3.Having Authority Over Satan - Zac Poonen
What Christ Looks For In The Church
Summary
Jesus taught that the church built on the confession of Christ is invincible to the powers of spiritual death, provided it has strong, appointed leadership. The speaker emphasizes that the church is meant to be a place of conflict where it always wins by following God's way, and that discipline, as taught in Matthew 18, is a loving process aimed at winning back a brother who has sinned.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Jesus speaks of His church and overcoming hellJesus first mentions the church in Matthew 16, declaring that the gates of hell will not overpower the church He builds.Matthew 16:18
New Testament plural leadershipGod appoints plural leadership in the New Testament like a family, rather than a one-man pastor system resembling a corporate CEO.
Loving church discipline to win a wayward brotherWhen a brother sins, the church practices loving discipline following Matthew 18 with the ultimate aim of winning that person back from the devil's grip.Matthew 18:15
Maintaining unity despite disagreements in leadershipDisagreements among leaders do not equal disunity; complementary viewpoints provide a complete picture, much like a husband and wife staying united to keep Christ in their midst.
Binding satanic forces with a in-sync churchWhere two or three are gathered by the Holy Spirit and are in spiritual symphony, they have the authority to bind satanic activities on earth.
The ruler of this world has nothing in JesusJesus overcame every temptation as a man in the power of the Holy Spirit, performing the greatest miracle by never sinning in word, deed, or thought.John 14:30
Human opinions are fit for the trash canThe praise or criticism of men does not matter because only God knows the 90 percent of our thoughts and motives inside.
Defeating satan's first characteristic: prideSatan fell through pride when his heart was lifted up because of his beauty and wisdom, and pride enters human lives through comparison with others.
Looking unto Jesus as the cure for prideComparing ourselves constantly with Jesus instead of other people is the guaranteed cure for pride, keeping us safely flat on our faces in the dust.
Becoming small enough to pass through the narrow gateJust like a tiny amoeba passes easily through a needle's eye, we must become small in our own eyes to enter abundant life and avoid getting offended.
Overcoming satan's second characteristic: discontentmentSatan fell through discontentment and tempted Adam and Eve to break God's boundaries, a spirit that manifests today in careless debt and greed.
Jesus had no demands and made no complaintsAfter preaching powerfully, Jesus had nowhere to lay His head yet harbored no complaints or bitterness when people ignored Him.John 7:53
Stopping accusation and refusing to say 'I told you so'Adam blamed his wife instead of taking responsibility, showing how easily humans accuse others rather than judging themselves and showing mercy.
Judgment must begin in the household of GodTrue New Covenant believers apply 'me first' to judgment, examining themselves before God just as Isaiah did when he saw the Lord on His throne.
Walking in victory over a defeated enemyDemons have no power over those who do not harbor satan's nature of pride and discontent, allowing the church to stand with authority in Jesus' name.
