became a man (Phil. 2:7).
• The Word be- came flesh (John 1:14).

Crown--

• "Thou crownedst him with glory and honour."
• God has given Him a name above all names (Phil. 2:9).

Control--

• "And didst set him over the works of thy hands."
• All will bow to Him, willingly or unwillingly (Phil. 2:10,)

As Christians we should permit Christ to rule and reign in our hearts and lives. We should allow Him to be our Lord and Master. He should have first place (Matt. 6:33). He will return to reign at His appointed time. We then shall reign with Him forever. If we suffer with Him we will reign with Him (II Tim. 2:12). This verse also says that if we deny Him, He will deny us. Allow the controller of the universe to control your life. ⁽¹⁾

REJECTED KNOWLEDGE

Deliverance is basically a question of dealing with ownership. We own and allow the old ways of life to rule us because that is the way we have always followed. What we need to do is get rid of the ownership of these demonic forces that cheat us out of living an overcoming life, one of peace and joy and freedom from the old ways. The next Scripture to give your attention is Isaiah 43:18 and 19 which read, "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old, Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

This scripture says not to live in the past but to live today fully unto itself and let God put a river in your desert, or head, rather than living in double-mindedness. If you keep living back and forth in the past and today at the same time, we call this double-mindedness. God wants you to be single-minded by giving your heart to Him daily.

So many Christians reject the truth of God's Word today. They are living beneath their inheritances. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children," Hosea 4:6.

Remember, Jesus took all our sins and sicknesses on the cross -- not some -- but all! We are the winners! Revelation 21:7 reads: "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son."

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Author unkown

Jesus said in, Mark 16:15-18. "And he said unto them. Go Ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs that follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

In these last days, when God is pouring out His spirit so abundantly on His people, Satan is coming against us in great power, trying to defeat the Church and rob us of victory. But that does not mean we have to be cowering victims, powerless against this Deceiver. The Scriptures tell us "Greater is he that is in you that he that is in the world." And where sin (Satan), does abound, there does grace (God's love), more abundantly abound. We need never be fearful--only aware of the enemy. With that awareness should be awareness of who we are in Christ.

A line is drawn in our day and there is no middle road. We must choose to walk with God by His Word.

When Jesus was crucified, we were crucified with Him. "I am crucified with Christ." (Galatians 2:20). "Wherefore if ye be dead WITH Christ." (Colossians 2:20).

When Jesus was buried we were "buried WITH HIM" (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).

When Jesus arose from the grave as conqueror, we arose WITH HIM (Col. 3:1, Rom. 6:4,5).

He hath quickened us together WITH CHRIST; and hath raised us up TOGETHER IN CHRIST" (Ephesians 2:5,6). "We sit with him in heavenly places" (Eph. 2:6).

We are IN Christ and His workmanship. The Bible says through Him we can be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). A Christian must know his status, his authority and his rights IN CHRIST. Satan always yields to the commands of a Saint who knows his position and God always confirms His Word with signs and wonders following that believer. ⁽²⁾

Authority of Jesus Christ

No other person in history has the power and authority that Jesus Christ has. The Bible says:We must stand in Christ's power and battle for souls. Jesus said: "And I say also unto thee. That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," Matthew 16:18.

He has exalted Him above every name!

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11.

He has raised Him from the dead!

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Eph 1:17-23

He is God's Son!

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they," Heb 1:2-4.

From those scriptures, we see that Jesus is:

The Son of God
Superior to the angels
Heir to all things
The One who made the universe
The radiance of God's Glory
The exact representation of God's Glory
The One who sustains all things by His powerful word
The sacrifice that bought our purification from sin
Now sitting at the right hand of God in Heaven.

Jesus is superior to everything. This includes Satan and the forces of darkness that wage war against us daily ( Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 3:22). Jesus defeated Satan at the cross and will eventually bring every enemy under his feet. These enemies will then be cast into the "Lake of Fire" (Revelation 20:14:15).

Authority delegated: Jesus demonstrated God's authority in his ministry on earth. He delegated that authority to his disciples and to anyone else who would believe in him. Here are the details:

Jesus has authority over all things: Jesus claimed that all authority had been given to him in heaven and on earth in Matthew 28:18. He then proved that authority by driving demons out of people, healing the sick and forgiving sins.

Jesus gave his authority to his disciples: Jesus said,

Luke 10:18-20 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

Jesus Gave us, His believers, the Keys to His Kingdom

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 16:18-19

KJV

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 18:18

The simplest and most straightforward meaning of the ter, binding, is 'tying up'. In this sinse it is used of shackling a prisoner (Acts 12:6. Or bandaging a person's wounds (Luke 10:35.

In a broader and more encompassing sense however, binding and related words like bonds and bondage, can be defined as: Restricting a person or persons in their freedom of action, choice or expression, or robbing them of their freedom, short of actual death.

Some words used in the New Testament to express the same, or similar meanings, are:

Restrain; The restrainer is the Holy Spirit 2 Thess. 2:16-17
Hinder: The people responsible are the Jews. I Thess.2:16
Thwart or stop: The agent is Satan I Thess. 2:18.
Prevent: The factor is circumstances, Romans 1:13.
Entangle: The corruption of the world is in view, 2 Peter 2:21.

Loosing

The basic meaning of loosing is "untying', for example untethering an animal Matthew 21:2 or unwinding grave clothes, John 11:44, but it also has the more important significance of:

Release: The object of release of the captive Luke 4:18.
Set Free: Healing from a sickness Luke 13:16.
Cancel or forgive: The remission of Debts Luke 7:42, Matthew 6:12.
Destroy a barrier: Discrimination between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14.
Permit Allow freedom of speech, Acts 21:39-40.
Liberate: Creation freed from its bondage to corruption, Romans 8:21.
Thus we can define loosing as--
Freeing a person or persons from circumstances, people or things that restrict their freedom of action choice of expression, or rob them of their freedom. ⁽³⁾

Jesus gave his authority to those who believe in him: This is an amazing benefit of believing in Jesus. It gives us God's power to fight spiritual warfare and do God's work on earth. Mark wrote:

Mark 16:17-20

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18.They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Psalm 91:13 foreshadowed our inheritance of Jesus' authority:

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Ps 91:13.

Paul demonstrated this authority when he cast the spirit of divination out of a fortuneteller, Acts 16:16-18

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

Note that Christ's authority is given only to those who believe in him. This is an amazing benefit of believing in Jesus. It gives us God's power to fight spiritual warfare and do God's work on earth. Mark wrote:

(Mark 16:17).

For example, the seven sons of Sceva attempted to cast demons out without having faith in Jesus. They invoked his name like a magical word and were severely beaten up and chased away (Acts 19:13-16).

WEAPONS OF WARFARE

The Church of Jesus Christ has to be the difference in every community. Jesus' Saints are His instruments on this earth because He is sitting at the right hand of God waiting and willing to give the power to win every spiritual warfare.

He gives a spiritual armor and weapons. Our weapons are prayer, using His name, His blood, His Word and His power. Paul shows this transference of His in power to usward who believe in Ephesians 1:19-22. "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality and power and might, and dominion, and every that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church." The problem is, some Saints never understand their position in Jesus Christ."

Did you see it? He is actually sitting at the right hand of God, distributing HIS POWER TO USWARD WHO BELIEVE! I read this Scripture that we can receive the same power that He walked in on this earth! Everything that He did, we can do it also. I know it sounds radical, but that's what the Word of God says. HE IS GIVING US HIS POWER TO HAVE ALL THE CONQUERING POWER THAT WE NEED TO DO HIS WORK!

The Bible says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children," Hosea 4-6. ⁽⁴⁾

What Happens When You Pray?

You will get a better understanding of God, the Bible and Life. Your faith will be increased. Prayer changes people. When you ask, seek, knock, God is in the prayer-answering business.

THE WORD OF GOD

God gave us the right to stand in authority by His Word. Mark 11:23-24-- 23, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

There is power in the Word of God. In Luke 4:7-10, when Satan attacked Jesus, the Lord defeated the devil with The Word Of God. Again, we see the Lord defeating Satan totally with the sword of His mouth in Revelations 19 and 20. The Word of God is a very important weapon for our spiritual warfare. We are warned in Amos 8:11, that in the latter days a famine will come for the Word of God. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord; (12) And they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."

There is power in the Word of God. "For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).

We have all the weapons that we need to defeat the devil.

Evidently, you must be carful what you say, especially aloud. Remember you are speaking to the mountain (kingdom) or problems of your life and saying with your mouth that you want it to go. God hears and answers your prayers, but the only reason you don't receive what you say is that He knows you did not really mean it. The Devil listens to your words also. He scoops up your loose words and turns to enforce them against you. "Oh I have a headache, it just won't leave. . ." The better choice is Jesus, You are the one that healeth me. Thank you Lord. Satan I bind your powers and command you leave! Lord, I receive your sacrifice and by Your stripes, I am healed!

Mark 16:17 as the authority to cast out demonic forces. It reads: "And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. . ." This power works because Jesus gave us His authority against the powers of the enemy!

We are warned to keep our spiritual life in order. Luke 11:26 reads, "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."You must walk out your salvation with fear and trembling. Deliverance simply frees you so that you can serve Jesus freely. It is not a power to play with, it is serious business because if you are careless in your walk, the demons will return and you will be seven times worse off than if you had not tried to help them.

If a demonic force has been present and leaves, there is a vacancy or space within that has to be filled with Glory of God. We flow the fruits of the Spirit into the person by anointing him with oil You can say something like this: "In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I anoint this person and flow into them the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control demanding that every vein, artery, cell and nerve in this body go back into perfect order, Amen." ⁽⁵⁾

God would have us to study the Word for ourselves and make ourselves approved unto God. In these days, we need to know that we are standing in the power of God and that He's got all things under control.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a work man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," 11 Timothy 2:15.

WE HAVE THE NAME OF JESUS.

Supreme authority- Christ is sovereign.- He is above all things.

Col 1:13-18---13, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins :15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." KJV

HIS PRECIOUS NAME

In Mark 16:17 Jesus said, "In my name." We are operating in the name of Jesus. What's in a name? Better yet, what is behind a name?

Just Speaking His name is powerful. A little black lady told me the following experience about the power of the name of Jesus:

"We were having a prayer meeting. A crazy man ran off into the street with a knife in his hands. The minister stood, tightly clutching his Bible to his chest like it was gold. This insane man grabbed the Bible and struggled with the minister for a few minutes. He had the knife to the minister's neck. We were all very scared and did not know what to do. We all started saying the name to Jesus over and over again.

Suddenly an unseen power overcame the insane man pinning him to the floor! He was a captive of something that could not be seen with the natural eye! Within a few minutes another man entered the room from the street and drug the crazy man out."

THERE'S POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

Most Christian prayers are uttered, "in the name of Jesus." To many, this has come to be nothing more than a phrase little different from the complimentary close of a letter. To pray in the name of Jesus, however, is to pray in the character. Spirit, and attitude of Jesus; it implies that we are his representatives on earth and, as such, are united with Him and His purpose.

Jesus instructed His followers to pray in His name. In John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (Also see John 16:23; Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17).

Christ's life and work and His suffering and death consisted of all prayer, all dependence on God, trust in God, receiving from GOD and surrender to God. Thy redemption, 0 believer, is a redemption wrought out by prayer and intercession: thy Christ is a praying Christ: The life He lived for thee, the life He lives in thee, is praying life that delights to wait on God and receive all from Him. To pray in His Name is to pray as He prayed. Christ is our only example because He is our Head, our Savior and our Life. In virtue His Deity and of His Spirit He can live in us: we can pray in his Name, because we abide in Him and He in us.

What a privilege to be a child of God. What extraordinary strength we have because of our unique fellowship with our Christ. We must strive to be like Him in our prayer life for this is the key to a successful Christian life.

In John 16:23, Jesus encourages us to use His name. "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name. He will give it you, Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." ⁽⁶⁾

WE HAVE THE BLOOD OF JESUS

The blood of Jesus Christ is a powerful weapon for spiritual warfare. Revelation 12:10-11 provides a vivid description of how the blood of Jesus was/will be used to ultimately defeat Satan.

In Revelation 12:11 we read: "They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony." We are victorious by the Word and the Blood..

Satan was defeated when Christ shed His blood. We see in Colossians 1:13,14 for example: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus dominion has begun while Satan is now defeated. His Satanic dominion has been broken over your life the very moment you were born again. Your new Lord, Jesus Christ, reigns over your life and sickness, and failure and old habits should no longer control your life. You are redeemed and saved.

Demons can't stand in the presence of the Blood of Jesus. When you hold the blood before the devil, you are simply reminding him of his total defeat. The devil knows he's defeated but you are telling him that you know it too. They, (evil spirits) hate the Blood of Christ. It does have effect on them.

How To Plead The Blood

At the beginning of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Great Britain around 1908 or 1909, many independent Pentecostal assemblies sprang up. In these meetings, there were many evidences of new spiritual life and power. Since there was no legislative organization tying these assemblies together, individual Christians learned to rely solely on the moving of the Spirit and His various gifts and operations. The Holy Spirit began to move in an unusual way, since there was no council to enforce any limitations on those Christians.'

Many of the believers, so recently baptized in the Spirit, with the glory of the Shekinah resting upon them, used to plead the Blood of Jesus in strong repetition for all that burdened their hearts; unsaved relatives, troubles in the home and troubles in the nation. Realizing that they had access to the throne of God, they went in boldly with the Blood of Jesus. Doing this especially helped seekers for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. And it was believed by many that the pleading of the Blood was a very powerful weapon against that which would oppose answers to prayer.

We might be quite sure that when one begins to plead the Blood of Jesus out loud, there will be those who will oppose. Pleading the Blood stirs up the carnal believer. But in spite of opposition, the use of the Blood will clean up any Church or prayer group and make way for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. Oh, the power of the Blood of Jesus.

We must rely on the blood of Jesus (the Lamb) and their spoken testimony about Jesus to overcome Satan and the fear of death. We can invoke the blood of Jesus along with our testimony to fight the spiritual battles we face because the blood has never lost its power!.

How does the blood and the testimony work? Derek Prince, a respected authority in spiritual warfare, explains "It is when we testify personally to what the blood of Jesus does for us that we can claim all the benefits that God has provided for us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Our bold, continuing personal testimony becomes the hyssop that applies the blood of Jesus to our lives." ⁽⁷⁾

Hyssop was a plant the Israelites used to sprinkle the blood on their doorposts during Passover. Only then was the home protected from God's judgment.

Using the blood in spiritual warfare: We overcome Satan when we claim (pray, sing or state) what the blood does for us. Specifically, the blood:

• Redeems and cleanses me from past, present and future sin (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:7)
• Justifies me, making me righteous, as if I had never sinned (Romans 5:9, Hebrews 13:12)
• Cleanses my mind and conscience from sin and the memories it created (Hebrews 9:14)
• Reconciles me with God, because Jesus bore all the punishment for my sin (Romans 5:1, 1 Peter 2:24); I am forgiven for all my sins (1 John 1:9)!
• Enables me to boldly approach God's throne without fear of punishment (Hebrews 10:19)

Hebrews 10:19 takes on a very special meaning in the light of the above sighted Scriptures; "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall be though worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, and unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace."

Praying the Bloodof Jesus Warfare protection.

The following prayer is a good one to pray before you start the day, go to bed or any time you are going into a spiritual warfare situation.

"Father, I cover myself and everyone around me with the blood of Jesus. I cover all of the members of my family (state them by name) with the blood of Jesus. I cover my home, my land, my car, my finances, my marriage, my ministry, with the blood of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus Christ, by the power of His blood, I break off every power of the kingdom of darkness and cancel every argument in heaven that has established itself against the plans of God in my life and spoil every attack of the enemy. I ask You, in the name of Jesus, all of Your plans and purposes for my life, and my family. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord. Satan, the blood of Jesus is against you and you have no authority over my life. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME (OR MY FAMILY) SHALL PROSPER!"

Applying the blood of Christ should be done with understanding, reverence and recognition of its meaning. It is not a ritual but it is a weapon to be used against the wiles of the Devil. As with all spiritual weapons, our understanding combined with belief (faith) will unleash God's power in the situation we are facing

The Blood of Jesus chases evil spirits. I've seen it work also in my own ministry. I was ministering to a demon-possessed girl in church. The demons manifested in a most powerful way. I began to plead the Blood of Jesus. Their power was immediately weakened and the girl was set free. The minister was present and witnessed the entire event. He did not seem to mind the deliverance of the girl but he did make statements that we did not have to plead the Blood of Jesus; he said it was unscriptural. Shortly after this, he gave up the ministry. ⁽⁸⁾

STRENGTH, POWER, VICTORY, TRIUMPH

The Holy Ghost power and gifts are the channels which God uses to pour out His majestic power. While the world arms with physical power, God wants the church to put on His armor of Spiritual might, that His glory may be seen in the earth. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts," Zachariah 4:6.

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God," (I Corinthians 2:4, 5.)

Keeping your own spiritual life in shape, the Bible calls for the crucifixion of self. There must be a definite flight from temptation of the flesh. "Flee also youthful lusts" II Timothy 2:22; "Flee fornication." I Corinthians 6:18; "Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" I Peter 2:11. The watchword against temptation of the flesh is; flight. ⁽⁹⁾

The author of "Confusion and Lies," as Robert Burton called Satan in the Anatomy of Melancholy, has done one of his most effective bits of mystification in creating bewilderment even among many Christians, concerning his methods of attack. These are threefold. We do not know that student of the Word of God first coined the phrase, "the world, the flesh and the devil." The oldest usage of this triple division of the field of attack is to be found in The Book of Common Prayer in a prayer for an infant, "Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world and the flesh." ⁽¹⁰⁾

MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PEW

Yes, the Bible, gifts, fruit of the Spirit, a full gospel church!

When Jesus asked them about popular opinions of his identity, they recounted the rumors that he was John the Baptist or one of the ancient prophets. Jesus then turned the focus on them: "But who do you say that I am?" Jesus insisted. When Peter spoke for them all and revealed that Jesus was the Messiah and "Son of the living God," Jesus blessed him for making that confession. "You are Peter {Petros}" Jesus said in a play on words, "and on this rock, {Petra}I will build my church," Matthew 16:18. ⁽¹¹⁾

The apostle Paul reports, that Jesus rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. He writes in the beautiful poetic language of Jesus in Colossians 1:13, describing Christ's sovereignty. A passage celebrates Christ as creator and sustainer of the universe, supreme over every creature. He is the head of his body, the church, and the first to conquer death. Although in Christ "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," Paul asserts, it was ultimately only through his human suffering -- through "the blood of His cross," Colossians 1:19,20, "That he was able to reconcile all things to God and make peace." ⁽¹²⁾

The apostle Paul says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers," Colossians 1: 15-16. Jesus Christ is Lord and we worship Him in the Spirit of truth according to John 8:32. Jesus must be at the center of our sermons and our lives that the world can truly see that the Father sent Him.

Paul warns us to be watchful about doctrines and false preachers in the last days. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron," I Timothy 4:1.

RECEIVE YOU INHERITANCE