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Joe k said:
This subject perked my interest in study this past Sunday. WHile discussing Mark 1, where Christ commanded the unclean spirits to leave the man and they immediately did. I asked the question, "Why does Satan and his legions obey better than believers? In every account in scripture it is the same result. Christ speaks, they immediately recognize who HE is, and obey. Man hears Him, sees His general revelation, yet does not fear Him or obey Him.

What ye think of this?
Kingdoms, whether secular or divine, have Lords. The LORD of this (and every Kingdom) is Christ (Acts 10:36; i.e. King of kings and LORD of Lords). Christ's Kingdom defeated the kingdom of Satan ........ Christ is LORD--He rules ......

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Colossians 1:16-18 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;

17 and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Ephesians 1:20-22 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,

Colossians 2:10 and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:
It is not that the spirits may obey—they must obey! It is not that demons obey better for they obey against what they would rather do.. to ravage the elect and the creation ..... Demons obey because they have been defeated (as a prisoner obeys his captors) ....., not because they obey better. Remember Jesus said that His Kingdom has come (the now, but not yet)--it is a conquering kingdom (Matt 4:17, 10:7, 16:19; Mark 9:1; Luke 4:37-44, 9:27; Acts 1:3, 19:8, 1 Cor 4:20, etc).

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Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 3:22 who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Unlike demons, God empowers those that are His to obey from a changed heart and not merely because they have been conquered by Him. There is a difference between a bond-servant (Exodus 21:1-6; Deuteronomy 15:12-17; Romans 1:1, etc.) and a mere reprobate slave (prisoner). Occasionally, we disobey, God chastens, hopefully we learn (or we are chastened again ...) and change is made in a willing heart (made willing by God's glorious grace). Christians grow through their disobedience, demons are eternally condemned for theirs.

Reformed and Always Reforming,