The Lordship of Christ is the purest expression of spiritual warfare. Only he who understands and submits to the Lordship of Christ can enter into spiritual warfare. The basis of faith in Christ is to recognize that Jesus is God, who has delivered us from the government that Satan imposed on Adam after having dishonored God.
It is not doctrine, it is not dogma; it is a celebration of life, it is the experience of a before and an after, it is the experience of seeing the ransom in order to enjoy again the freedom of one’s own life. It is a motive for proclamation. It is the good news of liberation.
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mathew 20:28
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1st. Thessalonians 1:10
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1st. John 3:8
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrew 2:14
However, even though He redeemed us from the law of sin and death,[1] the change is not made by Jesus but by the person himself. This means that it can and does happen that the person who has believed in Jesus still has links with darkness. Jesus is the provision of life.
The Lordship of Christ demands a total and complete liberation from the bonds of darkness. This is the basis of spiritual warfare. That bond with darkness that the believer still maintains in the way he or she conducts himself or herself are areas over which the person does not have the authority to bend them.
This principle was established as law in Joshua’s defeat before Ai, after they overwhelmed Jericho.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Joshua 7:10-12
Hence the importance of the declaration of Zacchaeus, to return that entire he had defrauded. It is the way to break ties with darkness:
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. Luke 19:8-9
Submission to the Lordship of Christ leads the person to face Satan, being under the Lordship of Christ enables the person to release all that in the past he delivered from his own under alliances with darkness. The Lord of Christ frees the person from all authority that darkness wants to arrogate upon him:
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. John 14:30
This is the core part of life in Christ, and the demand for commitment that Jesus required of those who followed Him,
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mathew 6:33
Note that Jesus’ instruction does not end with, it seeks the kingdom of God, instruction includes expression, and His righteousness. The expression is not an addition, it is not a literary appendix to close the prayer; the final expression therefore does not remain as an option at the discretion of the disciple.
This is freedom in Christ. The Lordship of Christ demands, requires, establishes, and imposes righteousness. Spiritual warfare is based on righteousness; unrighteousness is equivalent to Achan’s sin: taking and hiding the anathema.
Every act of injustice gives legal right to Satan. Every act of injustice links the person to the kingdom of darkness. Every act of injustice establishes alliances with the kingdom of darkness.
Spiritual warfare begins with repairing the injustices of the past; restoration is necessary to break every link with darkness. This is the way of establishment of the Lordship of Christ.
Finally, the purpose for which we were reached:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2nd. Corinthians 10:5-6
The expression of Jesus in the house of Zacchaeus, Today salvation has come to this house, it is the point of perfection in a person who has submitted to the Lordship of Christ. He is spiritually enabled and authorized, to destroy counsel and every high thing that rises against the science of God; to captivate every attempt at disobedience and subject it to the obedience of Christ; to punish every disobedience.
To understand and acknowledge about the Lordship of Jesus means to admit that He is Lord and Christ (Messiah). The controversy that so many Pharisees and Sadducees had about Jesus was precisely about His being sent from God, none of them had a problem about His teaching and His ability to teach about the Scriptures, they questioned that He was sent from God (Christ), and that He had a God-like nature, they considered it blasphemous and it was the basic argument for which they took Him to the cross.
The authority that demons respect in a man or woman of faith is their submission and recognition of the Lordship of Jesus.
All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.
Pastor Pedro Montoya
Twitter: @pastormontoya
https://earthenwarevessels.blog
[1] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.1st. Corinthians 15:56
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:13
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelations 1:5
Treasure in Earthen Vessels 