Authority Belongs to You

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 (KJV)

The word power in this verse refers to authority over the enemy and is a picture of an advancing army. The body of Christ is now the advancing army, taking enemy territory in every place our feet tread. Jesus said this to His followers before the cross. Imagine the authority now available AFTER the cross.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15 (KJV)

Spoiled means disarmed or stripped. He made a show of them, publicly defeating them and shaming them. Triumphing speaks of a general triumphing over his enemies and parading them in defeat for all to see. This is what Jesus did to our enemies. He showed how defeated satan and his demons really are.

After the cross, the enemy has NO AUTHORITY to hurt us. he can’t hurt us if we don’t let him. Don’t give him any place, give him no opportunity or access to your life. Since the devil now has no authority, he can’t do anything to us- unless we let him. So don’t let him!

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 (New International Version, NIV)

Christ has disarmed the enemy. The devil cannot hold us captive any longer. So, use your Christ-given authority and tread on him, keeping him where he belongs: under your feet! Jesus took the authority away from satan so we now have the upper hand over him. He is the tail and we are the head (Deuteronomy 28:13). Jesus rendered the devil powerless against us.

We share Jesus’ triumph over the enemy (II Corinthians 2:14). Jesus now exepcts us to enforce the victory He won (I Corinthians 15:57) by using the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17-18), speaking His Word (Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:17), and proclaiming Christ’s blood (Revelation 12:11).

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, the devil has NO AUTHORITY over the believer in Christ. Jesus gave us authority over him. So use the authority that you have!