We do discuss ‘wisdom’ with those who are mature; only it is not the wisdom of this world or of the dethroned Powers who rule this world, it is the mysterious Wisdom of God . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6,7 (Moffatt)

God’s Word teaches that Satan and evil spirits are rebel holders of authority, and that they have been dethroned by the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice how Moffatt’s translation calls them “dethroned Powers who rule this world.”

God made the earth and the fullness thereof. Then He gave Adam dominion, or authority, over all the works of His hands (Gen. 1:27,28; Ps. 8:3-6). Adam had dominion on the earth. In fact, Adam was made the god of this world. When he committed high treason and sold out to Satan, then Satan became the god of this world through Adam (2 Cor. 4:4), and a rebel holder of Adam’s authority.

But the Bible calls Jesus Christ the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Jesus came as our Representative — our Substitute — and defeated Satan! Jesus didn’t do it for Himself; He did it for us! All that Jesus did belongs to us.

We believers are to remember that we are in the world, but we’re not of the world. Satan is not to dominate us; we are to dominate him. We can dominate Satan. We have authority over him. Jesus defeated him for us.

Confession: Jesus dethroned Satan and all his cohorts for me. Satan cannot dominate me. I dominate him. Jesus gave me authority over Satan, and I will use it.