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The Sure Foundation for Victory Various Passages April 18, 2021 Introduction: A. Foundations are the ultimate support upon which something stands, whether it be a building or an idea! 1. If the foundation is strong, then the structure that is built upon it will stand the test of time and stress. 2. If there is any flaw in the foundation it will have a direct impact upon the strength or the condition of the building and will become more and more evident over time! B. If we ever need a foundation that is flawless, it is in the area of spiritual warfare since we are facing an invisible army who has thousands of years of experience and their sole goal is to destroy us! ¨ This morning I want to look at the sure foundation for our victory over Satan. In weeks to come we will continue to look at the complete structure of our victory over Satan but we need to get the foundation right or everything else will be off. I. The riches of God’s grace Ephesians 6:10 C. This is one of the strongest passages in the New Testament regarding our battle with Satan, we learn here about the armor that God provides for the battle. But before he goes into the armor, he lays a foundation for us. Read v10 1. He teaches us here that foundational to our warfare with the enemy, even foundational to the armor being effective for us; we must be strengthened by the Lord in two different ways! a) Strong in the Lord - you in Christ b) Be strong … in the strength of His might - Christ in you 2. We need to be strong in all that we are in Christ and we need Him filling our lives with His strength. a) At the core of our beings, we are spiritual beings. “Christ in us” and “us in Christ” is not just a theological phrase but rather a deeply real spiritual relationship that we have with Christ b) This is how God infuses us with life and power of the Spirit of Jesus, shares with us all the rights, privileges, and victories He has already accomplished for us! c) I love the way the TPT says this verse! - “…be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through you.” Ephesians 6:10 TPT B. You in Christ and Christ in you are the two major pillars of God’s grace. The foundation of our victory over Satan is God’s grace. If you will, it is the footing to the foundation that upon which even the foundation stands! 1. All that God freely gives us in Christ and all that God freely gives us with Christ in us is the heart of God’s grace. 2. Us in Christ is the way that god sees us and blesses us. a) Remember from Ephesians 1:3 that in Christ we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places! b) That means that God has already given to us as a gift every blessing, every promise, every position, every privilege, every right, and even the victory Jesus has already accomplished over Satan! 3. Christ in us is the way that God changes us and empowers us. a) The Spirit of Jesus within us is the one who transforms us to be people who fight from the right foundation of Gods’ grace and the one who empowers us to live like a mighty warrior of Jesus! C. If we respond to Satan’s attacks by any means other than grace, we are doomed to defeat! It is what Jesus has done and not what we can do that is the basis of our victory over Satan! ¨ So now, with the footing of the foundation in place now let us look at two foundational gifts of God’s grace that we have in our battle with Satan. First, … II. God has already won the battle A. Turn to and read Colossians 1:12-14 B. First note the word “He.” 1. God is the one who has won the battle not us. 2. It does not say that God “will” deliver us “if” we do the right things, or pray enough or obey enough or anything else. Our victory is not dependent upon us but upon God. 3. Much of what I have heard in the area of spiritual warfare makes the victory over Satan dependent upon our performance and jumping through so many of the right spiritual hoops and saying the exact right words in a warfare prayer so you can have the victory. In other words this way emphasizes we must do certain things in order to be set free from Satan’s power in our life. C. V 13 does not say that God “will” deliver us and transfer us … 1. It does say that God has “already” delivered us from the territory over which Satan was ruler exerting his power and authority 2. God has “already” transferred us into the kingdom where His Son is ruler exerting His power and authority. 3. Picture this with two sections on the main floor (neighborhood) as God pulls us out of one and puts us into another. D. I remember the day God turned on the lights inside of me to realize this. 1. It was break time of a seminar, went back to my office with the two speakers at the seminar, and shared the deep struggle I was in. 2. As they prayed for God to work in my behalf the lights went on inside of me as the Spirit showed me that I already have the victory. It is not something I have to get but something I already have. 3. From that day on the foundational way, I did spiritual warfare totally changed as I moved from doing things to get the victory to standing in the victory I already have! ¨ Now that I know in God’s grace that He has already given me the victory over Satan I need to recognize the third foundation and that is that … III. I have authority over Satan. A. To understand this properly we must understand the difference between authority and power because I do not have the power to overcome Satan but I do have the authority to overcome Satan! 1. Power - ability to act, capability of producing an effect or exert force. 2. Authority - the right to exercise someone else’s power. The legal right to command. 3. A good way to illustrate authority is what a police officer has when he directs traffic. A big semi is rolling down the road that is much bigger and more powerful than him. That powerful truck comes to a halt when the police officer raises his hand. a) The police officer had the authority to stop the truck but he did not have the power to stop it! b) By virtue of his authority as police officer, he has the power of the government behind him. They can bring all and every resource they have to stand behind what the police officer is ordering. 4. God has given us the legal right, with all His strength, all His angels and His Son and His Spirit to back it up, to command Satan from using his strength to overcome us. B. Turn and read Ephesians 1:19-22 1. Note first the names of demons here. (Rule - authority - power and dominion) we learned last week that their names indicate that they do have a measure of control, exerting some kind of influence over humans. 2. But note also where Jesus is a) Seated at the right hand of God. God is seated on the throne in heaven (1) A throne is the place where the king rules. b) He is seated “far above” (1) Jesus is in a place where He is not just above but far above all the rule, authority, power and dominion of Satan and his army of demons! c) In other words, Satan and his demons are in subjection to Jesus. C. Now look at Ephesians 2:4-6 1. Where are we right now in Christ? Seated at right hand of throne! 2. We have not only been joined together in the death and resurrection of Jesus but also in the ascension of Jesus Christ 3. God in His grace has shared with us the authority of Jesus Christ and that is the basis of our victory over Satan. IV. Application A. Let me try to illustrate how all this works with flood insurance. I shared this early on in our Ephesians series but it fits perfectly here! 1. Required to buy at $300+ per year – bothered me because no flood at my house since Noah! 2. I had to tell someone just how much that bother me so I called insurance man, bank, surveyor, city – good news – not in zone 3. Called back bank, surveyor but he refused to change (pride) 4. Because it was legally mine I kept calling and kept claiming my right 5. Eventually he gave in and changed it and I got back my $300 6. It happens the same way spiritually as we stand firm in the grace God has already given us with the victory and authority over Satan! As we fight the fight of faith against Satan, he will eventually back down and God’s Spirit floods us with His presence, power, and freedom! 7. 1 Peter 5:9-11