Mensa Otabil - Authority Over the Power of the Enemy
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Welcome to day number 11 of our 40 days of power. As we wait on the Lord, we become stronger spiritually; we mount up wings like eagles. This week, we are talking about taking authority, so everything we discuss this week is about the Christian’s authority in spiritual warfare.
Luke chapter 10, verses 18 and 19: «And He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.'»
Jesus Christ sent His disciples, 70 of them, to evangelize and to prepare the way for the cities He was about to visit. The disciples went out, fulfilled the mission, and returned very excited, bringing amazing news of what God had done through them because they saw the power of God. They witnessed people healed and spirits cast out, and they were thrilled about what had happened. Jesus responded to their joy with a spiritual perspective, saying to them that the reason they were joyful was because He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. In other words, Jesus was saying that before they went out, He had already dispatched the enemy; He had already defeated the enemy.
We must understand that the victory of the Christian is based on the victory of Christ. Because Christ has dispatched the enemy, principalities and powers have been destroyed by Him. Jesus has overpowered Satan; that is why we overcome. If He doesn’t give us the victory, we have no victory on our own. Jesus says, «This is the perspective: I saw Satan fall like lightning.» Listen to me, friend: we are engaged in warfare, not from defeat to victory, but from victory to victory. Jesus gave us the victory first, and now we enforce that victory; we move from victory to victory. Then Jesus says to the disciples, «Not only have you seen what has happened, but you know that Satan is a very relentless foe. When he loses one battle, he comes again, and he will come against you.»
So He says, «I give you authority over all the power of the wicked one, and you shall trample upon serpents and scorpions.» This is a figure of speech referring to anything that wants to bite, attack, pierce, or harm you. Instead of them harming you, you will trample upon them-not trample upon them and leave them alive, but trample upon them and destroy them. Jesus is saying the enemy will try to attack you; the enemy will try to come against you, but you are going to walk over it, trample over it, and ride over it. Then He says, «When you trample over all those enemy forces, nothing shall by any means hurt you.»
The Christian has formidable power and formidable protection in Christ Jesus. He is our protector, our deliverer, our power, and our authority. He says to the disciples, «The reason you saw the miracles happen in your life and were able to cast out Satan is because I had dealt with him. I had dispatched him, and I give you power-not your own power, not in your own strength, not from your arrogance. I give you power over all the power of the enemy.»
Listen to me: the power of the Christian is always Christ-centered. He is the source of our power; He is the source of our victory. We live in Him, we move in Him, we breathe in Him, and we operate in Him. Once you call on Jesus Christ and make Him the bedrock, the foundation of every spiritual warfare, you will move from victory to victory-the victory He has won for you and the victory you will win in every battle that comes against you. Nothing shall by any means hurt you; that is a great promise from our Savior, and we must hold on to it.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You have given me power over evil spirits; I trample all over their works in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom-peace and life to you.