TAKING CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE

When Jesus arose from the grave and ascended into heaven, He disarmed powers and authorities, including Satan and all the evil spiritual forces of this world. The Greek word for “disarmed” means “stripped.” Like a conquered army being stripped of its weapons and armor, Satan and his horde of demons and spiritual rulers of darkness were stripped and put to shame. Then, having disarmed Satan and his evil forces, Jesus made a public spectacle of them. He exposed them to the universe as His captives.

Like a general leading a procession of victory, Jesus ascended into Heaven leading behind Him the defeated enemy, Satan, and all the powers and rulers of spiritual darkness, displayed before the entire universe as the spoils of battle. Jesus led captivity captive! Those powers that once held man captive — sin, sickness, and death — were destroyed.

Today, Jesus is seated in heaven in a position of supreme power where He has been exalted and given a Name that is above every other name.

God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue (frankly and openly) confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, TAB)

Satan and all his demons must bow at the Name of Jesus! Every bondage, every sin, every sickness, and every disease must bow at the Name of Jesus!

In this exalted position, Jesus has been given power over powers, principalities, dominions in heaven, on earth and under the earth. God has exalted Him: “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:21-23).

Satan does not have power and dominion over this earth. Jesus has given us power and authority over the power of the enemy. The truth is, Satan is not in control. The works of Satan- sin, sickness, and death — have been destroyed. Satan has been bound, cast out, defeated, and stripped of his power over us!

Satan’s strategy against the Church has been to deceive us and keep us in spiritual ignorance concerning these truths. The Church of Jesus Christ must rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and fight! We must enter into the arena of spiritual warfare and begin to bind the power of Satan. We must take the power and authority that God has placed in our hands and use it to tear down Satan’s strongholds.