LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH Ministries - Bible Studies by Janice Sullivan

You Have All Authority Over The Enemy

Matthew 10
7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give

Luke 10
19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 7
22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached

Jesus sends us forth into the world and gives us authority over all the works of the enemy. Because most Christians are not displaying God's power today, many turn to the occult, the powers of darkness. Within us all there is a desire for the supernatural. So since they are not finding it in the churches today, they are drawn to such things.

Many Christians think everything that happens, even tragedies, are from God. The devil runs over them and they think God is doing it. Not my God! He is good!

James 1(NIV)^*
17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 145
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

Acts 10
38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

John 10(NKJV)^**
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

It was Jesus Himself who said this and we must believe Jesus and what God's Word says over denominational doctrine or what people say. Everything we do is based on faith in what He tells us in His Word. Without it we do not have the God kind of faith to accomplish anything.

Mark 4
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

He had been teaching his disciples about how to use their authority but they just wanted Him to do it instead, and not do it themselves. Christians are like that today. Although Jesus gave us this kind of authority most don't exercise it.

Jesus stopped the storm and He would not stop anything His Father was doing, for He only does what he sees His father do. This was send to destroy them, but instead Jesus destroyed the work of the devil.

1 John 3
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

According to 2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan is the god of this world and he tries to control circumstances. To think everything is of God is a man made tradition, religious thinking, and not the Word of God. Jesus told the religious leader of his day that they were just teaching their own doctrines and saying it was Gods doctrines, "laying aside the commandment of God" and holding "to the tradition of men". He is telling us, when we do this we are "making the word of God of none effect " in our life through our tradition (Mark 7:7-8,13). Because of man made doctrine and unbelief, many of the churches are just a "form of religion" and void of the power of God.

Mark 1
23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Matthew 8
16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick

If it was true that everything is from God, why did Jesus heal the sick and cast out devils? Why did He raise the dead and calm the storm?. Evidently everything that comes our way is not God. To think so is why Christians do not take authority over demonic activities.

In other countries around the world the power and gifts of God are demonstrated. But it seems those in America have been sold a bill of goods that this power is not for us today or they have grown so cold they have no power. Our churches are not doing as God has commanded us. He wants to demonstrate His power through us to a world that is so much in need.

1 Corinthians 2
4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

John 14
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Mark 16(NKJV)^**
15bGo into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen

Notice He said "confirming the Word". If signs are not following us, then maybe we are not preaching the gospel. Are we preaching, not only salvation, but also healing, deliverance and the miracle working power of God? The reason for signs and wonders to follow us, are to confirm that the Word we preached was true. Otherwise there is nothing to confirm.

Matthew 28
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Luke 9
5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

By the authority Jesus has given us we triumph over the enemy!

Revelation 12
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

By Janice Sullivan
Submitted December 2, 2007
Used by permission

All scripture references taken from The Holy Bible King James Version unless otherwise noted.

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