1 John 3:8 (AMPC), “[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].”

Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, came to interrupt the plan of the devil and his evil tyranny on this earth, and completely destroy his works of devastation and destruction in people’s lives. Acts 10:38 tells us, “How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.” Every good work He did amongst the people was motivated by His heart of compassion for them and His mandate to see them set free from the sickness and yoke of bondage the devil had placed over them. It was the anointing operating in His life that empowered the work to be done. (Luke 4:18). Then, while demonstrating how to deal with the devil, and people who desperately needed to be healed and delivered from his evil works, Jesus told His disciples to go and do the same. In Luke 10:19, He said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Jesus gave them the authority and the mandate to destroy the work of the devil over people’s lives and anointed them to do it. Now, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit - we have that same anointing and power within us! We also have been given the authority and mandate to use His Name and operate by that power to enforce the devil’s defeat wherever we go! (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-18). How is it possible for us to carry out this mandate? Jesus said these signs of authority and defeat over the devil will accompany those who believe! We are expected to constantly renew our minds to the truth that we have already been empowered and equipped to stand in our delegated power and authority as Christ’s ambassadors here on earth. Everything has already been accomplished by the finished work of the cross for us - our responsibility is to be informed of who we are and what we have in Christ, and to fully believe it! Then, just as Jesus was continually sensitive to the leading of the Spirit to release that anointing power over people’s lives, rebuking the devil and seeing his work over them destroyed - we must too. Since Jesus defeated the devil for us - we must be sure to imitate Christ and enforce the devil’s defeat, wherever the Spirit leads us to go.