Churchy Titbits – Overcome Satan in the Kingdom of God

Churchy Titbits:  How to overcome and rule over Satan in the Kingdom of God.

I thought it may be of some interest to those who would like to be updated on things pastors often say from their pulpits, things that do not pass the scrutiny of Scripture and are sometimes downright funny. Today’s “Churchy Titbit” comes from the pulpit of Pastor Callie Venter of the “Nuwe Lewe Kerk” (New Life Church) in Krugersdorp, South Africa. In his church’s morning service on 8^th October 2017, Callie Venter said in essence that the Kingdom of God has already arrived on earth. The reasons he put forward are the following.

1. In reference to several places where Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand” he interprets it as though it means that the Kingdom of God has already arrived on earth (also known as the Kingdom Now Theology).
2. His reason for saying so is that fact the King of the Kingdom, Jesus Christ, lives in every believer which in turn makes every believer not only a resident in the Kingdom of God but the Kingdom itself. As such every believer is the bearer and the embodiment of God’s Kingdom and must preach the Gospel of the Kingdom so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
3. 

   Pastor Callie Venter and Wife

   As the visible embodiment of God’s Kingdom on earth, believers have been given the authority to rule over Satan and his demons in his Name. To validate his claim, Callie Venter refers to Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

   Compare this to Paul’s lament in 2 Corinthians 12:7, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” The thorn given to Paul by God’s own permission was probably a physical disability or malady.

   In the course of his sermon, Callie Venter contends that sickness is caused by unclean spirits and should, therefore, be rebuked in the Name of Jesus so that the sick may be healed. Why didn’t Paul do just that? In fact, Paul bore witness to the fact that it was because of an illness that he once had the opportunity to preach the Gospel to precious lost souls (Galatians 4:13).

   These examples from Scripture debunk Callie Venter’s claim that believers should rule over Satan to extend and enhance the Kingdom of God on earth. As a matter of fact, any measure of boasting that believers have been given the authority to rule (reign) over Satan in the alleged Kingdom Now economy of things, is very dangerous.

   Here’s the reason, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mat 7:21-23).

   Luke 10:19 was a promise given to the 72 Jesus sent out to preach the Gospel and to heal the sick, and not to anyone else after that particular occasion. Believers are not commanded to rule over Satan and to rebuke the unclean spirits that allegedly cause illness. They are commanded to merely resist the devil and his temptations (James 4:7). The notion that Christians were given the authority to rule or reign over Satan nullifies the authority Jesus Christ had given Satan as the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4). There’s a vast difference between resisting the devil and ruling or reigning (lording it) over him.

The mere fact is that we are not presently living in the realm of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Himself, and no other mortal being including Callie Venter and his illustrious church members are going to set up his 1000 year Kingdom on earth when He returns together with his Bride (subsequent to the Pretribulation Rapture which,  in passing, Callie Venter and his church shun with disdain).

And finally, this brings us to our Churchy Titbit of the month. The Bible clearly says that Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss where he will be bound for 1000 years, during Jesus Christ’s reign on earth.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-6).

And now, the million dollar question; How do you rule over, cast out, and rebuke Satan when he will already have been bound and made powerless during the 1000 year Kingdom of God on earth, a Kingdom which Callie Venter alleges we are already experiencing on the earth because the Kingdom is within every believer?

Aha! Never fear when Callie Venter is near because he and his church members know how to bind, and to overcome, and to rule over Satan when an angel of the Lord has already bound him during the Kingdom of God.

For those of you who understand Afrikaans and are prepared to sit through some hunky-dorey Kingdom Now preaching, here’s the link to Callie Venter’s sermon he delivered on Sunday, 8th October 2017.

LISTEN HERE.