Authority

All believers know they have authority in G-d's name. But do we know it intellectually or viscerally? When was the last time we made a stand and said to the enemy, "You cannot have me"?

I have been struggling with an area of sin lately. Though I fight it, sometimes I just feel like sitting down and crying.

Today I said to the L-rd, "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. Please, please save me from myself."

Get up.

"What?" I said.

Get up. Stand on your feet and denounce it. You have all authority in my Son. Get up.

I did what He said—stood up physically and took a stand spiritually. Told the enemy off, in other words. I didn't feel like a weight had been magically lifted off my shoulders afterward. I did feel more confident.

Mike preached on authority last Sunday. He talked about a lot about how we need to be more proactive in warring against sin, especially in dealing with spiritual factors. He said, "When we use our authority, we remove the added pressure that demons bring to our problems, making it much easier to solve physiological, psychological, and sociological problems." Personally, I don't see demons around every corner. I'm about as sensitive as a brick when it comes to those things. I wouldn't be able to spot a possession/influence case unless the affected person started speaking in unearthly voices or projectile vomited right on me (...ew). I tend to wonder about physical and social causes of addictions, crimes, etc., more readily than I do spiritual causes. But I know that spiritual influences (from both sides) are real, if often more subtle than we realize. Exercising our authority helps deal with the other factors in areas of sin. I think it also strengthens our identity and makes it harder for the enemy to attack us in that area after we keep fighting back.

Mike added, "We are not to think that exercising our authority against Satan attack will automatically cancel out the wrong life choices that we make (physiological, psychological, sociological areas)." Once we grab ahold of the authority He's given us, we have a responsibility to live under the law of grace (Romans 6:14–15) and in our identity as the redeemed. I think that means running from temptation and asserting our authority often.

The enemy comes to the throne in heaven to accuse us day and night (Revelation 12:10). That's his form of intercession. We have a free pass to stand before that same throne to intercede for ourselves as well. But He has already given us everything we need to fight: the Name, the blood, the law of grace, the living Spirit of G-d Himself.

Demons do howl in the darkness. We don't need to listen.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome [the enemy], because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)

Read Mike's notes.