Understand Your God-Given Authority
Many people believe that authority over the devil belongs to a chosen few whom God gave special power. There is no scripture to support that theory. This is what the enemy wants you to believe so that you do not exercise the power and authority given to you when Christ died on the cross.
Satan does not want us to discover what belongs to us and as long as he can obscure that truth, he wins. He is fully aware that he can no longer oppress God’s people when they discover the authority that is theirs in Christ Jesus.
But it goes deeper. Understanding your position, voicing that through words or song, does not necessarily mean that you are appropriating this authority. It needs to be more than lip service.
The Truth Will Set You Free
I have often heard people proclaim they are victorious through Christ but when the crunch comes, they crumble. They do not have a clear understanding of who they are in Christ.
Consequently, many Christians live in defeat and discouragement. They may say, “But I prayed and prayed and nothing changed.” Or, “I believed God would step in and help, but it didn’t happen.”
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32. The devil knows that WHEN the child of God starts practicing the truth of the Word, he will be dominated by the Christian…instead of the other way around! He does not want you to know that so he lies to you.
What Is Authority
The original Greek translation for the word ‘authority’ is ‘privilege’, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, delegated influence. Wow! Do you see that?
You have the capacity. You have the competency. You have the force. And most importantly, you have the DELEGATED INFLUENCE given to you by God to exercise all power over the enemy.
Authority over Satan is delegated power from God
Stop asking God to do something about Satan. God already has done everything He said He would do – He passed that authority and power to you, a believer.
Picture a policeman directing traffic at a busy intersection. When he raises his hand, you know it means to stop. When he motions you forward, you move. Then imagine a little kid playing in the street and doing the same thing. What would happen? Someone would get out of their car and stop him. The child has no right or authority to be there.
Remember that authority is DELEGATED POWER and its value depends upon the force behind the user.
Now read that out loud again. “I have delegated power over the enemy in any part of my life because God is my source for that authority.”Nothing Shall Hurt Us
Luke 10:19 tells us that we have the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt us. We need to get that truth into our spirit that will rise up… if and when we feel threatened.
On this blog, I share the story of the mountain lion attacking my husband on our deck. Instead of retreating, my husband moved toward that 300-pound lion and told him to go. That cat turned and ran as his tail brushed my husband’s face. He knew the authority behind the words. And my husband knew it as well.When we are thoroughly conscious of the divine power behind us, we can face the enemy without fear or hesitancy, and he is compelled to recognize that authority. Behind our authority is a power greater than any enemy.
We have the right to break the power of the enemy over our loved ones, over our finances, over our anxiety, over our illness for every name is under the name of Jesus. The secret is WE have to do it. We cannot expect God to do what He has told us to do in His name.
Our God-Given Authority
Ephesians 4:27 says not to give place to the devil. The Greek translation of the word ‘place’ is a spot or a foothold. If we choose to believe the lies the enemy tells us, we are giving him grounds for doubt and fear. We are permitting him to continue to lie to us. When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave the church the authority. It was transmitted to us.
When we constantly are giving credit to Satan for what he is trying to do to us, we lose. Look at these two statements and decide which one exerts your God-given rights.
“Please pray for me. The devil has been after me all week and I am weak from the battle.”
Or……instead of asking for prayer make it a statement of praise and thanksgiving. “Thank you, heavenly Father, that I have all power over the works of the enemy. I take that authority and know that I walk in your favor. I know that no matter what tries to attack me, I will win because of what You have done for me. I choose to walk in victory. And I thank you for Your Word, Your blood that was shed, and Your Name that is above any other name.”
When we see what belongs to us, then we will enjoy the victory He has for us. Maintain a stubborn faith.
If God’s Word does not work, then God is a liar. We know that we know that God cannot lie. His Word is true. It is YES and AMEN. Done. Complete.
Conditions Exist Because We Allow Them
The enemy bitterly resists your entrance into his domain because he is exercising the authority of the powers of the air and wants to continue to do that. He resents interference. He will concentrate his forces against you in intensive warfare.
BUT…..when he realizes that you have a stubborn faith and an understanding of who you are in Christ, he is whipped.
Ephesians 6 points out the armor we have been given – please note there is nothing that protects our back. God did not mean for us to retrieve – but to move forward in attack.
Exercise your authority. Conditions exist because we allow them.
God promises us in Isaiah 54:17 that no weapon that is formed against us can prosper. We live in a world where there are weapons against us – but they cannot hurt or defeat us.