By Michael Harley
“But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ;12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. (1 Tim 5:11a, 12,15)[i]
Many Christians have a false belief that Satan has no power over them, but according to Scripture this is not the case. The Scripture above clearly states that Christians can and do grow wanton against Christ, cast off their first faith, and turn aside after Satan.
In Matthew chapter 10[ii], Christ calls His twelve disciples and gives them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and commands them not to go to anyone except the lost sheep of the house of Israel and once again commands them to cast out demons. The house of Israel was a nation of saved people.
Moses’ Final Blessing on Israel
” Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 And he said: Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, (Deuteronomy 33:1,2a,29a)[iii]
O God of Israel, the Savior! 17 But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever. (Isaiah 45:15b;17)[iv]
The nation of Israel during Christ’s ministry was just as saved as any Christian during the last 2,000 years is saved. And, during Christ’s ministry to the Jews you find that almost every time Jesus or His disciples cast out demons they were casting them out of saved people.
Even Judas Iscariot was empowered by Christ to “heal the sick cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Judas was just as saved as any other Israelite during his time, or for that matter, just as saved as any Christian today. Then after this empowerment by Christ, Judas is shown to have Satan enter him. And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.[v] (John 13:26b;27a)
In Matthew chapter 16[vi], Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, and Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Christians today, just as saved Jews in Christs time can be taken captive by the devil to do his will.
What man may think about having power and authority over the devil is one thing, and is of no importance whatsoever, but what is important is what God and His Word has to say about the matter. Everything that Christians do, whether in a gathering of worship or in the world at large should be carefully considered, for Christians doing things and having bitter envy, and self-seeking in their hearts is earthly, sensual, demonic.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there”. (James 3:13-16)
[i] 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ;12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. (1 Tim 5:11a, 12,15)
[ii] Sending Out the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[c] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Mathew 10:5-10
[iii] Deuteronomy 33New King James Version (NKJV)
Moses’ Final Blessing on Israel
33 Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them. 3 Yes, He loves the people; All His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet; Everyone receives Your words. 4 Moses commanded a law for us, A heritage of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together. 6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.” 7 And this he said of Judah: “Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people; Let his hands be sufficient for him,
And may You be a help against his enemies.” 8 And of Levi he said: “Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one, Whom You tested at Massah, And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah, 9 Who says of his father and mother, ‘I have not seen them’; Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, Or know his own children;
For they have observed Your word And kept Your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar. 11 Bless his substance, Lord, And accept the work of his hands; Strike the loins of those who rise against him,
And of those who hate him, that they rise not again.” 12 Of Benjamin he said: “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders.” 13 And of Joseph he said: “Blessed of the Lord is his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew,
And the deep lying beneath, 14 With the precious fruits of the sun, With the precious produce of the months, 15
With the best things of the ancient mountains, With the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 With the precious things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come ‘on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.’17 His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; Together with them He shall push the peoples To the ends of the earth; They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.” 18 And of Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand.” 20 And of Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges Gad; He dwells as a lion, And tears the arm and the crown of his head. 21 He provided the first part for himself, Because a lawgiver’s portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people; He administered the justice of the Lord, And His judgments with Israel.” 22 And of Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s whelp; He shall leap from Bashan.” 23 And of Naphtali he said: “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the Lord, Possess the west and the south.” 24 And of Asher he said: “Asher is most blessed of sons; Let him be favored by his brothers, And let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be. 26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. 27 The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’ 28 Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. 29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.”
[iv] Isaiah 45: 15 Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever
[v] John 13:26-27 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
[vi] Matthew 16:22-23 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
