By Apostle Isidore Agoha
The most glorious reality in the theme of demonoly is that we who believe in Christ Jesus can now effectively exercise authority, victory and dominion over demons. Moreover, it is my personal believe that this is one of the most amazing privileges offered to the New Testament believer through the Triumphant Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The believers' authority to cast out demons, when appropriately exercised, demonstrates a core aspect of the reversal of the Fall. This reality essentially buttresses the fact that we do not have to remain under demonic bondage any longer; rather, we are now equipped by the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit to keep demons under subjection.
This was the great discovery made by the seventy disciples whom the Lord Jesus sent out to preach the gospel of the kingdom. In their missionary report, they noted, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name" Luke 10:17.
Apparently, there is a tone of surprise in the disciples' comment revealed by their opening word, even. And for the first time, humanity tasted the dawn of a new era of authority and dominion known as the Kingdom of God. This new order puts Satan and his demons under the dominion of the believer in Christ. After the Fall and for the rest of the old creation, Satan and his demons had usurped the God-given authority and the dominion of the first Adam.
They had historically exercised this dominion to perpetuate corruption and other manifestations of the Fall as sin, death, sickness, shame, humiliation, poverty and vanity. And this new order of dominion and authority that the disciples had just tasted was going to be a vital and lasting feature of the new creation and the kingdom that Jesus - the last Adam and the Christ was about to inaugurate.
The Lord himself gave then cause for more surprises and excitement when He said in response:
"I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening. Behold, I had given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and all over the power of the enemy and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that you names are recorded in heaven.
Luke 10:18 - 19.
Apostle Isidore Agoha is the Senior Pastor at Triumphant Life Church in the Bronx, N.Y.
www.tlcny.org | http://twitter.com/apostleagoha