Three Strikes, And You’re Out!

[Christ] disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.   Colossians 2:15

Our enemy’s defeat comes in a series of three strikes. Strike one took place at the cross, where our Lord Jesus Christ disarmed the powers of evil. He blew open the kingdom of darkness to make a way out for all who believe. Satan’s power to hold the captives was broken. This does not mean the enemy has given up or that his activity has ended. But Christ has inflicted a fatal wound on him.

Strike two comes through the ministry of the church. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18, NIV). He didn’t mean the gates of hell would be advancing against the church; the church will be advancing against the gates of hell. And as the light of the gospel spreads around the world, people are saved and hell itself is on the retreat.

That has been the story of the church over the last two thousand years. As the church takes the light of the gospel from generation to generation and from culture to culture, men and women are brought out of Satan’s kingdom and into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Colossians 1:13).

That is why we need to stand in the battle. It is only as believers stand against the devil’s strategies that they will be in a position to advance on Satan’s kingdom using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and the ministry of prayer.

Strike one: the enemy’s power has been broken. Strike two: his territory is being invaded. Strike three: when Jesus Christ returns in glory, he will overthrow the enemy “with the breath of his mouth” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

The apostle John describes what will happen: “The devil, who had deceived them, [will be] thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). That’s strike three, and you don’t need me to tell you, “Three strikes, and you’re out!”

For further reading, see 2 Thessalonians 2