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You Have Authority
Andrea Lende • April 25, 2020
Luke 10:18-19
You Have Authority!
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/You-Have-Authority-ed8e1b
Daily Word:
Luke 10:18-19
“And He said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven.”
“Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.”
It took me some time of reading these verses over and over again through the years to realize the kind of power that Jesus has given us.
Jesus saw Satan falling from heaven.
Satan knew he would be beaten by Jesus even though he tried in every way to defeat him.
Jesus’ life was in danger as a baby, but Joseph was led in his dreams to take Jesus and move away from the danger.
When it was safe to return, Joseph had another dream that directed him to take his family back to their homeland.
Then as Jesus started His ministry He was drawn into the desert where He was tempted by the devil, but the enemy was unsuccessful.
As Jesus was sending out His disciples to minister to others, He gave them authority over the enemy as well.
He gave them both physical and mental strength to overcome the enemy.
That strength is available to us too.
We simply have to believe that we have it and act in Jesus’ Name.
Jesus also said, “nothing shall in any way harm you”.
This is a promise to us just as it was a promise to His disciples long ago.
There is nothing on this earth that can truly harm us.
There is nothing that can harm our spirits if we keep our eyes on the Lord.
And as I seek more of the Lord, I find more.
He equips me more and more with each passing day.
He equips me with His power.
He gives me strength.
He gives me peace.
And I find rest in Him.
Today I choose to receive all power and authority to fight and win the enemies’ advances and be fully covered by Jesus’ blood.
May you find that the Lord has equipped you with all power and authority over the enemy, and that no harm will come to you.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me that I have authority and power over the enemy. Thank You for giving me both physical and mental strength to overcome this world. And thank You for ensuring that no harm will come to me. I pray that You continue to equip me with the strength to overcome all the trials that I will face here on earth. May Your peace and rest cover me as I fight the enemies’ advances. Lead and guide me in all that I do so that I am covered by You, Lord. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I remain strong and faithful to You, Father. Help me do all that You put me here on earth to do. Help me hear You, Lord, and obey Your commands. Let me not shy away from Your plan. Strengthen me in every way, Father. Help me love as You love and have compassion on those You need to be served. Help me serve with joy and help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: My power and strength are within you, My child, and I am watching over you in all that you do.
Response: Thank You, all powerful and mighty God!
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.