The Authority of Christ

When God sends us a sign, we should pay attention.  In Revelation 12 God shows two signs in the sky.  One is a woman dressed in the sun, standing on the moon and with a crown of 12 stars on her head.  The second sign is the red dragon, satan.  After the woman bears a manchild the dragon seeks to destroy him, yet thechild is caught up to heaven.  A war breaks out between the dragon and his demons with God’s angel Michael and His angels, and it ends with satan and his demons being cast out of heaven.

What was the result of the war which followed God’s signs in heaven?  We are told that four things came to Man: Salvation, power, the Kingdom of God, and the authority of Christ.  God showed John the struggle in heaven that took place, where satan tried to prevent salvation from coming to Mankind.  God also showed satan’s defeat.

When God tells us the name of a spiritual entity, it is important.  He called satan the “Accuser of the brethren” (Rev 12:10).  Satan used to accuse God’s people to Him day and night.  But then He purchased people with the Blood of His Son, and satan had no legal grounds with which to accuse them anymore.

The dragon, satan, still accuses the brethren, but not to God.  Since he was cast down to the earth he vents his powerful accusations against those who have salvation.  Yet the book of Revelation makes it clear that we have the power to overcome him.  Legally, our souls have been purchased by God by the blood of the Lamb.  The lives we now live are a testimony to the power of Christ residing in us.  We have chosen the Kingdom of God by walking in the Spirit of which we are re-born.  These things give us power over satan’s accusations on this earth, and separate us from the love of this life.

God does not ask us to say we are perfect and sinless, for that would be a lie.  However, we are to have faith in the work Christ continues to do in us for our perfection.  Though our enemy tries to wear down the saints with his lies and accusations, his motive is to defeat our faith in God.  We now have the authority of Christ to defeat our enemy.  Be encouraged in your battles with satan, that God intends you to win.  He more than intends your victory, he has given you all you need to overcome.  Amen.