The Good News
Week 4: All Oppression Shall Cease

(Luke 4:18-19) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (the devils) are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”–C. S. Lewis (from the Preface to Screwtape Letters)

(Ephesians 6:10–12) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

(Ephesians 6:13–17) Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(2 Corinthians 10:3–5) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.(MULTILINE)

3 Realities We Need to Believe:

1. The devil is .

(2 Corinthians 11:14) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world. —Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (p. 412). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

(1 John 5:19) We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

(2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2. The devil’s goal is “to , , and .”

(John 10:10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

3. The devil responds to a .

(1 John 4:4)  The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.(MULTILINE)

3 Weapons To Use:

1. The of Jesus.

(Luke 10:17-19) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

(Philippians 2:10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

2. The of Jesus.

(Revelation 12:11) They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…

3. The of Jesus.

(John 8:31-32) Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(MULTILINE)

3 Things to do every day:

1. to God.

(James 4:7-8) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2. Close any .

(2 Corinthians 2:10-11) If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven–if there was anything to forgive–I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(Ephesians 4:26-27) In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

(Ephesians 5:11) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 

3. Confront the enemy in .

(1 Peter 5:8-9) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.(MULTILINE)