Authority

I want to give you a definition to hold onto as we unfold a very powerful truth from the Word of God! 

The word is AUTHORITY. It is best defined as – the POWER or RIGHT to give orders. A person or organization having POWER or CONTROL in a particular sphere.  We often think of police officers, fire chiefs, government officials, judges, as having full power and authority in their given spheres.  Bringing that home into our own world… What does that mean? Well, generally speaking it means that that person is in charge! That person calls the shots in their “sphere” of influence… regardless of how anybody else feels about it! Now, let’s go to the word of God and see what God says about the word authority. First, let’s just set the foundation. We know that there are angels all around us, the Bible teaches us that. With that said, we should also know that there are demons all around us, the bible teaches us that as well! The demons are just as real as the angels, but most people don’t like to hear teachings in regards to the devil and demons. In Luke chapter 10 verse 19 Jesus is speaking to his disciples and says this,”Behold I have given you authority and power to trample on serpents and scorpions (and physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power the enemy possesses and nothing in any way shall harm you.” Jesus tells US that we have been given authority and power! The devil has power, but NO AUTHORITY in our lives!! Here’s the key…… the only authority that the devil has in our lives is the authority that we allow him to have!! Yes he comes in and creates havoc in peoples lives, no doubt about that. But the Bible also tells us “No weapon formed against us will prosper!!(Isaiah 54:17)  Even though he comes in, even though he attacks, even though he comes at us from all different ways and avenues in our lives he does not have authority… We have the authority! We are the children of the Most High God. Authority has been given to us to trample on serpents and scorpions which, in the Bible, serpents and scorpions are symbolic of the devil and his cohorts!!  Remember what our definition tells us …..we have the power and the right to give orders! WE have control in our sphere of influence!!! The enemy of our soul is very real just like the angels are! The Bible teaches us about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. There is a reason for this…. don’t just casually skip over this truth! God has fully equipped us from the top of our head to the soles of our feet to defeat the wiles and schemes of the devil! It is not merely imagery that is being described here, it is, in fact, battle armor in the spirit that we’ve been given! If you remember in Ephesians 6:12 The Bible tells us “For 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 heavenly places.” As the passage continues in verse 13 it says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God… Therefore assumes an understanding of what we’re up against! Darkness is real, the devil is real, all his fallen angels (demons/cohorts) are real… But God has given us authority over them! The last thing you want to be is a “sitting duck”!!! So let’s take out our sword, the Word of God, and start using the word to defeat the enemy and take authority over him!!!  Yes, Jesus intended you to take authority over the works of the enemy!!! So get busy!!!

Here’s a few scriptures for you to take hold of!!! 

James 4:7 “Submit to God, RESIST the devil and he shall flee from you” 

Luke 9:1 “Jesus called together all the apostles and gave them power and authority over all demons….” 

Luke 10:17 “The 70 returned With joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.”