Every Believer (someone who put their trust in and surrendered to Jesus) has authority.

Many of us know how to "do" church, but when the devil shows up in our everyday lives, we don't know what to do. Have you ever felt stuck in a situation where you felt attacked by the enemy?

John 10:10 tells us to expect the enemy to target your life. The enemy doesn't want you to have victory in your relationships, at work, or in any place. 

1. Authority belongs to Jesus Christ alone. 

However, Romans 8:31-38 reminds us that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We are "more than" in Christ Jesus, because the power and authority belongs to Jesus.  Matthew 28:18-20 tells us that all authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:5 says he will never leave us or forsake us.

2. You must be a believer to have this authority.

These promises are ONLY for believers in Jesus Christ. Believers are people who live what they say they believe about Jesus Christ inside and outside of church. (Read Romans 10:8-9) If your love for Jesus inside the church doesn't match your love for Jesus outside of church, then how do you know you're a true believer?

  • Revelation 2:5 warns about this behavior - calling yourself a Christian on Sundays and acting any way you want throughout your life (work, relationships, finances, etc)
  • Romans 3:23 warns against the behavior of "righteous" people who think they earned heaven. We can't clean ourselves up to get right with God. God cleans us up through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Both types of people live for themselves as if the cross doesn't matter. Do you live like the work of Jesus on the cross doesn't matter?

So how is one saved? Romans 10:8-9 says a Christian is one who believes in their heart and confesses with our mouth that Jesus is Lord.

3. Jesus gives you, the Christian, authority.

Luke 10:19 says Jesus gives us power to tread on the enemy. Numbers 23:19 says the God is not a liar, so if He said He will give you the authority to tread over your enemies, that is what He will do. In John 8:32, Jesus says if you abide in His word, you are his true disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Galatians 5:1 tells us that Christ made us free so that we can live in that freedom. 

Are you abiding in the word of God to know the truth He says about you so that you can use those gifts appropriately?

Mark 3:14-15 says ''And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: ' Power and authority was given to believers to preach, to rid sickness, and to cast out demons.

Matthew 12:43-45 warns against a generation that thinks it is clean. Just because you call yourself a Christian doesn't mean you are - you are only clean by the initiative and sustaining power of God.