Thursday April 25th, 2024
« Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you »
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [a]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
It is one thing to know that you have authority and another to exercise it.
In the Bible of today, we see Paul exercising spiritual authority over an agent of the devil.
Had he not known his authority in Christ, this sorcerer would have frustrated his preaching.
God is not pleased when His children refuse to exercise the authority, He has given them.
We see this in Exodus 14:15-16, when God said to Moses
« ….. “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea »
Moses used the authority he had and that put an end to the bondage of the children of Israel.
The truth however is that you cannot exercise the spiritual authority you do not possess.
If you attempt to, you would end up spiritually wounded like the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:14-16.
How can you enjoy this spiritual authority?
- First, you must establish a relationship with the One who has the highest spiritual authority – Jesus Christ.
« and He chose twelve, whom He named apostles. “I have chosen you to be with Me,” He told them. “I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons »
- Secondly, you must play by the rules.
An adage says nothing good goes for nothing.
Once, the disciples wondered why they could not exercise spiritual authority.
Jesus told them that they had to first give themselves to prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).
- Thirdly, identify and believe genuine ministers on whom God has deposited His authority and obey the word of God that comes through them.
You too would then begin to enjoy spiritual authority according to 2 Chronicles 20:20.
A simple “God bless you” from a man with spiritual authority can open the door to tremendous blessings in your life.
This is why I wonder why people still ask me to pray for them after I have authoritatively pronounced “God bless you” on them.
I say to you today: God bless you.
Application -You will begin to exercise spiritual authority when you establish a relationship with God, study His word and have faith in Him.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it.
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