How often I’m reminded of Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  We need to hear the Word of God so much that our faith rises up and makes us winners in life.

     Looking at Exodus 7:8-12, there is something important we should see here.  Maybe you’ve noticed it before, and maybe you haven’t.  But the Lord would not have us overlook it.

 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,  When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.   Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.  

      When Aaron cast down his rod, and it became a serpent, that was a demonstration of “exousia” power.   That is a Greek word that is contained in Luke 10:19, which Jesus spoke, saying,  

Luk 10:19  Behold,G2400 I giveG1325 unto youG5213 powerG1849 to treadG3961 onG1883 serpentsG3789 andG2532 scorpions,G4651 andG2532 overG1909 allG3956 theG3588 powerG1411 of theG3588 enemy:G2190 andG2532 nothingG3762 shall by any meansG3364 hurtG91 you.G5209  

G1849 “EXOUSIA” (ex-00-see’-ah) is from G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: – authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.  Another definition I especially like states “absolutely prohibits the presence of a hindrance”.  That’s what Jesus granted us as His disciples in Luke 10:19.  Power over WHAT?   Power over all the “power” of the enemy.

That second word “power” is the Greek word “DUNAMIS”, and by seeing the difference between the two “powers”, we are better able to see what powerful authority Jesus granted us.

G1411 “Dunamis” (doo’-nam-is)   From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): – ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

            After Aaron cast down his rod, the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt also threw their rods down, and, as it says, they also became serpents.  In other words, the devil’s crew said, NO PROBLEM! We can do that, too.  And they did.!

          Don’t you know the devil can do signs and wonders?  But what happened next?  Aaron’s serpent ate all theirs.  I like to say it like this; “Exousia trumps Dunamis every time!”  You will notice, later that Aaron reached down and took up his serpent and it became a rod again.  But not so with the sorcerers, their rods were GONE and they didn’t get them back again!

            You see, friends, the devil has a bag of tricks up his sleeve, and he deceives many with them.  Maybe he’s even deceived you a few times.  But it’s time for all that nonsense to stop.  You need to know that the power granted YOU, and the Holy Spirit in you, is greater than all the power the devil can muster against you.

            When the devil puts symptoms of sickness on you, remember, Jesus bore ALL your sicknesses and diseases upon Himself.  So then, what part of “ALL” do you not understand?  Time and time again I’ve told people, “If the devil can cast doubt in your mind concerning the integrity of the Word of God, then he has you beat.”  You may be dealing with some symptoms right now, but know this; symptoms are a sign, “dunamis” from the devil, sent to make you doubt the truth that you’re healed.  Take the bull by the horns and use your “exousia” on him.

            I remember reading Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10;

  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

            Paul asked three times for God to remove this devil who was harassing him constantly.  The Lord answered him that “his grace was sufficient for him”, in other words, the authority of Luke 10:19 gave him the authority to drive it off.  So Paul went on to say he would gladly glory in his weaknesses THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST given unto him may rest upon him, for when he was weak, the power of Christ was strong in him.  Paul wasn’t content to just “let the devil walk all over him”, but rather, he rose up in power and authority, and though the devil tried all he could to hinder and even kill Paul, the power of the Holy Spirit gave Paul the victory EVERY TIME!  And when Paul had run his course, he said so, and said he was ready to be offered up.  But it was when PAUL said he was finished, not when the devil said he was finished.  Please take note of that! The devil is NOT your boss, so tell him SHUT UP and BE GONE!

            Those who are being afflicted on every side by the devil,  the words of Jesus and Paul ought to be speaking very loudly.  WE ARE NOT THE POWERLESS, BUT THE POWERFUL! 

            Don’t pray, crying out to God for Him to remove the symptoms from you, but rather, rise up in your God-granted authority and start speaking what God has said about your healing.  Quit crying and blubbering and wondering why God isn’t making you well and healing you.  Stop letting the devil make you doubt God’s word.

             Remember, God works according to His Word.  And if you aren’t giving God something to work with by at least speaking what God says about you, how do you expect things to change?   Jesus would heal you if He was still here on earth, but He’s not.  He went back to His Father after granting you all the power you could possibly need to carry out His work, and live in perfect health while doing it. 

            Will it change overnight?  It can, but if it doesn’t, stay with it until you win!  Jesus gave you the POWER TO WIN!  The devil couldn’t stop Paul, and if you will use what Jesus granted you, then he won’t be able to stop YOU, either!