I’m writing my newsletter a few hours early to relate to you what just happened to me a few minutes ago. I had just finished ministering to a friend a short while ago about our authority that Christ Jesus gave all His followers, and we got into a fairly deep discussion about it. I was at an RV park with a friend, and was walking back to my place on a road, facing oncoming traffic. A vehicle approached with bright lights on, and I stepped off the road, fell face-long hard, on my right hand, bending all my fingers back, then that fist was smashed against one of my ribs, and skinned up a knee and hit my head. So, I thought I’d type while I still can, as my hand is swelling up. It wasn’t clumsiness, it was an attack of the enemy, and I know why.


You see, if you aren’t any threat to the devil, he will pretty much leave you alone. But if you’re preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then you’re a target. And if you’re telling people how to defeat the enemy in your life, then he doesn’t like it, and often launches immediate attacks against you, and this is one of those times for me. But I’m not moved, because greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. Jesus has overcome the devil, and it’s my job to announce that to anyone who will listen. I don’t have to overcome the devil, he is ALREADY defeated by the blood of Christ Jesus, and we, His followers are simply called to “OCCUPY” till Jesus returns. In other words, keep our foot on the devil’s head and don’t let him up.

I love teaching others about the authority Jesus gave us. Without that authority, we are not much more than chopped liver, and we are easy pickings for the devil. But WITH and BY that authority, while the devil can and often does attack us, he cannot defeat us.

Before Christ Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, He gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits, and then sent seventy more out before Him with that same authority. They were rejoicing when they returned to Jesus, as we can read in Luke 10:17-20,
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
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.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Now just that in itself is very powerful, but it gets even better! After Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, He came again to the disciples and told them in Matthew 28:18-20,
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Did you get that?? Jesus said ALL power in heaven and earth is given to Him, and then He bestowed authority on His followers and gave them their marching orders to GO, and teach all nations. Teach them WHAT? That the devil was too much for them and they couldn’t overcome him? NO! Teach them that the devil is a DEFEATED FOE, because of the blood of Christ Jesus, that they no longer had to live in fear of the devil, but rather to boldly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen. We are to go forth and teach others to observe all things Jesus commanded His disciples, no more, no less.

We have been given the Holy Spirit as our helper, our guide, and our authority. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus commanded His disciples, (that’s US, if we belong to Jesus),
HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS: FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

Now, that’s not a suggestion, that’s an ORDER. Take no fear from the devil, shrink back not an inch because he opposes you, but rather take your authority with a hearty, “THE LORD REBUKE YOU, SATAN!” when he attacks with his junk. He isn’t our boss, Christ Jesus is. We are called to OVERCOME, not roll over and play dead. I count it all joy that the devil sees me as a threat to his kingdom, because then I know I’m making headway for the LORD as I’m helping one of His captive children get free. I’m speaking God’s Word over my body, I got knocked down, but I got back up and I’m on the offense and swinging the Sword of the LORD.

Never be foolish enough to think you’ll glide through life unopposed if you belong to Christ Jesus, because you won’t. But like I said, the Word tells us in 1 John 4:3-4,
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Christ Jesus has given every believer all the authority and power he or she will ever need to overcome every devil that gets our way. We are called to overcome, so let’s be about our heavenly Father’s business, and get the LORD’S work done so He can send Christ Jesus to come and establish His Kingdom here on Earth! You have Godly authority, USE IT! Stop letting the devil push you around!