A Legal Breaking of Headship: Prayer Note #65

Dutch Sheets says, "Power never was and never will be the issue between God and Satan."

   "But why would warfare ever be necessary if Christ defeated Satan and his demons? many ask. 'Didn't Christ take away his power, disarm him and destroy his works? Didn't He deliver us from Satan's power?'

   The answer to these questions lies in an accurate understanding of what Christ actually did when He defeated Satan. 

Satan's destruction wasn't a literal one, but rather a legal breaking of his headship or authority. Nowhere does the Bible say Christ delivered us from Satan's power. It says He delivered us from his esousia—or in other words, the right to use his power on us:

• Colossians 1:13: "For He delivered us from the domain [exousis] of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved son."

• Luke 10:19: "Behold, I have given you authority [exousia] to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [dunamis] of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you."

• Colossians 2:15: "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." the word 'disarmed' is the Greek word apekduomai and means Christ divestied Himself of the rulers and authorities. That's theological jargon for, 'He whipped them!'

   Power never was a never will be the issue between God and Satan. Authority was the issue—the authority Satan had obtained through Adam. Jesus did not come to get back any power, nor to remove Satan's power. He came to regain the authority Adam lost to the serpent and break his headship over the earth.

   An unseen battle in the heavenlies actually decided the outcome on the battlefield.[Referring to Exodus 17:8-13 with Moses raising his staff of God in his hand while Joshua led the army on the battlefield below.] 

An unseen battle in the heavenlies actually decided the outcome on the battlefield. And when the rod, representing the rule or authority of God, was lifted by the authorized leader of Israel, Joshua and the army prevailed. In other words, it was not power on the battlefield—though it was necessary—that was the deciding factor, but authority on the mountain. 

Authority is the key issue; power never has been."
 
Prayer Note #65- A Legal Breaking of Headship - taken from Dutch Sheets’ book, Intercessory Prayer  (pgs. 153, 154)

 

The next Prayer Note: Aug. 23rd- Approaching the Father: Prayer Note #66

Today's quote:

"In solitude, on wings of prayer

My soul ascends before the throne;

My only hope of strength is where

My heart and His meet all alone. —Anon.

Prayer is the soil in which hope grows best."

Our Daily Bread

(8/19/12)

Today’s treasure truth #31: If you are “born again”, you are not moved by what you see. 2 Cor. 4:18

Our thought for today: When Jesus took sin to the cross, the Father sees us in Christ. We're seated with Him in heavenly places.

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"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air..."