Want some authority over the enemy? You already have it!

Hi friends! So I have been reading and actually praying quite a bit lately on the subject of authority in terms of the authority given to us by God, and I would love to share some awesome insights with you. Because believe it or not, you were created with a nature to rule, govern and exercise your authority!

The words authority and power actually have completely different meanings; power is the 'force or strength' needed to rule, authority is the 'right' to do so. However they must operate together, because authority without the power to enforce it is meaningless. Where God and Satan are concerned, the issue has never been power (control over the earth)- for God is all powerful. It has always and only has been a question of authority. The same is true with us and our struggle against the kingdom of darkness. Get this! Satan didn't gain any power at the fall of man and he didn't lose any power at the cross, his power didn't change at either event. His authority or the right to USE that power, did. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that Christ delivered us from Satan's power at Calvary, He dealt with Satan's authority. He has delivered us from the authority of darkness, not only over our personal lives but the lives and world around us!

The Greek words dunamis (power) and exousia (authority) can sometimes be used interchangeably, but as we just discussed there is a big difference between the two. In Matthew 28:18, for example, Jesus didn't say He'd been given "all power"-He already had that. Christ used exousia: He was stating that He had taken back the authority for us that Adam had lost! He took it back! You see if Jesus would have dealt with Satan's power then he would no longer be able to effect or control us. But because Jesus dealt with Satan's authority-the right to use that power- we must deal with him as a thief who has no RIGHT to steal, kill and destroy...but will if not stopped. The only way the enemy can use his power is if we let him and don't excercise the authority won back for us, over him. We need to declare God's victory instead, and to do this we need to understand and excercise our authority. This is huge guys! God in the "beginning" gave man the authority to rule over the earth, but when man sinned he gave his authority over to the enemy. Not God's authority, but his authority. And so, because he loved us so much, it took God coming to earth, living as a man, dying as a man and being resurrected to win back the authority Adam had lost for mankind, once and for all. And because He was perfect, it could never be lost again.

So what does this mean for you and I? It means that we are no longer under bondage, we are set free from the death of our sin and the authority of darkness. "The author had a plan for you before you took your first breath, and no other being, human or otherwise, has the authority to steal it from you. So even if you've made some bad decisions that have set you back (and trust me I understand those), or others have done things that seem like they could rob you of your destiny, God already has a plan to remedy the situation and get you back on His course". Once you submit yourself to God's authority, He will delegate His authority to you. So let's get going on telling the enemy whats up, let's get going with the destiny God has for us. Let's do this together, lets ask God to show us the authority He has won for us and teach us how to use it. I am so excited for the many journeys God has ahead.

L.