Deliverance

1) The battle vs. deliverance

The very fact that Jesus combated satan and his demons are recorded in the gospels. Matthew 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” The sole purpose for being led into the wilderness was to be tempted. Jesus was not tempted by just any devil but the gospel of Mark says he was tempted by satan (Mark 1:13). For many years it was not clear why Jesus needed to be tempted by satan. It is true that he needed to be tempted to sympathize with us but also it is the way to true ministry. Many people are in positions of ministry which they have not been qualified to hold. What do I mean? Jesus was first anointed by the Holy Spirit before entering the wilderness to be tempted. As seen in King Saul’s life, anointing alone does not insure longevity in the position. But anointing that is tested and tried, like King David’s, results in true authority. So Jesus had to be tested to demonstrate the authority of the anointing with which he was anointed. We should not shrink back when being tempted but realize that it is the way to true ministry. We can be like Saul who was ushered into a place of power and authority with no proving and then be swept away at a critical point. Or we can be like David who suffered for years at the hand of Saul, even having to flee for his very life. King David was tested and tried and eventually positioned for true anointing and destiny.

How does this relate to deliverance? Too many times we think that attacks from satan are to be avoided at all costs. We rebuke him with the hope of deliverance, and we become discouraged when we are not delivered. There are some attacks we need to endure." Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have {its} perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing JAM 1:2-4.” The words “Perfect and complete” should be understood as having all our parts and having them functioning. This is not just having all our parts, being complete, but having them operate correctly or perfectly.

It is in the battle that strength is acquired. God has delivered us from satan’s authority and placed us as the authority over satan "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you LUK 10:19.” How do we come to the full revelation that we have authority over him? By being put into a place where he kicks us around until we begin to fight back. By fighting back we gain strength and wisdom learning about the extent to which our Savior saved us. And like Jesus we come out of the wilderness with not just the anointing but proven and tested character possessing the power and wisdom to defeat satan in other’s lives as well.

So what are the weapons that we use to war with the devil? If we look at Jesus’ battle not only do we see his weapons but we also can get some insight about the areas of battle that we will have to contend with. The context we will be looking at comes from Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Jesus was led into the wilderness for the express purpose of being tempted by satan. This was by design not by chance. Luke 4:1-2 states "And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil....” Jesus was not just tempted three times but for the whole forty days. Just as fire assays metals so the fires of testing assays our lives revealing its purity and value.

A) First Test: Prove you are the Son of God

After fasting forty days Jesus became hungry. That is when satan moves in and tempts him to prove his position as “Son of God”. The test is,” if you are the Son of God turn these rocks into bread.” Whether Jesus could turn the rock into bread was not the issue. The issue was He did not have to prove his position as the Son to the devil. Jesus responded by saying, “Man does not live by bread alone but by the words of God.”

How does this relate to us? If we are called into any form of ministry, we have to get past the need to prove who and what we are. It does not matter if other people believe that we are what we are. This relates primarily to Prophets and Apostles that have yet to be given general acceptance. If we are challenged to prove our position it will be inspired by the devil. Don’t fall for it. We also need to remember that any life we possess comes from God and does not proceed from our intellect, abilities, or the natural life. We need to be content with the hidden ministry and authority that God has given us.

B) Second Test: What authority do you possess as Son of God?

The next temptation is one against his authority. “Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge concerning You'; and 'On {their} hands they will bear You up, Lest You strike Your foot against a stone MAT 4:5.'" Here the devil tests him by taunting, if you are the “Son of God” throw yourself off the temple and let’s see if your angels will save you according to what is written. Here the word of God is used to try and motivate Jesus into proving who he is. Jesus just got finished telling satan that what is important is the words of God as opposed to bread. So now satan uses the word of God to try and tempt Jesus to put God to the test. “Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test MAT 4:7.'" Jesus does not deviate from the written word but uses it skillfully.

Tests of our authority are sure to come. They will come through people and sound like this, “If you are a man of God you would be able to do this foolish thing without fear, for God will protect you.” Satan want us to put God to the test in order to kill us or discredit us when we fail. We need to be so secure in ourselves and our relationship with God that such temptations fall on deaf ears.

A similar but very different variation of this test is when Moses was backed up to the Red Sea and all the people complained that they would die at the hands of the Egyptians. EXO 14:13 But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 "The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 "And as for  you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land." This is different in that Moses was afraid to move out in faith and was rebuked by God for crying out. His situation was generated from start to finish by God as opposed to the test that Jesus went through which was generated by the devil in order to destroy or discredit. Moses failed to recognize his part to play in this situation. We like Moses need to understand our areas of authority so that we are not seduced into doing something that will test God and result in our hurt. We also need to step out in faith when we have the right and authority to do so.

C) Third test: Worship me in order to receive power and authority

Even as the second test was a variation of the first test, so the third test is a variation of the second. The second test was what authority do you have? The third is: I will give you all authority. MAT 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, "All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" I have seen many people destroyed by the lust of power. When the possibility arose for them to grasp a position of authority, they never asked, “is God placing me in this or do I just selfishly want it”. But they just run ahead and step on and manipulate anyone in their way. They also receive the due penalty of this error which is total humiliation. I even know ministers who lied on their licensing for ordination just so that they will be accepted. Authority and power are not man’s to give, nor is it satan’s. When we are willing to compromise ourselves for the sake of position we lose our place before God and end up buying into satan’s deception. Many people have gotten rich and powerful by bending and worshiping satan but for the man of God this is not an option.

We need to keep the same truth that Jesus spoke. Our worship is to God alone and whether we are given a position of power and authority before men is up to God. We should not push it or manipulate our way to it. Jesus knew that all things have been placed under his authority and that, in time, He would arise to His rightful position. This should be the same for us. We need to have a clear understanding of what God called us to be and do. If we understand who we are, we can patiently wait for God's timing. There is a definite route into the destiny of God's plan and it is not the way of man. We need to be cautious that we do not bow down to men just so they can help our career. The Old Testament is filled with people who found the route into the destiny of God’s plan. We need to study their lives to understand the way.

It is in these battles that we are tested and tried even as Jesus was. A failing mark disqualifies us from the place of authority and power that Jesus experienced. That does not mean that it is permanent but we will be tested and tried again. If we pass, we will move onto an anointing that few ever experience.

These battles that have been discussed are different than battles that we experience over sin and unrighteousness. We can lose control over areas of our lives when we give place to sin and satan. The amount of control satan has over us determines what degree of deliverance we need to experience. People who have lost all control in any area needs outside intervention for deliverance. A nagging problem or occasional sin needs the person to increase their opposition to it. We oppose these minor possessions by standing on the written word and confessing the truth. Since faith comes by hearing, it is important that we make declarations out loud. It is not enough that we think the truth, but we also need to speak it with our mouths. God created everything by speaking it into existence. Jesus defeated satan by speaking the truth. If they needed to speak things into being, so do we. We cannot afford to be lazy and bound by passivity. Passivity is satan’s tool to keep us under his control. When we become active in prayer and warfare, satan loses all hope of retaining his control. His main attack will be to get us once again in a passive state where we pose no threat. If we are having problems figuring out what is active and passive prayer, read Psalms 91 in the first person out loud. We need to read it as if it is true and relevant for our life because it is. If we read it with the, “I” “my”or “me” of the first person, we cannot help but read it in an active, powerful, overcoming way.

 

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