AUTHORITY
01st Nov 2023
Ephesians 1:17-23 records what Paul is praying for the new believers in Christ. He prays that “their eyes would be opened” and they would see what God has done for them and given to them, and that seeing and understanding would lead to “his incomparable great power for us who believe.”
I pray for myself that the eyes of my heart would be opened, that I would see and know Jesus better, and that the revelation of what I have been given would lead to a release of power that would be effective in every area of life.
We need to know what we have been given and act using this knowledge, otherwise we are hearers and not doers. We need our spiritual eyes to be opened to all that has been promised to us - then, as we act on what we have been given, God releases His power to achieve what has been promised.
Jesus knew he had authority over satan and all his works. When he used that authority devils fled and people were released from sickness and disease; circumstances changed, winds and storms ceased. People were amazed and asked, “Where did He get this authority?”
Jesus has given this authority to you and me and expects us to use it in all sorts of situations. If you have not known this or ‘seen it’, or have failed to act upon this knowledge - it is ineffective for you.
I observe so many things that believers are accepting, but which I see as unnecessary harassment of the enemy, and know that if they rebuke him, using their God-given authority, he would flee! Knowing the truth and using it brings increasing freedom.
Jesus simply declared God’s written word to satan in the wilderness, and he left Him; satan had to. Jesus said to His disciples, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the works of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)
Pray that you, as a disciple of Jesus, will understand and use what is yours, and experience greater and greater freedom.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
