We can count on the fact that there are unseen evil forces that have been
assigned to kill, steal, and destroy everything good in our lives. The Bible
clearly teaches that these devilish forces band together to commit acts of
aggression against the saints — and that includes you and me!
This truth is quite evident in Scripture, for Paul wrote many verses about
spiritual weapons, spiritual armor, and how we are to resist these unseen,
demonic forces. Yet it is very important that we approach this subject
with the right attitude!
Because of Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead, the
forces of hell are already defeated. However, even though they have
been legally stripped of their authority and power, they continue to roam around
this earth, carrying out evil deeds like criminals, bandits, hooligans, and
thugs. And just like criminals who refuse to submit to the law, these evil
spirits will continue to operate in this world until some believer uses his
God-given authority to enforce their defeat!
We need to get ahold of this truth: These demonic forces are legally stripped
of their authority and are defeated! We are not puny, struggling believers who
are somehow trying to learn how to cope with the devil’s attacks against us.
We’re not merely trying to learn how to scrape by or survive. Jesus’ death and
resurrection gave us the legal authority to keep Satan under our feet, so we
must always make sure we approach spiritual warfare as victors and not
victims.
Let’s look at Colossians 2:15 to gain a greater revelation of the victory
Jesus has already accomplished for you and me through His death, burial, and
resurrection. Paul tells us that Jesus “…made a shew of them openly….”
The word “openly” is taken from the word parresia, a word that is used
throughout the books of the New Testament to denote boldness or
confidence.
By using the word parresia, Paul declares that when Jesus was
finishing His dealings with Satan, His victory over the devil was no “quiet
affair.” Quite the contrary! Jesus boldly, confidently, and
loudly exposed and displayed this now-defunct foe to Heaven’s hosts.
Make no mistake! When Jesus “made a shew of them openly,” it was quite a
spectacular show!
The verse continues, “…He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over
them in it.” The word “triumph” is taken from the Greek word
triambeuo, which is a technical word used to describe a
general or an emperor returning home from a grand victory in the
enemy’s territory. Specifically, the word “triumph” was used to describe
the emperor’s triumphal parade when he returned home.
When a returning emperor or general came striding through the gates on his
big, powerful, and beautiful horse, he was accompanied by his fellow victorious
warriors, who also appeared glorious after their triumphant battle. As the
parade followed, the weaponry and treasures seized from the enemy’s territory
were grandly displayed for all to see.
The grand finale to this triumphal procession was the foreign ruler himself.
This ruler had been beaten and bound in chains and was now being forced to walk
in disgrace, shame, dishonor, embarrassment, and humiliation as crowds of people
came to celebrate his defeat and to get a “peek” at a once-powerful but now
totally defeated opponent.
So when Colossians 2:15 declares that Jesus triumphed over evil powers, it is
explicitly declaring that Jesus took the enemy apart piece by piece as He
thoroughly “spoiled principalities and powers.” When Jesus was finished with
those demonic forces, they were utterly plundered —“stripped to bare
nakedness” and left with nothing in hand to retaliate!
Because of the words parresia and
triumbeuo,Colossians 2:15 conveys this idea:
“...He gallantly strode into Heaven to
celebrate His victory and the
defeat of Satan and his forces. As
part of His triumphal process, He
flaunted the spoils seized from the hand of
the enemy. Yet the
greatest spectacle of all occurred when the enemy himself
was
openly put on display as bound, disgraced, disabled,
defeated,
humiliated, and stripped bare.…”
Jesus’ victory over Satan was a momentous affair! When Jesus returned, He was
totally triumphant! The party Heaven threw that day was enormous! All
of Heaven’s hosts came to celebrate Jesus’ victory and Satan’s downfall and
demise! Right there in front of everyone, Jesus displayed the devil and his
cohorts, so all could know that this enemy no longer had the legitimate right or
the necessary arms to prolong his rule of terrorism.
Once again, Satan is not a force we are trying to defeat; he is
already defeated. But because very few believers know how to
effectively use their God-given authority to resist Satan, he tries to continue
illegally operating and doing damage to the souls of men and even to the
creation itself.
No matter what demonic strategy may come against you this day or how many
demons are assembled together for your destruction, you never have to
go down defeated. Jesus plundered the enemy when He rose from the dead.
So when you look into the mirror, you need to learn to see yourself as one who
already has the victory. You already possess the authority
necessary to keep Satan under your feet where he belongs. Remember, you are no
longer a victim — you are a victor! |
