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Who’s in charge of your life? Pt 2


Becky and Rob Granger.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19, ESV). These words of Jesus convey the idea to believers that we have been deputized under Him to act on His behalf in the world.

The Greek word, “exousia” is the word “authority” in the above passage. It portrays one who is clothed with authority, such as a police officer. When a police officer is directing traffic, his badge gives him the authority to direct traffic, backed by the law of the land. Of course, if a vehicle plowed through the traffic, the officer would be physically unable to control that vehicle. Authority, therefore, is not necessarily power.

The word “power” in the above passage is the Greek word, “dunamis.” It is used to describe the ability the devil brings to bear against you and your family. However, there is another level to this. When Jesus was about to ascend to the right hand of the Father, He told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8, ESV). This usage of the word “power” is the explosive power resident within us, by the Holy Spirit, as we release our faith.

This power completely trumps ability of the enemy. Another way of saying this is that you have been given authority to dismantle, deconstruct, abolish, obliterate, render useless, null and void, every effort of the enemy to bring sickness, disease, death, poverty or any ill-will leveled against you.

Remember, it is not God who brings these things against His people (see John 10:10). Jesus died for and bore every sickness for His people. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV). If it is true that “by his wounds you have been healed” why would God give you a sickness? He wouldn’t! These are the deceptive tactics of the devil.

Praise God, we have been given authority over sickness. I know of people currently battling cancer and other dreadful diseases. Is cancer more powerful than the name of Jesus? The Bible says, “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name…if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed” (Mark 16:17-18, NLT).

Cancer has a name, but Jesus has a greater name. Cancer will bow to the name of Jesus if a believer will exercise faith to lay hands on the sick and declare Jesus has healed them. Our tendency is to simply receive a doctor’s diagnosis and listen to their warnings; but we have been given an authority backed by the power of Almighty God to resist any malady we may face. When we resist the devil, “he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NKJV).

I encourage you to believe the Word of God; exercise your faith and watch God work on your behalf. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

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Rob Granger is Senior Pastor of Faith Harbor Church, a non-denominational church that meets at 10 a.m. Sundays in the Escondido Columbus Hall, 515 W. Valley Parkway. His wife, Becky, serves as Co- Pastor. Videos of Pastor Rob’s sermons can be seen on YouTube by typing faith harbor church escondido ca in the YouTube search box. Visit fhcescondido.com for information about Faith Harbor Church.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Times-Advocate.

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