The truth is, the devil's power over mankind came to screeching halt when Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross of Calvary. The Word of God declares that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth, set the captives free, and then ascended up far above all heavens (Eph. 4:8-10). And, in Colossians 2:15, we know that Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Jesus made a public exhibit of the devil in the court of Heaven, paid the penalty for the sins of the world, and redeemed mankind from the curse of the law with His own blood (Gal. 3:13-14, 29; Deut. 28:15-68). As far as Heaven is concerned, the devil has been stripped of all power! Jesus solved the sin problem, failure problem, fear problem, depression problem, sickness problem, poverty problem and every problem that will ever be named. Glory!
Our responsibility is to believe God's Word and captivate every thought that rises up against His promises to us. The Word says that "For though we walk and live in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.
Inasmuch as we refute arguments, and theories, and reasonings, and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One" (2 Cor. 10:3-5 AMP).
The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God! As a believer, you have the authority to use the name of Jesus to bind the devil from stealing what belongs to you.
Faith in His Word will destroy every stronghold and overthrow the devil's arguments, theories, and reasonings that say: "Your family will never be saved." "You'll never be used by God." "Sickness runs in your family." "No one cares about you." "You'll never be debt free." "You will never recover from this attack of the enemy."
Take a stand against thoughts of lack and failure by boldly declaring God's promise of abundance and victory. "I am of God and overcome all things by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of my testimony. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4; Rev. 12:11). "Surely Jesus has borne my grief, sorrows, and pain and by His stripes I am healed" (Isa. 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24).
"I have given and it shall be given unto me; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into my bosom. I submit to God and I resist the devil, therefore he will flee from me, in Jesus' name" (Luke 6:38, James 4:7).
That's how you bankrupt the devil. Declaring God's Word strips the devil of every bit of power over your life. Glory to God! When God began to talk to me about bankrupting the devil, He revealed three words: expose, destroy and restore. You see, Jesus came to expose the thief, destroy the works of the thief, and restore everything that the thief has stolen.
EXPOSE the Thief!
I don't know about you, but I am fed up with people blaming God for what the devil has done. Jesus exposed the thief and set the record straight when He said: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
At the time that Jesus announced that truth, the people had no revelation of the devil. They thought that everything good and everything bad came from God. But when Jesus walked on the scene, He exposed the thief and let the world know that if it kills, steals or destroys, it did not come from God! Our God is good and has plans to do you good (Deut.30:5,9,15; Psalm 86:5; 145:9; James 1:17; 3 John 11). Once you settle that issue in your heart and mind, it will free you to launch an attack on the devil and send him running.
The question most people have is "How did the devil get to me?" Well, sometimes we open the door for the attack of the devil through ignorance or disobedience to God's Word. However, I also know that sometimes the devil has gained access illegally and attacks without cause (Job 2:3). But regardless of how the attack came, the end result is still up to you. James 4:7 tells us to "submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee!"
DESTROY the Works of the Thief!
The devil can't work...he is on disability! First John 3:8 says, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." And Hebrews 2:14-15 says that "through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Jesus disabled the devil and made him powerless to affect you. But for thousands of years, the devil has been taking drastic measures to avoid bankruptcy by having "going out of business" sales. As a result, the world has been flooded with false advertising that is specifically designed to trap unsuspecting customers into buying his bag of goods.
But his tactics are ineffective against those that know the Word of God and follow Jesus' example to walk with God. Acts 10:38 tells us, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him."
Every believer has a responsibility to put the devil out of business by doing good and healing all that are oppressed of the devil. Think about what Jesus said in Luke 13:16, "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"
God's covenant promise to heal His children has always been available (Ex. 15:26, 23:25; Deut. 7:15; Ps. 103.3). Just as Jesus expected the Jewish leaders of that day to destroy the works of the devil, He expects it of us. He said, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19). We ought to be enforcing God's Word in the earth and loosing people from the bondage of the devil and destroying his works.
RESTORE Everything the devil Has Stolen!
Proverbs 6:31 declares that if the thief is "found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." I especially like the last part of that verse. I have served notice on the devil to turn over all the substance of his house because the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just! Glory!
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word bankrupt is defined as: "A debtor that, upon voluntary petition, or one invoked by the debtor's creditors is judged legally insolvent. The debtor's remaining property is then administered for the creditors or is distributed among them."
Everything that the devil has was stolen from God and His children. Jesus exposed the thief and destroyed his power to keep what rightfully belongs to you and me. That is why we can stand in full assurance to get all the substance of his house. After all, Jesus has the keys to his front door, which is in hell (Rev. 1:18), and his retirement home, the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-3).
God's promise of restoration of all things to God's children must be fulfilled before God can send Jesus Christ back to the earth. This is clearly stated in Acts 3:19-21, 25-26. God is looking for people that will stand their ground and defy the lies of the devil and boldly believe His promises.
These are the last days, and we must declare that it is payday for the body of Christ. It is time for you to get your stuff! It is time for you to bankrupt the devil!
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Reverend Cathy Duplantis is an anointed teacher of the Gospel dedicated to living by faith and inspiring others to do the same. Cathy is the wife of Evangelist Jesse Duplantis. She has worked continually with her husband in ministry since it began in 1978, serving as Administrator, Editor in Chief of Voice of the Covenant magazine, and television co-host.
