Nurture a Strong Foundation of Spiritual Authority in Your Life!

Submit to God and Exert Your Authority in Christ

4.7.2024

3 reasons for problems:

1. Physical Issue. Diet/rest/illness

2. Sin Issue/personal responsibility issue

3. Demonic Influence

There is an intense and increasing spiritual resistance that we must deal with today!

Just before Jesus returns, there will be increased spiritual resistance!

It’s happening right now!

Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NLT)

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (MSG)

Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (BBE)

For the secret of evil is even now at work: but there is one who is keeping back the evil till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of his mouth, and give to destruction by the revelation of his coming; 9 Even the one whose coming is marked by the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 And with every deceit of wrongdoing among those whose fate is destruction; because they were quite without that love of the true faith by which they might have salvation. 11 And for this cause, God will give them up to the power of deceit and they will put their faith in what is false: 12 So that they all may be judged, who had no faith in what is true, but took pleasure in evil.

2. Adam gave our spiritual authority on earth away to our enemy!

We lost our spiritual relationship with God and our authority over our spiritual enemy when Adam, the first man sinned.

Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Hebrews 2:5-8 (NLT)

And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 6 For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? 7 Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 8 You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

Luke 4:5-6 (AMPC)

Then the devil took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time [in the twinkling of an eye].

6 And he said to Him, “To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will.”

Adam’s (or mankind’s) authority over the earth was transferred to Satan when man sinned (it has been turned over to me).

3. Jesus transferred to us our lost authority over Satan and the demonic realm!

This is what we must be grounded in today!

Jesus is the prototype new creation man!

As He is, so are we!

1 John 4:17 (NKJV)

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Colossians 1:15-18 (NKJV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

This is what we must be grounded in today!

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:17-18 (NCV)

And those who believe will be able to do these things as proof: They will use my name to force out demons. They will speak in new languages. 18 They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will touch the sick, and the sick will be healed.

James 4:7 (NLT)

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 (GW)

So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.

James 4:7 (NCV)

So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.

Colossians 1:13 (NKJV)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Colossians 1:13 (NCV)

God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:15 (NCV)

God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless.

Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)

For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

4. Be aware of these 40 signs of a spiritual attack:

Though we have authority, we must on purpose resist and assert our spiritual authority!

Spiritual slackness and laziness will cost you!

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Satan is a liar! He trafficks in lies and deception.

Anyone who lies wears his anointing…

John 8:44 (NLT)

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

You carry an atmosphere around you.

Buildings can have an atmosphere.

Homes have an atmosphere.

Churches have an atmosphere!

These can be fleshly things you deal with.

Understand that the demonic realm looks for weakness in us. And the demonic realm is based on lies and deception.

Here’s a list of 40 things that the demonic realm want to use to control you. Resist them!

Remember, Satan and the demonic look to exacerbate or stretch weakness into control over you. Don’t allow it!

There is a fine line between fleshly desires that come from sin and demonic intrusion.

• Doubt – yourself, your friends, God
• Rejection thinking – Nobody cares about me. They don’t like me…
• Condemnation – thinking about what you did wrong in the past/ or what you should have done in the past. It becomes an obsession.
• Obsession with failure, defeat, or the negatives of the past
• Fear – chronic, not rooted in reality. False Evidence Appearing Real
• Rebellion to established authority.
• Lying – telling only part, but not the whole truth
• Thoughts of strife, discord, or offense. James 3:16.
• Erratic thoughts out of nowhere, creating self-doubt or doubts about others
• Compulsive desires to binge-eat, to lust, to overwork, to overdo whatever. The Holy Spirit gives self-control.
• Overcompensating in some way
• Constant worry thoughts
• Lust – thoughts about illicit sex / homosexuality / compulsion to view pornography
• Gossip. Have to repeat salacious tales about others…
• Sudden distrust in people that have given you no reason to distrust them.
• Accusing thoughts about yourself
• Accusing thoughts about others
• Compulsive, uncontrolled anger
• Disunity. Seeking to pit one person against another. Seeking to create doubt about a person or group. Galatians 5:20 – variance, disputes, quarreling. Romans 1:29 – debate, quarreling.
• Thoughts of compromise with the flesh and known sinful things
• Overwhelming panicky emotions (panic attacks)
• Self-doubt
• Thoughts that nobody loves me, nobody cares about me.
• Excessive pride in looks, work, church activity. Excessively wanting to be seen, known, heard…
• Rigidity – (spiritual) a compulsion to be overly strict when grace should be given
• Feelings of loneliness and detachment
• Thoughts that you do not fit in anywhere
• Judgmental, angry thoughts about others.
• Thoughts that question God’s love, faithfulness, and Word
• Selfish thoughts – Why didn’t they include me/ Why was I left out.
• Thoughts like – You/they don’t care about me.
• Hopelessness. Nothing will get better/improve.
• Lack of ability to focus
• Lack of desire to read the Word / pray / attend church
• Thoughts of isolation
• Thoughts and feelings of panic
• Over-religiousness – spiritual involvement to the neglect of personal needs, family, friends, work, etc.
• Duplicity – Acting one way in public, another way in private
• Suicidal thoughts
• Compulsion to drink, smoke marijuana, use drugs

5. How to stand in your authority and resist:

1 Peter 5:8-9 (BBE)

Be serious and keep watch; the Evil One, who is against you, goes about like a lion with open mouth in search of food; 9 Do not give way to him but be strong in your faith, in the knowledge that your brothers who are in the world undergo the same troubles.

1 Peter 5:9 (NLT)

Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

You stand against spiritual attacks with your faith:

2 Corinthians 5:7 (CEV)

But we live by faith, not by what we see.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (TPT)

Because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18(CEV)

Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

By commanding it to go in the name of Jesus and by His blood!

By speaking God’s Word OUT LOUD.

By worshiping and praising God, by singing out loud.

By meditating on scripture.

By resisting and refusing wayward feelings and thoughts.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Stay away from items that are occult in nature.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – NLT

For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.

 

Rid your home of any association with the demonic:

 

Books, toys, magazines, horoscope info, religious artifacts (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc), movies, dream catchers, crystals, spirit lamps.

 

Pray over your home!

 

Don’t read junk!

Take time to meditate the Word every day.

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Action Points:

1. Are you aware of the spiritual pressures of the times?

2. Have you embraced the spiritual authority Jesus gave you when He was raised from the dead?

3. Are you actively yielding your areas of challenge to Jesus by prayer and by meditating on scripture to strengthen you in that area?

4. Are you seeking God with your whole heart and seeking to live by faith and not feelings?