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Authority of Jesus Over Demons

Aug 8th   |   Todd Cyphers   |   Series: Luke

Jesus’ Power

Luke 4:31-37

I.          He preached with great power 

II.        He has power over the demons

1. Who are the demons?

Revelation 12:1         Page # 1233

"You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…

'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'                                                          Isaiah 14:12-14 (NASB) 

Jude 5-9                    Page #1223

2. What demons are doing now?

A. Promoting false worship/doctrine                  1 Timothy 4:1

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.                                                         1 Timothy 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  1 John 4:1

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.                                                                2 Corinthians 11:13-14

…the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.          1 Corinthians 10:20

B. Controlling all unbelievers to some degree             

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.                                                                   1 John 5:19

C.  Blinding people from the truth                          2 Corinthians 4:4

…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.                                                                   2 Corinthians 4:4

D. Seeking to devour                                            1 Peter 5:8  

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.                     1 Peter 5:8

E.  Inflaming sinful attitudes                                 James 3:15

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.                                                             James 3:15

F.  Causing bodily harm/disease                          Mark 9:17-18

 One of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;  and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth….”     Mark 9:17-18

G. Opposing God’s purposes                                 Ephesians 6:12  

 Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.                                               Ephesians 6:12

Questions for this week:

I.  For Starters:

  1. Other than reading from Scripture that evil and Satan are real, what evidences do you have to personally believe in Satan and true evil?
  2. What teachers during your lifetime have taught with real authority and what differences has that made in your life?

II. Overview of Scripture

  1. Read Luke 4:31-37.
  2. What would you say is the mood or tone of this passage?
  3. Part of understanding a passage is “observation”.  Some questions of  verse 31 you could ask and then answer are:
  • What was Jesus doing in vs. 31?
  • Where was He and is that important to the story?
  • Who is he teaching?
  • Why is important that the “Sabbath” is mentioned?
  1. Why were people amazed at His teaching? Vs. 32
  2. What would it look like and sound like for a preacher, leader or person to speak with godly authority today?
  3. Read the Scriptures below and see if you can clearly identify several reasons why it is so important for a preacher to preach directly from God’s Word with Godly authority when the people of God gather together.  Also, who will want the pastor to preach from the Scriptures?

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.                                                     Psalm 1:2 (NASB) 

I delight to do Your will, O my God;  Your Law is within my heart."                                                    Psalm 40:8 (NASB) 

Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors.                                             Psalm 119:24 (NASB) 

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.                                                              Psalm 119:35 (NASB) 

I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love.                                                     Psalm 119:47 (NASB) 

  1. Where did Jesus encounter this demon possessed man and why does that seem unusual? Vs. 33
  2.  How did the demons respond to the presence of Jesus and why? Vs. 33-34
  3. What does the demon know about Jesus that is important? Vs.33-34
  4. There is only one other place in Scripture where the phrase, “holy One of God” is used. Read the passage and see what all connects that passage to this Luke passage. John 6:59-71.

III. Growing deeper

  1. Review Sunday’s message with someone.
  2. What strategies did Satan use in the Garden of Eden that He is using on you? How is the battle going? Be honest with one other person and pray for the ability to believe 1 John 4:4.
  3. Pray for one another and for anyone who comes to mind who is living a life of defeat with their temptations and thought processes.

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