Lesson 14 VICTORY OVER EVIL SPIRITS AND FALSE PROPHETS

The victory is not so much to be won as it is to be claimed. The big battle today is with SELF. When we are able to put down the flesh, then the rest of the victory over the world and the devil is ours to claim through the victory Christ won for us at the Cross.

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Ye are of (out of) the God - Speaking of our position by birth.

A. the devil rules his dominion with an iron hand and shows no mercy.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. The god of this world
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We wrestle -against -the rulers of darkness.-

B. Christ proved His superiority over the devil;
1. In the casting out of demons
2. In invading the devil's territory in death.

Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
3. In releasing the devil's prisoners.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Zec 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
4. In overcoming death. This had been the devil's greatest hold on man.

1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
5. In giving His disciples power over the demons.

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
6. In the promise of the Holy Spirit.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. The same Spirit that has pronounced judgment on the world and found it guilty is IN US!

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
God's people have nothing to fear from Satan, demons, witches or false prophets, for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit have already judged them, and pronounced their doom!

I am not afraid of any, except self, because;
1. As a child of God, my life is hid with Christ, in God.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
2. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
3. And as a Pastor, held in the right hand of Christ.

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Psa 98:1 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.1 John 4:6a We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
Worldly people think worldly thoughts, speak worldly things and hear and accept worldly ideas. This accounts for the phenomenal growth of false religions and philosophies that appeal to the fleshly nature of man. It is also the reason that so many leave the truth to follow error. Read Parable of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13.
They went out from us because ---

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I John 4:6b Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The ultimate trial of the spirits - if it separates one from the truth and God's people, it is of the devil; it is the spirit of error.

Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:8a He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Divinely loved ones, let us be habitually loving one another -- As John speaks upon the general theme of abiding in Christ, he keeps coming back to the subject of divine love, for the two thoughts are inseparable. To abide in God is to abide in love, for the very nature of God is love!

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

We might spend a lifetime learning more about the theology of His love but even the simplest minded can see the manifestation of it.
That we might live through Him. Prince of death controls everything outside of Christ the Prince of LIFE.

Next: Love at Work in Us, through us, and for us.