Weapons of Spiritual Warfare - Believer's Authority
By Pastor John
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are given authority.
Matthew 10:1
1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
As a pastor, I have seen the authority that believers have to drive out evil spirits. One woman in my congregation was under demonic oppression. A demon made her fearful, and forced upon her unwanted thoughts and actions. Our elders prayed for her and against the demon, rebuking it in the name of Jesus Christ. After a couple of hours of intense prayer, all of a sudden we all felt the oppression lift. The demon had been cast out, and the difference was like night and day.
In Christ, we are given authority to bind and to loose
Matthew 16:18-19
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
A friend of mine became disgusted by the wicked influence that three nightclubs were having outside a Marine base in her hometown. She began to pray and ask God to close them down. Whenever she drove past them, she would bind them up in the name of Jesus Christ. After several months of spiritual warfare, she was stunned one evening when the evening newscast reported that all three nightclubs had shut down - on the same day!
We have authority because we are in Christ, and He has all authority.
Ephesians 2:4-6
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
Colossians 2:9-10
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Our focus is to be upon Christ, and what He did for us.
Luke 10:17-20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Weapons of Spiritual Warfare Series
Weapons of Spiritual Warfare - Believer's Authority
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