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How to Ban Satan from our Lives May 2, 2021 – Communion Introduction: A. So far we have learned that: 1. “There is an invisible intelligent organized army out there whose sole desire is to destroy us.” 2. We also learned that Satan has a game plan to destroy us: Satan will use the world to tempt our flesh so we will destroy our selves by our own sin. B. This morning I want to address the question: “How do we resist Satan as the Scripture tells us to do?” 1. Scripture a) Ephesians 6:13 b) James 4:7 c) 1 Peter 5:8-9 2. Resist means to answer an offensive action by using counter force. C. To do this we need to go back to Ephesians 6:10 where we learned that the spiritual foundation to this whole spiritual battle we are in is for us to be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. 1. That is all the spiritual blessings, rights, privileges, positions, promises that are now ours because we are in Christ and all the power that comes to us through the Spirit of Jesus being in us! • So this morning I want to share with you the three special rights and privileges we have in Christ regarding our battle with Satan! The first is… I. The blood of Christ A. Turn and read Colossians 2:14-15 B. V15 says that at the cross God did three things: 1. Disarmed the satanic army - stripped away from them their weapons specifically the weapon of using sin against us in v14 2. Made a public display - explain in that culture when a victory was so complete they would strip the enemy and march them right down the center of town to show everyone how totally defeated they are. 3. Triumphed over them through Christ - a decisive and overwhelming victory has already been won at the cross. 4. Note that all of this is already done, already accomplished through the blood of Christ shed at the cross. C. Read Revelation 12:11 • The second spiritual right and privilege God has given us in His grace is … II. The authority that we already have over Satan A. We talked about this a few weeks ago as we learned we do not have the power to overpower Satan but God has given us the authority, the legal right to use the power of Jesus to defeat Satan. 1. Read Ephesians 1:20-21 2. Read Ephesians 2:6 • The third spiritual right and privilege God has given us in His grace is … III. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ A. Read Philippians 2:6-10 1. Acts 16 tells us about a slave girl that had a demon in her and followed Paul around for many days. Listen to Acts 16:18 B. A name is simply a symbol that represents all that a person is and does! God has given us the privilege to use Jesus name in both prayer and warfare! 1. Like the song says – there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain 2. In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested and they were brought before the high priest and his descendants. a) Listen to what they asked Read Acts 4:7 b) Note here they equated name with power! C. I remember watching the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China. 1. Both the British and the Hong Kong flags were raised. In a moment, those two flags would be lowered and China’s and the new Hong Kong flag would replace them. 2. The announcer then said, “Those flags carry great symbolism… as each flag represents all that is behind it.” a) Each flag represents a different political system, different economic systems, different military power, different rulers, different laws, different culture and just different ways in general. b) While at the moment of the changing of the flags it appeared very little really happened but a ceremony. But actually very deep changes took place that have made a great difference in Hong Kong. 3. The name of Jesus is the same! The name of Jesus represents all that He is, does, has given us, authority, power, victory, etc. ; and at the moment that we use it, it may appear that very little is happening but very deep spiritual things take place. D. Whenever Satan comes our way, we need to raise the flag of Jesus name. Satan knows that it is the means that God has given to us to represent that Jesus and all of His authority and power are on our side. 1. When we bring the name of Jesus against Satan, it is like a police officer flashing his badge. 2. He is showing the people that he is a representative of a certain government authority and that all their power is available to back what he says and does. IV. Conclusion A. So when I use God’s gifts to resist Satan I think of this simple little acronym “ban”. Ban Satan by the blood, authority and name of Jesus! 1. Like any gift of God’s grace, we experience them on the basis of faith. 2. We must by faith claim our victory over Satan on the basis of the blood, authority and name of Jesus! 3. Like Peter said, we must resist him firm in faith! B. The best way I can picture what happens when we do this is what I saw in a movie a number of years ago. 1. A mountain lion was devouring all sorts of animals in the wild. 2. One day this lion came across a small bear cub. The camera showed the lion growling at the little bear cub and in a position ready to attack. Then you saw the little bear cub stand up on his feet and growl back at him as if he was not a bit afraid. 3. I thought this bear cub is dead; he has no chance against this lion. I figured the lion would brush off his growl and destroy the bear. However, the next scene you see is the lion backing off. I did not understand it this lion could destroy that bear. 4. Then they showed a completely different camera angle. Something that we did not see first time was shown this time. Behind the bear cub was his mother. Standing up about ten feet tall ready to defend her cub if needed. Not making a sound but making its presence known. 5. When we by faith stand on the foundation of God’s gifts of grace He is standing right there behind us seeing to it that His word will be fulfilled and the His presence will be made known to Satan. V. Communion A. As we go to communion this morning, consider what James 4:7 says, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 1. Is there any area of your life that you must submit to God then resist the devil by banning him from your life with the blood, authority and name of Jesus?