A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (January 16, 2017)
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)
Jesus said the least member of the Body of Christ has just as much power over the devil as anyone else; and when we start believing that, that’s when we’re going to get the job done. Jesus continued, “I’ve done all I’m going to do about the devil until the angel comes down from Heaven, takes the chain and binds him, and puts him into the bottomless pit” [Revelation 20:1-3]. That came as a real shock to me.”
Now,” He said, “I’ll give you the four references that prove that. First of all, when I arose from the dead, I said, ‘All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ (Matthew 28:18). The word ‘power’ means ‘authority.’ But I immediately delegated my authority on earth to the Church, and I can work only through the Church, for I am the Head of the Church.” (Your head cannot exercise any authority anywhere except through your body.)
The second reference Jesus gave me was Mark 16:15-18, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
He said, “The very first sign mentioned as following any believer—not any Pastor or any Evangelist—is that they (the believer) shall cast out devils. That means that in my Name they shall exercise authority over the devil, because I have delegated my authority over the devil to the Church.”
Remember, Colossians 1:13 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son….” (One translation says, “the Father hath delivered us from the power of darkness.”) Again that’s the Greek word ‘power’ here for ‘authority.’ The verse should read, “The Father hath delivered us from the authority of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” God has already delivered us from the authority of darkness! Therefore, we’ve got a right to speak to darkness—that is, Satan and his kingdom—and tell them what to do!
Believers have authority over the devil. They can break the power of the devil if he raises his head anywhere in their own life or the lives of their immediate family or loved ones.
The next reference Jesus gave me was James 4:7 which says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (The understood subject of this sentence is “you”.) The believer has to have authority over the devil, or the Bible wouldn’t tell him to do something about the devil. This Scripture doesn’t say that the devil will flee from Jesus; it says he’ll flee from you! Similarly, you don’t pray that Jesus will lay hands on the sick; you do it.
Notice, too, that the hands are not in the Head; the hands are in the Body: “They … shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” When you lay hands on the sick, you are exercising authority over the devil. That authority is yours whether you feel like you’ve got it or not. Your authority has nothing to do with feelings but you must exercise it.
Stay Tuned for Part III (Conclusion)
