I.   Your adversary, the Devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour - 1 Peter 5:8, 9.

1.     According to one of the Greek interlinear translation I use, it says that the word “SOBER” would be better translated, “Be well balanced.”

a)    It literally means “don’t be drunk,” but he’s not so much talking about be drunk with liquor, but rather, “Don’t act as one who has too much to drink.”

b)    How does someone act if they have had to much to drink? FLIP, DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING, NO FOCUS, NOT BALANCED, SOMETIMES THEY GET UPSET EASILY.

2.     The word “vigilant” means, “Keep your eyes open, keep a look out, stay alert.”

3.    In Verse 9 the KJV says, “In the faith” the Wuest translation says, “in your faith.”

B.  He cannot devour the Christian who uses the powerful name of Jesus to resist him – (James 4:7) (Don’t read).

C.  You cannot use your authority against people. That does not work.

1.    "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood…" - Ephesians 6:12.

2.    You deal with the evil spiritual forces of Satan.

D.  1 John 3:8b reads, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil."

1.    You, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, exercise the authority and power in the name of Jesus as you do the works of Jesus. (John 14:12-14) says that we are to "DEMAND" Satan to stop in the name of Jesus.

2.    The enemy's works of sickness, poverty, disease, and lack cannot remain when you tell them to go in Jesus' name (James 4:7 Resist).

E.   Jesus Christ expects you to do the work. He never said to pray, "Father, (or Jesus), do something about the Devil."

1.    The believer is told to do something about the Devil. That is because the believers have the authority to do it-Matthew 28:18, 19. Jesus told you to go.

2.    The church is to exercise the authority that belongs to it.

II.   Exercising Authority

A.  Exercising authority for others.

1.    You can exercise authority on the behalf of your family. You have the responsibility to do so.

a)   When you ask, the Lord will show you what the problem is with your family and how to exercise authority over the enemy on behalf of a family member.

b)    It is not necessary to tell your family that you're going to do this. Pray for them and use the name of Jesus to command that the enemy takes his hands off a particular person or situation.

c)     Get God's plan for the situation.

(1)  This is most important. God knows more than you do.

(2)  Ask the Father if there are specific things which you need to do, or scriptures you should use.

d)   Use as much faith as you have.

2.    You have authority over your own life and within your own family, but you cannot cast the Devil out of everyone you meet on the street. They have authority over their own lives.

3.    You have authority over demonic forces, but not over human wills. If someone has an evil spirit and they do not want to be free from it, you cannot cast it out.

a)    If people want to be free, they can be free. If people truly do not want to be free, then they won't be set free.

b)    You can allow God to show you how to take authority and how to pray in a situation where a person says that they do not want to be free.

(1)  Even though someone says he does not want to be free, through your prayers and authority God may be able to make a way where that person is free from Satan's influence to the point where he can make a decision for total freedom.

(2)  Diligently pray to get the mind of God on what to do.

4.    When people ask for or desire help, you can operate in your authority using the name of Jesus. You must first take time to listen to the Lord and get His plan on how to deal with the situation.

B.       You can use the principle of binding and loosening-Matthew 16:19.

1.    You can bind the mouth of the enemy so that he cannot speak to a person with whom you are dealing. Do this quietly where no one can hear you.

2.    You can bind the mouth of the enemy who is speaking through someone whose language is offensive.

3.    You can bind the evil forces using a person so that they cannot act in your presence.

C.  There is no distance in the spirit world. Even if you use your authority over a situation that is taking place in another country, you are effective.

D.  How to use your authority.

1.    What to say-Matthew 16:19 (Bind and Loose).

a)    "Satan, in the name of Jesus, I bind you, for it is written, 'whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…..' because you are bound, Satan, you and all your demonic forces may not come against_____(list names)____. You are bound away from me and my family; we are all covered and cleansed with the blood of Jesus. You may not steal, kill, or destroy us or our property in Jesus' name. I remind you that you are defeated and I am victorious in Jesus' name."

b)    Make this a daily practice.

c)     Use the name of Jesus; that is where the power is.

d)    If you have a specific problem, say: "Satan, in the name of Jesus, no longer will you have control over that area of my life. I command you to go in the name of Jesus. Don't bother to come back." (Give examples)

(1)  It's that easy.

e)     If the enemy should try to regain a hold in an area where you have demanded that he leave, remind him that he is defeated and that you are victorious in Jesus. Tell him to go in Jesus' name.

2.    When you speak, speak with conviction. This does not mean that you must shout at the Devil. Speak strongly. Do not be weak or halfhearted with your words. It must be settled in your spirit and mind that you do have power over Satan.

3.    Above all, do not falter or feel that nothing happened when you told the enemy to leave you alone or when you told sickness to go.

a)    Make sure your life is clean and your fellowship with God is strong!

b)    Regardless of how you feel, do not falter. As a king commands, he knows that his command will be carried out.

(1)  Ephesians 6:13-14 says, "And having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore." NASB

E.  Resist the Devil.

1. You must act as a disciple of Jesus-Ephesians 4:14-15, 23-29.

a)    Renew your mind with God's Word (verses 23 and 24).

b)    Put aside the lifestyle of the unbeliever and have the lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus (verses 24-25, 28-29).

c)     Do not give Satan a place in your life (verses 25-27).

(1)  Give the enemy nothing upon which he can work.

(2)  "And do not give the Devil an opportunity" (verse 27 NASB).

d)    Do not allow sin or fear to enter your mind. Fill your mind with the Word of God.

e)     (Ephesians 4:29 amplified) "Let no foul or polluted language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk ever come out of your mouth; but only such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is hitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give peace (God's favor) to those who hear it."

2.    James 4:7 - Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. The Word flee in the scripture means, to run as is in terror.

III. Living in the Abundant Life.

A.  Jesus gives abundant life - John 10:10.

1.    Jesus came that you might have life, eternal life. In addition to that, he came so that you would have an abundant life.

2.    The word translated as “abundant” from the Greek is “perissos.” It means: "more than abundant; beyond what we think is abundant and good; over and above; beyond measure” (you can not measured, it is so excellent!).

B.  When do you have abundant life?

1.    You have it now; in this lifetime. Why would you need abundant life when you reach heaven? In heaven, your every need and desire will be met. In heaven, there is no lack, no poverty, no sickness to fight.

2.    The abundant life is for your life now. God wants his children to have the best now; to walk in divine health, to have all their needs met and beyond that.

C.  Jesus has provided abundant life for you. Now you must walk in that life.

1.    Do you have a need? Jesus has already met your needs.

a)    It is now up to you to say, "Father, thank you for meeting my needs. You said Jesus is the one who has given abundant life, so this need or this desire is met and I thank you for the answer or blessing now in Jesus' name."

b)    Then, tell the enemy that he can no longer keep your answer bound. He can no longer steal from you. Take authority over him and loose your answer from his grip and bind him away from it.

c)     You must make the decision to walk in abundant life, and you must daily apply action to your decision.

2.    Example: if I went to a local store and purchased things for you, Leaving them in your name, and you did not go and pick them up, it would be your fault that you did not have them. I supplied them. You have to go get them. You tell the storekeeper that you have the authority to get that food and he cannot keep that blessing from you.

3.    The daily use of your authority is the key to maintaining your walk in the abundant life.

WOLCC Sunday, May 11, 2003