Word of the Week - Authority

"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” Luke 10:19

As followers of Christ, we have divine Authority over the enemy of our soul whose primary goal is to “steal, kill and destroy” John 10:10.  Our enemy is not an imaginary, mythical character, but a spirit being whose objective is to keep us away from God’s plan and purpose for our lives.  He uses all types of tactics including temptation, confusion, lies, pain, relational strife, fear, anxiety and much, much more to keep us from God’s best.  The good news is that through the cross and by the blood of Jesus, we have been given Authority over the enemy, but we must expose the enemy and exercise our Authority if we are to overcome.  God has provided everything we need to walk in victory over the enemy and his schemes.  2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind”.

Satan is our enemy and he knows our weaknesses.  He is watching for opportunities to catch us off guard so he can slip into our lives and create havoc.  He is the great deceiver and desires for us to put blame elsewhere opposed to seeing the truth, he loves confusion.  As a subtle manipulator of circumstances, the enemy works to deceive us by blaming events, people or even God for the destructive things he does.  Make no mistake about it; your spouse, parents, children, pastor, employer, friends, foes, God – none of these are the real enemy.  “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12.  Satan is the real enemy.

As followers of Christ, we should be aware and on guard but not intimidated, because we have been given the Authority to overcome!  That being said, we must exercise our Authority to win the battle.  By recognizing and exposing the attacks, resisting the enemy, taking an offensive posture by praying scripture and standing firm in faith, we have victory over the enemy and his schemes.  God has given us all the Authority we need to defeat the enemy and his works.  We have spiritual armor but we must have the discipline to put it on daily.  “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” Ephesians 6:10-13.  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all of the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:14-17

Our ultimate Authority is the name of Jesus!  “Therefore, God also as highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” Philippians 2:9-10.  When we use Jesus’ name, the enemy’s strongholds cannot stand, they must flee!!!!

So lets expose the enemy and use our Authority to fight for victory over the enemy in the name of Jesus!!!!

Have a great week…

-Duane