Luke 10:17-19

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

 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.

What a promise we have in Christ - nothing in all the enemies arsenal is capable of harming us. Through the name of Jesus we have authority over everything Satan is capable of doing. Wow!

Jesus said to the seventy on their return "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven"; many believe Jesus is talking about a long ago event. However I think the plain reading fits best here. Satan the prince of the worldly system was in spiritual authority over the lives of the seventy (in the heavens). At that point as they obeyed Christ and stepped out in faith and power, Satan's authority over their lives was broken and he fell. Jesus witnessed this.

What about us, are we living in this reality? At times I think so, other times perhaps not. However the invitation remains and so does the reality of the spiritual world.

One of the most painful lives recorded in scripture was that of Job, if you remember the story God and Satan have a conversation which results in Job suffering. Poor Job and his friends spend chapters trying to understand his predicament and find the cause. There is a big lesson here:- what takes place in the spiritual world has a significant impact on our own. Sometimes no matter what we, do unless spiritual matters are resolved the natural ones cannot be.

This is exactly the place of prayer.
Read 2 Corinthians 10, Ephesians 3:10, 6:12, Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22 for a glimpse into our place in this fight 

Are we using the right prayer weapons for the job?

Obedience
The seventy were empowered through obedience to Jesus' word. James 4:7 Need I say more? In reality we foster a close walk and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit

The Name of Jesus
Whenever a legal process is enacted it requires the signature of an authorized person. That is exactly what the name of Jesus is. When confronting spiritual forces directly or indirectly it is the name of Jesus which gives us authority over the power of the enemy
See Philippians 2:5-11. Notice the relationship between obedience and authority

Fasting
Fasting can expose the spiritual root of issues and lead to breakthrough. In Luke 4 Jesus is lead by the Spirit into the wilderness (obedience), fasted for forty days, confronted Satan and returned "in the power of the Spirit".
Mark 9:28-29 - Some spiritual powers can only be confronted through fasting.

I would encourage you this week to spend time with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to lead you, who knows what He has for us in the days ahead!
I do know that He is asking us to spend this time listening, attending to His presence and prepare ourselves to confront principalities and powers. The fight is in the air.

Blessings,

~Johno