The Authority of the Believer: Standing in Our Healing
I. THE NECESSITY OF STANDING
A. Each believer must be taught to receive healing and freedom and then to keep it by personally exercising the authority that they
receive in Christ by standing on the Word of God. The shield of faith is the continually confident declaration of the Word against the enemy’
s attack.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 We do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers…in the heavenly places. 13 Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand…having girded your waist with truth…16 taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one…17 Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… (Eph. 6:
11-17)
B. Principle of the kingdom: The demonstration of the Spirit follows a declaration of a believer. The Spirit moves as the Word is
spoken. We resist oppression by rebuking it in Jesus’ name.
C. Stand: Once a person is delivered, they must learn to stand against the Devil for themselves. We must stand to keep the ground
that we take from the enemy. He will come to us to take it back by lies. We stand by speaking God’s Word as our weapon and protection
against demons.
D. Our problems are often the result of several factors working together, including psychological issues (our mindset, belief systems,
and life choices), physiological issues (diet, alcohol, chemical, etc.), sociological issues (what others do to us), and spiritual (demonic
attack).
E. By using our authority, we can remove the added pressure that demons bring to our problems. This makes it much easier to solve
physiological, psychological, and sociological problems. Exercising authority against Satan’s attack does not automatically cancel all the
consequences of our wrong choices or all the effects of what others do to us as they exercise their free will.
F. Demons continually attack those who have been set free. They return over and over, seeking to allure people to return to their
former lifestyle. They bring more demons with them (v. 44).
43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man…44 Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.”…45 He takes with him seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Mt. 12:43-45)
G. The primary way Satan tries to gain access to people is through their mind and body. The degree to which we yield to Satan in
these areas determines how much Satan is able to influence us.
H. Each person has three parts: We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. Demons can influence or oppress a Christian’s
body and soul (mind and emotions) without possessing their spirit. There are degrees of oppression. A bad mood or emotional funk can be
the direct result of flaming missiles of demonic oppression.
II. OUR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS BASED ON JESUS’ VICTORY
A. At the cross, Jesus as a Man defeated Satan and all demonic principalities and made a public spectacle of them before the
audience of heaven, hell, and earth. This victory is finished.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [His death and resurrection].
(Col. 2:15)
B. Our spiritual authority is based on our union with Jesus. The power and benefits that Jesus received as a man raised from the dead
are given to us. God gave Jesus to the Church (v. 22) as our head (v. 22) and made us His body, or vehicle, to express His power to the
earth (v. 23).
19 The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…20 which He [the Father] worked in Christ when He raised Him…and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…22 He put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to
the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him… (Eph. 1:19-23)
C. We have been raised to sit with Jesus in heavenly places, and are given access to God’s throne. Prayers said in God’s will reach
His throne and find approval, resulting in the release of power. We must know who we are in Christ and the authority we possess in Jesus.
We must take our place of authority in Christ as those seated in heavenly places with Jesus (Eph. 1:3, 20-22; 2:6).
6 Raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ... (Eph. 2:6)
D. Authority is delegated power. An example that is commonly used is that of a police officer who stops a car by the authority of the
government, not by his own physical power.
E. As Jesus’ body, we are called to enforce His authority on earth. Satan’s attack against us will continue if we accept it instead of
refusing it or challenging it with our authority in Christ.
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7)
F. We use spiritual authority against Satan who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy God’s blessing in our lives (by fear, addiction,
emotional oppression, division, sickness, financial oppression, etc.).
10 The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (Jn. 10:10)
G. Fear, rejection, and addictive urges are a form of demonic oppression that must be rebuked. If they are allowed to gain dominance
in our thinking, they will dominate our lives with despair. We must take authority over the spirit of fear. It must not be accepted or allowed to
grow.
7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)
H. The command of faith doesn't always bring results instantly.
12 Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. 6:12)
I. Our authority is based on what Jesus accomplished, not on our moods, feelings, fervor or victory.
6 ‘Not by [human] might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. (Zech. 4:6)