HE Who The Son Has Set Free Is Free INDEED. The Truth Will SET YOU FREE.
The Tension:
Jesus: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Satan: Called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).
The Resolution:
What tension? I don’t see any tension. Not any more. Nothing could be more clear. Are you still struggling with this? How could Jesus say He has all authority and also say that Satan is the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air? (Perhaps today we could say the “airwaves” for the amount of pure concentrated deception in media of all kinds, including influencers now is more super saturated than ever in history or anything else in “this world”).
There is a lot to say on this subject but not necessarily required. we can talk about how Satan is a defeated foe. We can talk about how he is the de facto “ruler” just occupying the position until Jesus returns. We could talk about how even what Satan might have dominion over for the time being is the temporal, the external, the system of the world, the dark spirits that Paul talks about in Eph 6:10-14. We can talk about how Satan prowls the world while God rules from the throne the galaxies “far about all rule, authority, power and dominion”. We could but we would be talking around the point not directly to and through it.
Here then is THE point. While Satan is a defeated foe with limited influence compared to the allness of all that is the Kingdoms of God there is a choice to be made and that is the point. Jesus said to be in but not of the world. He said that you can’t serve two masters. And he warned us that in the world we will have trouble but that we should be of good cheer because He has overcome the world – forever and always. Ready? Enough preamble and enough setting the scene. One can choose to be in and of the world and then we are choosing against Jesus, against His warnings, against his protection and we are choosing sin. And then we are subject to “all the slings and arrows of the evil one” (Paul in Eph 6:13) or we choose Jesus and we surrender all. But who really surrenders all? The choice was relatively easy for me once I had made the big choice because I never had much liking for the world and what it had to offer all my life. Never really knew what I was doing here or why so it really wasn’t so much to give up. I never had much and never wanted much. I just knew that I was kind of braindead but in tune enough to realize that there had to be something better somewhere. All the trouble I ever got into was in the process of taking wrong turns while I sought out Jesus. Never so much seeking the “pleasures of the world”. But most people have trouble surrendering all. Even the guy that wrote the song “I Surrender All” – check out the lyrics of all five verses you will find that he was seeking his beautiful reward not just unconditional surrender with nothing in it for him. In fact he had, for five years prior, had a tough decision to make between being an evangelical or being an artist/art teacher. Art can be the best thing in us that we can offer the world that is ours. It can also detract us from seeking the Lord and connect us with the dark side. I know. I used to have demons show up in my paintings quite often – and then was when I was painting trees and houses and stuff not necessarily just my painting of Jack Nicholson in The Shining in the snow covered maze of 12′ high bushes. Yeah, I drifted. I drifted like the snow on those bushes. And now, no further ado, here is the point. If we have not surrendered all, every last bit and drop of whatever “all” is composed of – the whole sinful, forsaken, greedy, Las Vegas strip of a world, every bit of Time Square in the 1980s for the crisp clean air and vistas of the Alpines then. we. have. left. doors. OPEN. The ruler of the world of the Las Vegas strip, the scum on the streets of Hollywood Blvd, the red light districts of the internet, the world that Jesus calls “THIS WORLD” still has dominion over us. To whatever degree he can afflict us because we left doors open. We are “of this world” where “we will have trouble” and we are in position where Jesus still has to salvage us on a daily basis, still has to persuade us to “deny our selves, pick up our crosses and follow Him.”
Now, tell me… is there still any tension or confusion about Jesus having total dominion vs Satan having squatter’s rights in the house he does not own from which he will ultimately be forcibly removed and thrown thereafter into the lake of fire? Choose Jesus.
Corroborating Scripture:
Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20–21, John 12:31, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:10–11, 13–14, James 4:7–8, James 1:12, Colossians 2:15
Matthew 28:18 Jesus: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”
Ephesians 1:20–21 Christ is seated “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion”
Satan: Called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2)
Ephesians 6:10–11, 13–14 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.
James 4:7–8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Colossians 2:15 Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Prayer For Whomsoevers
Lord I didn’t get it before but I do now. Funny how people talk about how their are contradictions in your Word until they come to a point where they actually understand what it is saying. Please help guide me Lord. You held the door open for me while I sought out salvation in You and Your son. I thought I had the Holy Spirit in me but I was not known for I had not come to know You. Now I have walked through that door you held open for me for so long and I have one more request – please help me close all doors to “this world” that lead to destruction. I forsake and surrender it all. And please help me open the one door and keep it open that leads to “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. In the grace and mercy of Jesus I say amen.
