Focus: The Believer's Authority Over Satan

Text: Lk.10:19

"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."

Christianity is a religion of supernatural power and the gospel we are called to preach is the power of God unto salvation.

The authority of the believer in Christ begins with the new birth. John says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he POWER to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (Jh.1:12). The word 'power' is 'exousia' in the Greek, and it speaks of authority. This divine authority is inherent in his new nature. Through spiritual rebirth we become partakers of the divine nature of God, and Peter tells us that "his DIVINE POWER hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2Pet.1:3,4). A child of God has in him the authority of God. The nature of God in us entitles us to exercise God's authority. We have inalienable spiritual rights in Christ. We possess divine authority as a result of our spiritual rebirth.

Also, through the Holy Spirit the believer becomes a person of power. Jesus says, "But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…" (Act.1:8). The Spirit empowers us for kingdom service and for world evangelism. He gives the believer power to bear witness for Christ. The word 'power' is 'dunamis' in Greek, and it speaks of ability - the ability of the Spirit. So in Christ the believer receives authority, and by the Holy Spirit indwelling him, he is gifted with ability.

The first 'power' in our text is exousia, and the second 'power' is 'dunamis.' Exousia is authority, and dunamis is ability. God has given the believer 'exousia' over all the 'dunamis' of the enemy. The believer has authority and ability, but Satan has only ability. Satan only exercises exousia over his own subjects, those who buy into his lies and deceit. Demons are subject to him. They follow his orders. They work with and for him. But never forget that every power Satan possesses comes from God, although he uses them negatively and selfishly for destructive purposes. 

God is always in control of Satan's moves and maneuverings. God is always ahead of the devil in everything. Regardless of Satan's independent actions and operations, God ensures that His supreme will is done ultimately.

Interestingly, God has given the believer authority over the devil. He calls His disciples together, and "gave them POWER and AUTHORITY OVER ALL DEVILS, and to CURE DISEASES" (Lk.9:1). The believer is given both exousia and dunamis, that is, authority and ability. The authority is for dealing with the devils and the ability is for the cures. In verse 6, we read, "And they DEPARTED, and WENT through the towns, PREACHING the gospel, and HEALING EVERY WHERE." This power works when the believer goes to where the needs are, and when he goes forth in obedience to Christ's command. You don't sit tight in a place and expect the power to work. It is power to serve and meet needs, not power to gratify one's self or selfish desires.

Matthew says, "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them POWER against unclean spirits, TO CAST them out, and TO HEAL ALL MANNER of sickness and ALL MANNER of disease" (Mt.10:1). The word for 'power' here is 'exousia,' not 'dunamis.' It is the authority to cast out devils. To cast out means to throw out, to force out, to eject, to kick out, and to expel. It means that the devil has no right to be where he is. He made and owns absolutely nothing. He owns not a place, not a person, and certainly not a thing. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

Jesus tells His disciples, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall THEY CAST OUT DEVILS; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mk.16:17-18). That is the authority of the believer. As soon as Christ was airlifted to the sky, we read, "And they WENT FORTH, and preached every where, THE LORD WORKING with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with signs following. Amen" (Mk.16:20). Signs follow believers. The Lord works with believers. The Lord confirms the word. The believer's hands work miracles.

The 70 disciples of Christ returned with joy from their mission, and said to Him, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are SUBJECT unto us THROUGH THY NAME" (Lk.10:17). In verse 20 of the same chapter, Jesus calls the devils 'spirits.' The same verse makes it clear that those who subjugate the demons are those whose names are already written in heaven. Their names are in God's register as His very own. That means to root out the devil, one must be rooted in Christ and recognized in heaven. To subject means that the demons were subdued and conquered. A believer has God's authority to make evil spirits fall in ranks under God and to obey His orders.

John says to Christ, "Master, we saw one CASTING OUT DEVILS IN THY NAME; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us" (Lk.9:49). That is part of the believer's job description: to cast out devils. And I am talking about the believer in Christ, not necessarily the believer in your group or church.

Another authority of the believer is found in John 20:23, and it says, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (Jh.20:23). When the believer calls on God for the forgiveness of a repentant sinner, God hearkens. Moses prayed for God to forgive His people, and God obliged him. Moses said, "For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD HEARKENED unto ME at that time also" (Dt.9:19). In Dt.10:10, Moses said, "And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD HEARKENED unto ME at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee." Jesus says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (Jh.14:13).

The believer's authority is expressed and manifested by the blood of Christ and the word of God. John says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…" (Rev.12:11).

The believer is assured of the ability of God's word, the authority of Christ's name, the efficacy of Jesus' blood, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The believer needs to constantly submit to God to be able to resist the devil. James says, "SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will FLEE from you" (Jam.4:7). The supernatural result the believer gets depends on how well he submits to God. Peter warns, "Be SOBER, BE VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH…" (1Pet.5:8,9). By being sober and vigilant the believer is able not only to resist, but also to keep insisting and persisting in faith until the devil is out of the way.

Paul charges believers to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to STAND AGAINST the wiles of the devil" (Eph.6:11). The believer has complete armor provided by God for victory and protection in warfare. The believer must take his firm stance against all the strategies of the enemy. Paul continues, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND" (Eph.6:13). Do all in your power to stand in your place and withstand the devil. You must never yield an inch of ground to Satan. Paul says further, "STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness…" (Eph.6:14).

Stand armed to the teeth. Stand in your armor. Stand and withstand. Paul is still talking, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS of the wicked" (Eph.6:16). The believer has the ability to neutralize the forces of evil and extinguish the fires of hell, and he warms, "Neither give place to the devil" (Eph.4:27). Never let the devil gain as much as a foothold in your God-given and Christ-purchased territory. Give Satan no chance or space to function.

In yet another place, Paul says, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the PULLING DOWN of strong holds;)" (2Cor.10:4). Use the divine weapons to pull down the strongholds of Satan, for as Isaiah has said, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt CONDEMN. This is the HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD" (Isa.54:17). It is part of your privilege and heritage to condemn the enemy in everything that he does. The Lord Jesus says, "For verily say unto you, That WHOSOEVER shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH" (Mk.11:23). The believer has authority to demand and command things, and also to condemn all declarations from the pit of hell.

Child of God, you have authority and ability! Yield yourself to God for their exercise. Let the Holy Spirit influence your steps and stops, and use you to manifest the divine power of the gospel and advance the frontiers of Christ's kingdom.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter