CAST OUT! CAST OUT INTO! Pay close attention to both of these phrases, for both of them provide us with an incredible reality pertaining to the demise, and ultimate and utter destruction of the adversary. In the second portion of this particular chapter we find the great dragon—along with the angels with him—being cast out of heaven. The great dragon along with his angels were cast out of heaven because there was no longer any place for them within it. I feel the need to pause for a moment at this juncture and speak to this concept of Satan being cast out of heaven, for the sole reason he was cast out was because there was no longer any place found for him or his angels. Despite the fact the dragon and his angels engaged in war against Michael and his angels in heaven, they could not prevail in heaven, nor was there any longer a place for them in heaven. The great dragon and his angels were cast out of heaven defeated and displaced after engaging in conflict and warfare against Michael and his angels, which I am convinced stands as a powerful prophetic picture for us in this generation. The great dragon was cast out of heaven after engaging in conflict, after being unable to prevail in that conflict, and after finding no place any more in heaven. His casting out took place after two very important realities were manifested—the first being his defeat before Michael and his angels, and the second being his no longer having any place in heaven. When you as an adversary stand defeated and displaced, there is ultimately only one option that is available for you—being cast forth and being cast out. Satan was cast out—not only because he could not prevail against Michael or his angels, but also because there was no longer any place for him in heaven. His being cast forth out of heaven was a direct manifestation of what we read concerning him prevailing not, and concerning their having no place in heaven.

I am finding myself faced with an absolutely incredible question as I sit and ponder this thought. The question that I am finding myself asking is this—Has the adversary been cast out of your life? Have you experienced the reality within your life where the adversary—and even his unholy angels—have been cast forth and cast out of your life? Have you reached the place within your life where the adversary has been utterly and completely cast forth from your life—unable to ever return? The great dragon was cast forth out of heaven because he could not prevail, and because there was no longer any place for him. There is a passage in Scripture within the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John where Jesus makes an incredibly powerful statement to His disciples just before He was betrayed, handed over to the religious leaders and Rome, and crucified on the cruel wooden cross. “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). The reason I mention this passage of Scripture is because I am also reminded of Jesus’ words when the seventy disciples returned after having been sent out to preach the kingdom, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. These seventy disciples returned full of joy because even the demons were subject to them in the name of Jesus. Jesus immediately and instantly corrected their thinking by declaring to them that He beheld Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I can’t help but see a direct connection between Jesus’ declaration that the prince of this world has no place in Him, and His declaring how He beheld Satan fall like lightning from heaven. The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ reveals how Satan was cast forth out of heaven because there was no longer any place found for him in heaven, and Jesus Himself spoke of beholding Satan falling like lightning from heaven, which causes me to wonder if there is a direct connection between Jesus’ words describing Satan falling like lightning from heaven, and the prince of this world having no place in Him.

Is it possible that Jesus was able to see Satan fall like lightning from heaven—not merely because He was and is the eternal Son of God—but because there was no place found for the adversary within Him? Is it possible that there is a powerful connection between Satan’s being cast forth and Satan having no place—either no place in heaven, or no place in the Son of God? What’s more, do we as disciples, believers and followers of Jesus Christ share in this same reality? I am wonderfully and powerfully convinced that we as the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ must understand and recognize this reality, for there is indeed a connection between the two. Satan was cast forth out of heaven because there was no longer any place for him in the midst of it. Since there was no longer any place for him in the midst of it, he could not remain—nor could any of his unholy angels remain. The only option for Satan and his angels was to be cast out of that place in which they were no longer welcome. I can’t help but get the strong sense that Jesus beheld Satan fall like lightning because there was no place for the adversary within Him. When the adversary recognized he had no place within the very Son of God, he was immediately and utterly cast forth as profane—a sight which Jesus Himself witnessed firsthand. Oh beloved brother, oh beloved sister, I believe with all my heart that this carries with it a tremendous prophetic word for you and I. I am reminded of specific passages in Scripture that define and describe the reality of the adversary having no place in us, and as a result, his being removed from our lives. 
Consider the words of the apostle Paul when writing to the Ephesian congregation—“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Later on in the same epistle, the apostle Paul writes these words concerning the armor of God—“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:11,16). In the fifth chapter of the book of Acts—in the same passage that speaks of Ananias and Sapphira—we read these words concerning Ananias: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? (Acts 5:3). When writing to the Corinthian congregation, the apostle Paul writes these words, which are recorded in the second chapter of the second epistle—“To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). In the fourth chapter of James’ epistle, we find these words—“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). In the fifth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Peter, we find these words—“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

When speaking to His disciples just prior to washing their feet in the Upper Room, Jesus speaks these words—“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). In the sixteenth chapter of the same gospel, John records these words of Jesus—“of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:11). When speaking of Judas, the apostle John writes that “after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27). Both Ananias and Judas serve as powerful examples of individuals who allowed Satan to find and have a place within them. Of Ananias it is written that Satan filled his heart, and of Judas it is written that Satan actually entered into him. This is a far cry from what Jesus wrote concerning the prince of this world having nothing in Him. In other words, the prince of this world had no access, no entry point, no inroad to any part of Jesus—to His heart, to His soul, to His mind, to His spirit. The question I am confronted with right now is what place are we giving to the adversary within our lives. Are we giving place to the adversary within our lives, and is the adversary permitted to gain a foothold within a specific area of our lives? Satan was cast forth out of heaven because there no place for him in heaven, but also because he was defeated. Jesus saw Satan cast forth as lightning from heaven, and I can’t help but see a strong connection to Satan having no place in the Son of God, and his being cast forth as lightning from heaven. The prophetic word that I am sensing within my spirit right now is that Satan can only be cast forth from our lives when he stands defeated, and when there is no longer any place for him within our lives. This entire book has been centered about the various stands Satan has taken within the lives of specific individuals within Scripture, and the prophetic word I believe concerning Satan making his last stand in the lives of countless men and women. I am convinced that Satan is making and has been making his last stand in the lives of men and women in this generation because he knows that his time is short. Not only does he know that his time is short, but he is also on the verge of no longer having any place within their lives, and on the verge of being utterly and completely defeated.

The prophetic word I believe the Spirit of the Lord desires to speak to us in this hour is that the time has come for the adversary to be cast out. The time has come for the adversary to be cast out of our minds once and for all. The time has come for the adversary to be cast out of our hearts once and for all. The time has come for the adversary to be cast out of our souls once and for all. The time has long since come for the adversary to be cast forth from our homes and from our families. The time has come for the adversary to be cast forth from our marriages, and from the lives of our children. The time has come for the adversary to be cast out of our finances, out of our emotions, out of our attitudes, out of our speech, out of our thoughts, out of our jobs. With that being said, however, we must understand that the adversary can only be cast out of such places if he stands defeated, and if he stands displaced. The adversary can only be cast forth as profane out of our lives if he can no longer prevail, and if there is no longer any place for him within our lives. What does the Old Testament prophet Isaiah proclaim in the fifty-fourth chapter of the book which bears his name? “NO weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17). What does the apostle Paul write to the Roman congregation as is recorded in the eighth chapter of the epistle” “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39). What about the words which are written in the epistle which the apostle John wrote to the Ephesian congregation? “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER! GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD! IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US! Beloved, the Lord is calling for Satan to once and for all be cast as profane out of your life—never to have any place within it again. The Spirit of the Lord is calling each and every man, woman and child who has ears to hear to hear to once and for all cast Satan out of every aspect and area of their life. With this being said, we must understand that Satan can only be cast forth when he has [absolutely] NO place within your life. Satan cannot be cast out of your life if he still has a foothold in certain areas within your heart, or within your mind, or within your soul. Satan can only be cast out of our lives when he no longer has any place, and when he stands completely, utterly and totally defeated. Satan was cast out of heaven because there was no longer any place for him within it, and because he could not prevail against Michael and his angels. Satan can be cast forth from your life when he can no longer prevail against you in any way. Let me ask you this question, and be completely and totally honest with me: Aren’t you tired of instead of you prevailing over your adversary, the adversary is prevailing over you? Are you tired of living in that place where the adversary is still able to get the upper hand within your life? Aren’t you tired of the adversary being in a place within your life where he is able to be triumphant and victorious? Scripture admonishes, encourages and instructs us to resist the devil, yet I believe that Satan can and will only be cast forth from our lives when he no longer has any place within us, and when he can no longer prevail in any area of our lives. Satan can only be cast out of your life when you’re willing to reach and live in that place where not only can he no longer prevail in any area of your life, but when he no longer has any place within your life. NO PLACE & NO PREVAILING! Where are those men and women who are willing to stand up in this generation and declare that the adversary no longer has any place within them? Where are those men and women who are once and for all willing to stand up and declare to the adversary that he is no longer able to prevail within their lives?

Satan is cast forth from heaven only after he stands unable to prevail against Michael and his angels, and only after he no longer has any place within it. It is at that moment when Satan is cast forth and cast out only after it has been determined that he cannot prevail and that there is no longer any place for him. This is an incredibly important principle—one which we must secure firmly within our hearts and our minds—for although we are called to resist Satan, I am convinced that he must once and for all be cast forth from our lives. We must come to the place where the adversary no longer has any place within us, and when he can no longer prevail against us. IF we have been given the promise that no weapon formed against us shall prevail, why are weapons still permitted to prevail against us? IF we have been given instruction to not give the devil any place within us, why do we still allow him access to different areas within our lives? Beloved, are you ready for Satan to once and for all be cast forth from your life? Jesus wrote that He beheld Satan falling like lightning from heaven, and I can’t help but think of how quickly that must have occurred. Consider how fast it takes for lightning to strike, or for lightning to flash from one end of the sky to the other. The tremendous speed it takes for lightning to strike, or for lightning to flash is the speed in which I would love to see Satan be cast forth from my life—once and for all. I want to be in the place where Satan no longer has any place within me, and when he can no longer prevail against me. If I have been given the promise that I am more than a conqueror in all things—why do I still allow myself to be defeated on so many fronts? Why do you? Are you ready for the adversary to once and for all be unable to prevail in any of your life—in your mind, in your heart, in your thoughts, in your attitudes, in your actions, in your words, in your behavior, in your emotions? How serious are you about Satan being cast forth as lightning from your life because he no longer has any place within it? How serious are you about Satan being cast forth as lightning from your life because he is no longer able to prevail against you in any area? It is possible to live in such a place—that place where the adversary has no place within us, and that place where the adversary is unable to prevail against us. Are you ready to watch as Satan is cast forth and cast out of your life once and for all? Are you ready to be part of Satan’s being cast forth out of your life once and for all because he no longer has any place within it, and is no longer able to prevail?

Let us submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. Let us wage war with weapons of our warfare which are not carnal, but are mighty through God. Let us pull down strongholds, and every thought that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. Let us extinguish every fiery dart of the adversary which he hurls against us. Let us not be ignorant of his schemes, nor the snares he lays before us. Let us be aware of those areas the adversary has had a place in previously, and let us once and for all drive him out as the children of Israel drove out the inhabitants of the land within the land of Canaan. I believe that the picture of Joshua and the children of Israel marching through the land of Canaan and driving out the inhabitants from within the land is a powerful picture of what we as the people of God must do within our lives. Joshua and the children of Israel conquered thirty-one kings, and the question I must ask right now is this: How many kings have you conquered? Are you willing to march through each and every area within your life and drive out the adversary from within them? Are you willing to march throughout every area of your life and tear down every stronghold that has been present within it? You have been called to cast Satan forth from your life—to no longer give him any place within you, and to no longer allow him to prevail in any way against you. Your weapons are not carnal, but are mighty through God, so start using them. There is a full armor that is and has been made available to you—put it on and wear it proudly. Take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit and engage your adversary head on. Resist the devil steadfast in your faith, and no longer allow him any place within your heart, within your mind, within your soul. Rise up and discover that place where the adversary no longer has any place within you, and where he can no longer prevail against you. It is when you find and discover that place that he can once and for all be cast forth and cast out. This same principle is true in regards to the church as well, for even churches and congregations need to experience this reality. Satan is making his last stand within the lives of countless men and women, and within churches and ministries, and it is our responsibility to ensure that he has no place, and cannot prevail in any and all.