Last week we ended our study with the command from Paul in Ephesians 6: 10-18 that began with these words: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” It is an announcement and wake-up call concerning the warfare of Spirit-filled believers that requires that we armor up so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil. The most effective way to resist evil is to draw near to Jesus—to put on Christ. Our demonstration of trust in our Lord weakens principalities and powers of darkness. In verse 14 we again have the call to stand! So often we become disturbed by conditions in the world, the increase in crime, violence, and wickedness, the rapid spread of communism and socialism, the apostasy of the Church, and the threat of a great civil war or a nuclear event. As we see all these threatening movements we are tempted to cry out as David did in Psalm 38:22, “Make haste, O God to help us” and worse still, we try to help Him out. But all these things have been foretold and are under the complete control of our God. Our business is to stand strong in the power of the Lord and be about the Father’s business. Right in the middle of predictions about the end of the age Jesus said in Matthew 24:6 “…see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Today God is calling out a remnant, a select minority of believers in response to the preaching of the Word of God. Dr. DeHaan said, “I believe it is a sin for a Christian who knows his Bible to become greatly upset about world conditions as though God were not in control any longer. When the last soul has been saved by the preaching of the Gospel, the Church will be raptured.” God has not finished with the Church that is made up of believers who will stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! The question is: “Will you stand for God and country, for freedom and humanity?”
We are living in the most intense time in human history. It’s no time to cower in fear or even to allow darkness and evil to prevail—it’s a time to use the authority God has given us! Before we start to consider the authority of the believer, first and foremost, we most establish that all authority rests in God. I Timothy 6:15 says, “God is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Daniel reveals the vastness of God’s authority in Daniel 2: 20-22, “blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are His: And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understand: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” Paul reveals in Romans 13:1 that there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” The believer’s life is one of total dependence on God, as modeled by the Son of Man.
Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 11:27 that God has ordained Him with His authority and power, “All things are delivered unto Me of My Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Then in 1 John 3: 8 we read, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” In John 5: 30 Jesus again affirms that He came to do the Father’s will, “I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” The Creator of the universe, who called the galaxies into being by the authority of God’s voice, illustrates by His own life the need to be under authority. Jesus honored the authority of His Father through complete obedience. It was said of Him in Hebrews 10:7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come…to do they will, O God.” His life and ministry focused on the will of the Father: “That the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.” (John 14: 31)
Jesus makes it clear throughout the Gospels that the authority that God has given Him, He gives to believers. In John 1: 12-13 we read that all those who receive Him, He gives them power to become a child of God. Believers have the authority in Jesus’ name to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” (Heb. 4: 16) In Luke 10:19 Jesus told us, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall be any means hurt you.” He says in John 14: 12 that “he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.” The Great Commission is still in force today and Jesus makes the authority of the believer clear: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Mark expands upon Jesus’ command in the Great Commission in 16: 17-18, “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.” There are some that say that these commands were only viable to the disciples. However, the book of Acts validates that these same signs and wonders were manifested with the birth of the Church on Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are hearing reports daily of the fulfilment of these manifestations all over the world! God does not change, and His power is still alive and well today! The question is “Are we standing strong in the authority, strength and power which has been endued to us as believers?”
In Romans 5: 1-2 the Apostle Paul explains, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” We move from darkness to light, from enemies to beloved children, from death to life. We stand securely in God’s love because of Christ—not by our own merit. Paul wrote in Romans 5: 3-5 “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” When we by faith accept Jesus as Savior our war with heaven ends but the war between the flesh and the Holy Spirit begins.
The Bible clearly lays out the order of authority beginning with God, extended to Jesus as He carried out the plan of the Father, and the enduement to all believers by Jesus manifested through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. If we are to stand strong in this battle, we have to use this authority Jesus has given us.
We must understand the power of the authority. Jesus delegated the power to believers. We can stop the forces of darkness (sickness, fear, evil, lack) through the delegated authority given to us by God in Christ. How amazing is that—God almighty Himself is the power behind our authority! “Be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might!” It belongs to us. The Bible says that we are the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12: 27) Jesus is the Head, we are the Body—and His authority is perpetuated through the Body. When Jesus rose from the dead, He transferred His authority to His Body, the Church. In God’s mind, when Christ was raised, we were raised! Ephesians 2:6 says that God “raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Both the Head and the Body are seated there, next to God, in the place of power and authority. That means we are seated there! We are seated in the power position, and we are His heir. (Rom. 8: 17) That means that everything that’s His—including His authority—now belongs to us! We need to know how to use it. The Bible emphasizes the important of submitting to God and actively opposing the devil’s influence through faith and the Word of God. James 4:7 states, “submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This verse highlights that resistance to the devil is not merely a defensive act but an active effort to stand firm in faith and obedience to God. If we don’t stand with God, we will fall for anything! Jesus, Himself demonstrated how to resist the devil by quoting Scripture during His temptation in the wilderness, showing that the Word of God is a powerful weapon against evil. We are to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil and includes relying on prayer, the truth of God’s Word, and the righteousness of Christ. Resisting the devil also involves humility and a close relationship with God. By drawing near to God in faith and keeping one’s mind and heart filled with His truth, believers can effectively stand against the enemy. The devil is described as a “roaring lion seeking someone to devour,” but Christians are reminded that they are more than conquerors through Christ, who has already defeated the powers of darkness. Jesus made it very clear that His Name is the key to all authority. “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14: 13-14) God is putting each of us to the test to see if we are indeed standing strong in the Lord or standing in our own authority. Throughout the Bible we learn that God will reward believers for their Spirit-empowered good works and will punish the lost for their unbelief and flesh-driven evil deeds. Whether we like it or not, we are accountable for everything we do and say because at the judgment, every secret motivation, desires, and act will come out into the open. Jesus said, “Nothing is hidden that will not become evident, or anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8: 17) Whether we realize it or not, unbelievers are watching us—how we conduct ourselves and how we treat others. God intends for what they see in us to attract them to Himself. (Mt. 5: 16) It is all about God!
Consider carefully these questions to help examine if you are standing strong in the Lord or in danger of rejecting the authority that Jesus has entrusted to us:
Neglecting the Word? Harboring unconfessed sins? Neglecting prayer? Neglecting church attendance? Neglecting giving and serving? Neglecting sharing Jesus? No longer feeling close to God? 2 Timothy 3:1 warns that in the last days perilous times will come. We must stand strong in the LORD!