Delegated Authority - Part 5

     John, the fisherman turned fisher-of-men, closes his Gospel with this final truth: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Jn. 21:25).
      Luke, a physician and right-hand-man to Paul, closes his Gospel with these final words: “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into Heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:50-52).
     After the four historical gospels, the next book in the New Testament is called Acts. It, too, is an historical book. We could call it the “Gospel Sequel” because it picks up with the historical account of Jesus appearing after His resurrection and then ascending to Heaven, and how the Church spread the Gospel during the first century after Christ.
       The book is divided into 28 chapters, but even that is not the end of the historical account. You see, as Jesus’ disciples, we’re still writing the story. More “living stones” are being added to God’s House. We’re closing in on the final chapters of the middle section of the story. We’re nearing the end of this age.
      There is more to the story because Peter says we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). We are the “called out ones,” the Body of Christ, His Church, and His Bride.
        The Chronos Lesson: We’re still in the time when Satan has been judged and sentenced, but not yet incarcerated. His incarceration will happen during the first few years of the last Day, which is Christ’s millennial reign over the earth from Heaven. Until then, our assignment is to counter Satan’s lies and deceptions with the light of the Gospel.
         Of course, since Satan definitely qualifies as a violent one, he isn’t going to let this go easily. It is the nature of lawlessness to accelerate like a snowball rolling down a mountain. But there is coming a time when that snowball shall smash against a Stone and be crushed.
        I can assure you that at the appointed time in the age to come (the last Day), we will play a part in casting down Satan from the heavenlies. Until that time, trying to do so is wasted effort, which, of course, Satan loves to watch. We will also play a part in sending Him and his armies to the Pit, and ultimately, to eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. More on that later. All of this can only happen at God’s appointed time. Even Jesus couldn’t do this before the appointed time.
        Matthew records an exchange between some demons and Jesus in the Decapolis, the area east of the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus and His crew come ashore, they are met by two demon-possessed men. The men are possessed to such an extent that they live in a cave and no one dares to come near the place because they are so violent.
         Suddenly they cry out, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:28-29). Notice the time reference. Note, too, that they acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. Wow, they know more than the Pharisees and religious scholars of that time! Yet they insinuate that Jesus can’t get rid of them because it’s before the time. What time? The appointed time.
        Surprisingly, Jesus could not incarcerate them and send them to the Lake of Fire at this point in the plan. But He wasn’t powerless, either. He could and did deliver the men from the demons. He could and did send the demons out of the men and into the “wilderness” by way of a herd of swine that promptly ran off a steep seaside cliff and drowned. Either way, the demons no longer had an earthly body—either men or unclean pigs—to house them.
       The bottom line for every believer here is that individually we have authority over Satan in the name of Jesus. That is why James 4:7 says to submit to God and resist the devil. The only way Satan can influence or oppress a believer is if he or she lets him. However, we can open the door to the devil by submitting to the world’s ways instead of God’s ways. We always have a choice.