Influencing Your Mind - Part 1
Colossians 2:15
Message #3
We started this little mini-series by studying Daniel Chapter 10 where we saw Daniel get some insight from the Lord into the spiritual battle. He actually had the spiritual realm “peeled back” for him, his eyes opened and he got that insight. And I said, “Lord, we need some insight into the spiritual battle,” and here we are, in a mini-series on The Spiritual Battle. We did get some insight into “The Spiritual Battle” in Daniel chapter 10. And then last message, “Understand Your Enemy,” we looked at what I consider to be the key foundational understanding of the spiritual battle. In fact, if you understand this truth, you’ll be well on your way to walking in victory.
Your Spiritual Enemy Wants to Influence Your Mind
Here’s why. If he can influence your mind, then he can influence your actions. If he can influence your actions then he can bring damage and destruction into your life and into the lives of those around you. And that is the enemy’s only goal. It’s the only thing he wants to do. He exists to steal, kill and destroy in your life. That’s all he does.
We are going to look at the preparation, because when we get to the victory of how we walk in the spiritual battle, we will have so much foundational truth, that the victory plan will make sense to us.
I have read a lot over the years on this subject of the “Spiritual Battle” and in preparing for this study I read some new material these past two weeks. I need to give credit to Tony Evans’ book Victory in Spiritual Warfare. He and I may not see exactly “eye-to-eye” on everything, but I’ve got to give him credit because he helped me frame some things I really wanted to get across to you today.
Here again is the “shocker statement” that many Christians have never heard, or don’t understand, or even really believe. Our spiritual enemy desires and has the ability to influence our minds. And by influencing our minds, he can influence our choices, our actions toward destruction in our own lives and into the lives of those around us. We need to understand his tactics more and how to stand firm against those tactics.
Turn to Ephesians 6. This scripture is probably the central hub of spiritual warfare in the New Testament. Let’s start there.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Let’s stop right there and make one thing clear: In whom is our strength? Jesus, our Lord. And in whom is our power? Jesus, our Lord.
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
The ultimate goal is not to put on the armor. The armor is a means to an end. The end goal is to stand firm against all devices, schemes, deceptions, manipulations, strategies and ploys of the devil. We do that by living in, by walking in the armor of God.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Let’s look at that first line in verse 12: For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies. Every time a church conflict rises up here, I have a “truth” that I try to repeat to myself over and over again. That truth is: The enemy has no face. The enemy has no face.
To illustrate this point, turn and look at a person beside you. Answer this one question: Do they have a face? If so, they are NOT the enemy.
The enemy has no face. We’ve got to learn to see past any “face” involved and see through to the strategy of the devil. The enemy often launches schemes against you through another person (often whom the enemy has influenced) and the enemy hides behind that face. And so, we think that face is actually the enemy. But the reality is, the enemy is only using that face to get to you. Listen, the spiritual battle is never against another person! Why not? Because we do not fight against flesh and blood.
Remember, the enemy has no face. If you can see them, if you can touch them, that is NOT your enemy.
The enemy is never another person. It is the enemy’s ability to INFLUENCE that person, to get them to do something to influence me, so that the enemy can INFLUENCE me, to get me to react in a way that will INFLUENCE THEM so that the devil can ultimately bring damage into both of our lives and the lives of those around us.
Your spiritual enemy knows how to spin a complex web of influence... in order to bring damage and even destruction into our lives. The first step to recognizing this common tactic of the enemy is to fully believe – the enemy has no face.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Where is the battle for the influence of our minds taking place? In the unseen world, in the dark world, in the heavenly places. That is where the battle for the influence over your life is taking place.
Think about “cause and effect” when it comes to the spiritual battle for the influence of your mind and thereby your choices and actions:
The CAUSE – is in the UNSEEN world and the EFFECT – is in the SEEN world. The CAUSE – is in the SPIRITUAL world and the EFFECT – is in the PHYSICAL world.
Which do we normally work hardest to address? The CAUSE in the SPIRITUAL world, or the EFFECT in the PHYSICAL world?
Before you answer, let’s think about medical treatment. Medically speaking, do you think we focus more on treating the effects of our medical issues or on treating the real cause of our medical issues? There’s no contest... we spend far more money and effort treating the effects than we ever spend treating the cause of those medical issues.
In the spiritual realm, do we spend more focus and energy on the EFFECTS of the spiritual battle or on the ROOT CAUSE of the spiritual battle? Again, there’s no contest. We quickly and aggressively focus our energy on the effects of the enemy’s schemes in our lives often without ever even recognizing the cause.
We focus on the EFFECTS of the spiritual battle in many ways. We over-react, get angry, make rash decisions, we retaliate. Or by depression, or by medicating (legally or illegally), or by denial or by running away. We are always convincing ourselves that we are right, and there is no need to address any root cause of anything! Every one of those reactions to the enemy’s schemes is a win for the enemy.
If we will just keep reacting to the effects of the enemy’s schemes in our lives (especially if we keep reacting in a spiritually dysfunctional manner), the enemy will continue to easily rack up win after win after win, continuing to sow damage into our lives. All the while, we just keep reacting to the effects of his schemes and never even recognize the root cause. We must begin to look past the face (past the circumstance) and see the source of the enemy’s schemes in our lives.
Maybe you think I’m going overboard. Maybe you think I am giving the spiritual realm TOO MUCH focus – TOO MUCH credit. OR is it possible that we as Christians are SO focused on the physical and tangible, so focused on our own emotions, desires, and plans that we completely ignore the spiritual realm, giving out enemy FREE reign to totally influence us – from a realm that we don’t want to admit even affects us – while we go on attending church every Sunday and Bible study every week... totally oblivious to the influence of the spiritual battle on our lives?
What does the BIBLE say about this focus on the spiritual realm versus the physical realm? Let’s look at Philippians 3.
Philippians 3:18–20 (NLT)
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Among other things, the ENEMIES of the Cross of Christ think only about this life here on earth.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives . . .
We are citizens of heaven; we shouldn’t be thinking only about things on this earth.
Colossians 3:1–3 (NLT)
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Unfortunately, we are consumed with the things of this earth and, for the most part, ignore the things of the heavenly realm. By doing that, we are constantly playing into the enemy’s hands.
Let’s look at the focus on the heavenly realm in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Where has God blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing? In the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (NLT)
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. (that’s the power we need for the Spiritual Battle) This is the same mighty power
20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Where is Jesus “seated” in the place of honor? In the heavenly realms. Ephesians 2:4-5 says because of God’s mercy and love for us when we were dead in our sins, he raised us to new life IN Jesus Christ – by his grace alone.
Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
From God’s perspective, where are we currently seated? In the heavenly realms.
In Ephesians Chapter 3, Paul is explaining the mystery of God’s plan. And in Ephesians 3, verse 10, we read:
Ephesians 3:10 (NLT)
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
What is the ultimate purpose of the Church? To be a testimony of God’s wisdom to the rulers and authorities – in the heavenly places.
And then again:
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Our new life, our new citizenship, our actual life is in the heavenly places! That is where our true life actually exists, and that is where our true battle actually exists. What happens (or doesn’t happen) in the spiritual realm is the cause for the effect we see happening in the physical realm. So, should we really be so caught up, consumed with the physical realm, that we never even make the connection to the spiritual realm?
NO!! We’ve got to see the connection between the spiritual realm and the physical realm.
When it comes to the Spiritual Battle . . .
The Spiritual Realm is the CAUSE
The Physical Realm is the EFFECT
It’s not like Las Vegas and its marketing campaign because what happens in the spiritual realm does not stay in the spiritual realm. (And here’s a news flash for all the naïve people, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, either.)
Listen, I’m not saying every runny nose and every stubbed toe is the effect of what’s happening in the spiritual realm. But if you, as a Christian, will look at the influence of your mind that is bringing damage into your life; if you, as a Christian, will look at the influence of your actions that are bringing damage into your life, there is a very high probability that the root cause of that influence started with your enemy in the spiritual realm, who is constantly working to steal, kill and destroy your life. If it’s damage, then it’s the enemy. If it’s the fruit of God (Galatians 5:22-23), then it’s God. If it’s the fruit of the flesh, then it is the enemy. It starts in the spiritual realm, whether good or bad.
We are going to see more specifically how the enemy does this as we continue in Ephesians 6 when we study the armor of God. But, today, I want you to see very clearly the two general sides of influence in the spiritual realm. Jesus states them clearly in John 10, verse 10.
John 10:10 (NLT)
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The enemy’s influence is to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus’ influence is to give you a rich and satisfying (abundant) life.
This is the spiritual battle, as simply stated as it can be. Jesus came to give you abundant life. The enemy is constantly trying to influence you to steal, kill and destroy in your life.
Here is the truth you must hear today, these two “forces” in the spiritual realm ARE NOT EQUAL. If you, as a Christian, mistakenly see these two forces in the spiritual realm as equals, then the enemy’s battle is already half won in your life.
We ended the last message with this absolute truth: if you belong to Jesus Christ today (through salvation), you are not fighting for victory, you are fighting from a position of victory, and that makes all the difference in the world. You’re not fighting to overcome the enemy; the enemy has already been overcome. And it forces the enemy to adopt a game plan of deception and manipulation. I am going to show you what I mean by that right now, but I really need you to “get this,” so stay with me.
The Bible speaks of Federal Headship, which has to do with what authority your life is under. There are only two federal heads over Mankind.
1) The Federal Headship of Adam – (Your Old Sin Life)
2) The Federal Headship of Jesus Christ – (Your New Life)
The second half of Romans Chapter 5 probably best explains this, so read it, and you’ll get a good explanation.
Now, you were born under the federal headship of Adam, and God had originally given Adam the “RULE” of this world. Unfortunately, Satan usurped that rule (took it by deception), and so the rule of this world is temporarily under Satan, and we (in our sin nature) were under the rule of this world. Romans 6 says before Jesus saved you, you were a slave to sin, under the rule of this fallen world.
But the moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ, he saved you from your slavery to sin and this world, and at THAT moment, your federal headship and the authority over your life changed. You moved from one federal headship to another. You moved from one authority to another. You moved from one kingdom to another.
Romans 6 says, IN Jesus Christ (through our identification with Him), we now have a NEW LIFE. We have a NEW federal head – Jesus. We are under a NEW authority – Jesus. We belong to a NEW kingdom – God’s. We are no longer under the federal headship of Adam – we are no longer slaves to sin – we are no longer under the rule of this fallen world. Our headship and our authority have changed to Jesus Christ.
Why is that important to fully grasp? Because Jesus Christ won a total and complete victory over the enemy on our behalf.
We read this last week, and we’re going to read it again today.
Colossians 2:15 (NLT)
15 In this way, he disarmed (notice) the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy is DISARMED
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy has NO Authority over us
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy has been DEFEATED
And now, since he has no true POSITIONAL authority over us, his only option is to defeat us by deception and manipulation.
Again, since the enemy has no true authority over us, his only option is to defeat us by deception and manipulation.
Let me give you an illustration. Say a person walks up to you in a parking lot with a gun. And he looks like the real deal. He’s got the crazy eyes going, and he’s got a gun pointed in your face with his finger on the trigger, and he starts telling you what to do. Now, because of his demeanor and the fact that he’s got a gun pointed in your face, he’s probably going to have some success in influencing your choices at the moment.
BUT, what if you knew something about him that he didn’t think you knew. What if you knew that his gun had been disarmed? (Colossians 2:15) What if you knew there were actually no bullets in the gun, and all of his scary demeanor was mostly an act? Then how much influence would he have over your choices? You would probably tell him to take a hike. You’re an imposter. You don’t have a real weapon, and you’re just trying to intimidate me... and the only real influence you have over me is the influence I give you.
You would probably say, “Okay, devil, with that gun in your hand trying to influence me – the only influence you have over me is the influence I give you because Jesus Christ has conquered you on my behalf. His victory, in my place, has disarmed you. You have no authority over me, and the only influence you have over me is the influence I give you. And so, in the name of Jesus, I am not going to give you the influence you are demanding.”
“You have been conquered in my life by Jesus Christ. You don’t own me. You don’t have influence over me. I belong to Jesus Christ. I am under the authority of the Cross, and I fight this fight from a position of absolute victory!”
If you agree, say Amen!!
Your Spiritual Enemy Wants to Influence Your Mind
Here’s why. If he can influence your mind, then he can influence your actions. If he can influence your actions then he can bring damage and destruction into your life and into the lives of those around you. And that is the enemy’s only goal. It’s the only thing he wants to do. He exists to steal, kill and destroy in your life. That’s all he does.
We are going to look at the preparation, because when we get to the victory of how we walk in the spiritual battle, we will have so much foundational truth, that the victory plan will make sense to us.
I have read a lot over the years on this subject of the “Spiritual Battle” and in preparing for this study I read some new material these past two weeks. I need to give credit to Tony Evans’ book Victory in Spiritual Warfare. He and I may not see exactly “eye-to-eye” on everything, but I’ve got to give him credit because he helped me frame some things I really wanted to get across to you today.
Here again is the “shocker statement” that many Christians have never heard, or don’t understand, or even really believe. Our spiritual enemy desires and has the ability to influence our minds. And by influencing our minds, he can influence our choices, our actions toward destruction in our own lives and into the lives of those around us. We need to understand his tactics more and how to stand firm against those tactics.
Turn to Ephesians 6. This scripture is probably the central hub of spiritual warfare in the New Testament. Let’s start there.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Let’s stop right there and make one thing clear: In whom is our strength? Jesus, our Lord. And in whom is our power? Jesus, our Lord.
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
The ultimate goal is not to put on the armor. The armor is a means to an end. The end goal is to stand firm against all devices, schemes, deceptions, manipulations, strategies and ploys of the devil. We do that by living in, by walking in the armor of God.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Let’s look at that first line in verse 12: For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies. Every time a church conflict rises up here, I have a “truth” that I try to repeat to myself over and over again. That truth is: The enemy has no face. The enemy has no face.
To illustrate this point, turn and look at a person beside you. Answer this one question: Do they have a face? If so, they are NOT the enemy.
The enemy has no face. We’ve got to learn to see past any “face” involved and see through to the strategy of the devil. The enemy often launches schemes against you through another person (often whom the enemy has influenced) and the enemy hides behind that face. And so, we think that face is actually the enemy. But the reality is, the enemy is only using that face to get to you. Listen, the spiritual battle is never against another person! Why not? Because we do not fight against flesh and blood.
Remember, the enemy has no face. If you can see them, if you can touch them, that is NOT your enemy.
The enemy is never another person. It is the enemy’s ability to INFLUENCE that person, to get them to do something to influence me, so that the enemy can INFLUENCE me, to get me to react in a way that will INFLUENCE THEM so that the devil can ultimately bring damage into both of our lives and the lives of those around us.
Your spiritual enemy knows how to spin a complex web of influence... in order to bring damage and even destruction into our lives. The first step to recognizing this common tactic of the enemy is to fully believe – the enemy has no face.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Where is the battle for the influence of our minds taking place? In the unseen world, in the dark world, in the heavenly places. That is where the battle for the influence over your life is taking place.
Think about “cause and effect” when it comes to the spiritual battle for the influence of your mind and thereby your choices and actions:
The CAUSE – is in the UNSEEN world and the EFFECT – is in the SEEN world. The CAUSE – is in the SPIRITUAL world and the EFFECT – is in the PHYSICAL world.
Which do we normally work hardest to address? The CAUSE in the SPIRITUAL world, or the EFFECT in the PHYSICAL world?
Before you answer, let’s think about medical treatment. Medically speaking, do you think we focus more on treating the effects of our medical issues or on treating the real cause of our medical issues? There’s no contest... we spend far more money and effort treating the effects than we ever spend treating the cause of those medical issues.
In the spiritual realm, do we spend more focus and energy on the EFFECTS of the spiritual battle or on the ROOT CAUSE of the spiritual battle? Again, there’s no contest. We quickly and aggressively focus our energy on the effects of the enemy’s schemes in our lives often without ever even recognizing the cause.
We focus on the EFFECTS of the spiritual battle in many ways. We over-react, get angry, make rash decisions, we retaliate. Or by depression, or by medicating (legally or illegally), or by denial or by running away. We are always convincing ourselves that we are right, and there is no need to address any root cause of anything! Every one of those reactions to the enemy’s schemes is a win for the enemy.
If we will just keep reacting to the effects of the enemy’s schemes in our lives (especially if we keep reacting in a spiritually dysfunctional manner), the enemy will continue to easily rack up win after win after win, continuing to sow damage into our lives. All the while, we just keep reacting to the effects of his schemes and never even recognize the root cause. We must begin to look past the face (past the circumstance) and see the source of the enemy’s schemes in our lives.
Maybe you think I’m going overboard. Maybe you think I am giving the spiritual realm TOO MUCH focus – TOO MUCH credit. OR is it possible that we as Christians are SO focused on the physical and tangible, so focused on our own emotions, desires, and plans that we completely ignore the spiritual realm, giving out enemy FREE reign to totally influence us – from a realm that we don’t want to admit even affects us – while we go on attending church every Sunday and Bible study every week... totally oblivious to the influence of the spiritual battle on our lives?
What does the BIBLE say about this focus on the spiritual realm versus the physical realm? Let’s look at Philippians 3.
Philippians 3:18–20 (NLT)
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Among other things, the ENEMIES of the Cross of Christ think only about this life here on earth.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives . . .
We are citizens of heaven; we shouldn’t be thinking only about things on this earth.
Colossians 3:1–3 (NLT)
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Unfortunately, we are consumed with the things of this earth and, for the most part, ignore the things of the heavenly realm. By doing that, we are constantly playing into the enemy’s hands.
Let’s look at the focus on the heavenly realm in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Where has God blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing? In the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (NLT)
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. (that’s the power we need for the Spiritual Battle) This is the same mighty power
20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Where is Jesus “seated” in the place of honor? In the heavenly realms. Ephesians 2:4-5 says because of God’s mercy and love for us when we were dead in our sins, he raised us to new life IN Jesus Christ – by his grace alone.
Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
From God’s perspective, where are we currently seated? In the heavenly realms.
In Ephesians Chapter 3, Paul is explaining the mystery of God’s plan. And in Ephesians 3, verse 10, we read:
Ephesians 3:10 (NLT)
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
What is the ultimate purpose of the Church? To be a testimony of God’s wisdom to the rulers and authorities – in the heavenly places.
And then again:
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Our new life, our new citizenship, our actual life is in the heavenly places! That is where our true life actually exists, and that is where our true battle actually exists. What happens (or doesn’t happen) in the spiritual realm is the cause for the effect we see happening in the physical realm. So, should we really be so caught up, consumed with the physical realm, that we never even make the connection to the spiritual realm?
NO!! We’ve got to see the connection between the spiritual realm and the physical realm.
When it comes to the Spiritual Battle . . .
The Spiritual Realm is the CAUSE
The Physical Realm is the EFFECT
It’s not like Las Vegas and its marketing campaign because what happens in the spiritual realm does not stay in the spiritual realm. (And here’s a news flash for all the naïve people, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, either.)
Listen, I’m not saying every runny nose and every stubbed toe is the effect of what’s happening in the spiritual realm. But if you, as a Christian, will look at the influence of your mind that is bringing damage into your life; if you, as a Christian, will look at the influence of your actions that are bringing damage into your life, there is a very high probability that the root cause of that influence started with your enemy in the spiritual realm, who is constantly working to steal, kill and destroy your life. If it’s damage, then it’s the enemy. If it’s the fruit of God (Galatians 5:22-23), then it’s God. If it’s the fruit of the flesh, then it is the enemy. It starts in the spiritual realm, whether good or bad.
We are going to see more specifically how the enemy does this as we continue in Ephesians 6 when we study the armor of God. But, today, I want you to see very clearly the two general sides of influence in the spiritual realm. Jesus states them clearly in John 10, verse 10.
John 10:10 (NLT)
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The enemy’s influence is to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus’ influence is to give you a rich and satisfying (abundant) life.
This is the spiritual battle, as simply stated as it can be. Jesus came to give you abundant life. The enemy is constantly trying to influence you to steal, kill and destroy in your life.
Here is the truth you must hear today, these two “forces” in the spiritual realm ARE NOT EQUAL. If you, as a Christian, mistakenly see these two forces in the spiritual realm as equals, then the enemy’s battle is already half won in your life.
We ended the last message with this absolute truth: if you belong to Jesus Christ today (through salvation), you are not fighting for victory, you are fighting from a position of victory, and that makes all the difference in the world. You’re not fighting to overcome the enemy; the enemy has already been overcome. And it forces the enemy to adopt a game plan of deception and manipulation. I am going to show you what I mean by that right now, but I really need you to “get this,” so stay with me.
The Bible speaks of Federal Headship, which has to do with what authority your life is under. There are only two federal heads over Mankind.
1) The Federal Headship of Adam – (Your Old Sin Life)
2) The Federal Headship of Jesus Christ – (Your New Life)
The second half of Romans Chapter 5 probably best explains this, so read it, and you’ll get a good explanation.
Now, you were born under the federal headship of Adam, and God had originally given Adam the “RULE” of this world. Unfortunately, Satan usurped that rule (took it by deception), and so the rule of this world is temporarily under Satan, and we (in our sin nature) were under the rule of this world. Romans 6 says before Jesus saved you, you were a slave to sin, under the rule of this fallen world.
But the moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ, he saved you from your slavery to sin and this world, and at THAT moment, your federal headship and the authority over your life changed. You moved from one federal headship to another. You moved from one authority to another. You moved from one kingdom to another.
Romans 6 says, IN Jesus Christ (through our identification with Him), we now have a NEW LIFE. We have a NEW federal head – Jesus. We are under a NEW authority – Jesus. We belong to a NEW kingdom – God’s. We are no longer under the federal headship of Adam – we are no longer slaves to sin – we are no longer under the rule of this fallen world. Our headship and our authority have changed to Jesus Christ.
Why is that important to fully grasp? Because Jesus Christ won a total and complete victory over the enemy on our behalf.
We read this last week, and we’re going to read it again today.
Colossians 2:15 (NLT)
15 In this way, he disarmed (notice) the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy is DISARMED
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy has NO Authority over us
POSITIONALLY – The Enemy has been DEFEATED
And now, since he has no true POSITIONAL authority over us, his only option is to defeat us by deception and manipulation.
Again, since the enemy has no true authority over us, his only option is to defeat us by deception and manipulation.
Let me give you an illustration. Say a person walks up to you in a parking lot with a gun. And he looks like the real deal. He’s got the crazy eyes going, and he’s got a gun pointed in your face with his finger on the trigger, and he starts telling you what to do. Now, because of his demeanor and the fact that he’s got a gun pointed in your face, he’s probably going to have some success in influencing your choices at the moment.
BUT, what if you knew something about him that he didn’t think you knew. What if you knew that his gun had been disarmed? (Colossians 2:15) What if you knew there were actually no bullets in the gun, and all of his scary demeanor was mostly an act? Then how much influence would he have over your choices? You would probably tell him to take a hike. You’re an imposter. You don’t have a real weapon, and you’re just trying to intimidate me... and the only real influence you have over me is the influence I give you.
You would probably say, “Okay, devil, with that gun in your hand trying to influence me – the only influence you have over me is the influence I give you because Jesus Christ has conquered you on my behalf. His victory, in my place, has disarmed you. You have no authority over me, and the only influence you have over me is the influence I give you. And so, in the name of Jesus, I am not going to give you the influence you are demanding.”
“You have been conquered in my life by Jesus Christ. You don’t own me. You don’t have influence over me. I belong to Jesus Christ. I am under the authority of the Cross, and I fight this fight from a position of absolute victory!”
If you agree, say Amen!!