THE FOIL OF THE ADVERSARY
by Jan Magiera

I Corinthians 2:7,8:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The wisdom of God foiled the plans of the prince of this world, the Devil, when God raised him from the dead. What was this wisdom and how did it destroy the power of the Devil?

First of all, ten days after the ascension, on the day of Pentecost, God sent the gift of holy spirit and made that gift available to anyone who confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and believed God raised him from the dead. Before this time, it had been available to have the spirit upon individuals, but it was not unconditional. Now it was incorruptible seed

(I Peter 1:23) and God could have children just as the Adversary had had since the time of Cain. The seed of God was irrevocable and not dependent upon the influences of the Adversary and his princes. Also the gift of holy spirit was in the full measure of that which Jesus Christ had.

Ephesians 2:7:

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

It was now available for men to have the same measure of the gift of holy spirit as Christ! They could walk with the same power and operate all the manifestations of that spirit to defeat the influences of the Devil. It was Christ in them, the hope of glory. So, wherever there is a believer that has the gift of holy spirit, it is as though Christ is walking there. All the power and all the authority over sickness, sin, the environment, that he had, every believer now has!

If that was not enough, God had hidden the great mystery by His wisdom and gradually revealed it to the first century believers. This mystery as it was made known, showed the unity which men had together. All of the separations and divisions (one of the Adversary’s most effective tools to “steal, kill and destroy”) were broken down. The main separation that was broken down was the one between Israel, the people of God, and the Gentiles, all the other nations. However, other separations were also made.

Galatians 3:28:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

This unity was made possible again by the spirit born within each believer. So, not only did they have the power of Christ, but all divisions were made of none effect. Had the prince of the world known this, he never would have crucified Jesus Christ!

Another of the Adversary’s tools was the sin nature and resulting sins, which issue finally in death. As the mystery was revealed, the full identification with Christ is defined. A believer died with Christ and thus is dead to trespasses and sins. They no longer have dominion over him. He was raised with Christ, quickened together with him, ascended with him and seated with him in the heavenlies.

Ephesians 2:5,6:

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Every believer will be raised with him in glory! The ultimate weapon, death, is no longer to be feared.

Hebrews 2:14,15:

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;

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Because we are seated in the heavenlies, we have the dominion over the spiritual forces that are on high. All things are under our feet, because they are under Christ’s feet, including the principalities and powers.

Ephesians 1:20-22b:

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;

And hath put all things under his feet,...

We have power in the full measure of Christ. We have the unity of the spirit that cancels all division and we have the dominion over our sin nature and death. By God’s wisdom, the Devil’s best tools were totally defeated and he is under our feet now! Had the Devil and his cohorts known this, they never would have crucified the Lord of glory. But the Adversary has been foiled!