Visualize a traffic control policeman, as he stands in the street; every motorist has to respect his authority. Even the strongest man driving an eighteen wheeler has to STOP when he is commanded to do so. What happens if someone thinks they are in a hurry and decide to run over the policeman? There are a number of problems with that; the policeman does not stand there depending on his own power and authority. There are structures and institutions that are designed as back up to this man’s authority, however tiny or huge, whatever his colour or gender. If you do not respect the authority that person represents, you are in serious trouble. Behind that single policeman, there is the whole police force, the army of the country, the cabinet, the president, the courts, the air force and many other structures that are in place.
This is the same with the authority that Christ gave to us as believers. We have been given POWER to tread on scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy, nothing by shall any means hurt or harm us. The above scripture allows us to take hold of our destiny and know the rights that have been given to us. All this power is within us, surprising many believers go through life without a single clue of this power. They faint at a single blow from the enemy and do not take authority over the situation.
The above reference has some absolutes that are mentioned in it:
i) Over all the power of the enemy
ii) Nothing shall by any means hurt you.
The above points us to the fact that whatever strategy the enemy tries to use, it can be foiled by the power that we have received. From time immemorial, the enemy has been employing different strategies like bringing sickness and disease, discouraging us, attacking us with worry, attacking our businesses and even directly attacking us through other people. Before the knowledge of this truth, it is easy for the enemy to ride on our ignorance of this inheritance of authority the Lord Jesus gave us. He will throw everything on us and we will take it as if it was due to us. The above absolutes however do not leave any room for some of the enemy’s power to hinder us or hurt us. Nothing is permitted and nothing should be allowed room to even harm us.
Child of God, you can begin to exercise this power. The enemy knows that if he tries to oppose that authority, you are backed by all the angels of heaven, the Lord Jesus Himself and God the Father. The word of God is alive and powerful and you can begin right now to speak it into your situation. You have to exercise that authority over your sickness, your job and your destiny. That situation that you are facing that appears insurmountable can be subdued by that authority. Take charge of that situation and remind it of your inheritance in the Lord Jesus. Before the above verse, the disciples had witnessed that authority at work; demons were subject to them in the name of Jesus. There is power in that name saints, when it is mentioned every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord (Phil 2:11).
Take authority over your overwhelming situations and over all the power of the enemy today. With this knowledge, begin to address every strategy that the enemy has been using to get to you and your loved ones.
(From the Shepherd’s Desk Devotional by Charles P. Magaiza)
