Ephesians 6:12, NIV
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
I hate cold sores. These can come up from time to time on my mouth and it starts with a tingle and then progresses to a blister, which then bleeds and scabs, and usually lasts for about two weeks. It’s quite a horrible experience.
One morning I was cleaning my teeth, and there, to my horror, I felt that first tingle and the swelling on my upper lip and I thought “Oh no I am going to get a horrible cold sore there”. Then something absolutely broke inside me and I spoke out, “I come in Jesus’ name and speak to the spirit behind this cold sore and tell it to get off my face now. Go now! I refuse to have you on my mouth in Jesus’ name!” I continued with this for a couple of minutes and then got dressed and went into the day.
That evening, as I was getting ready for bed, I went to clean my teeth, and felt my upper lip. There was no sign of a cold sore. The symptoms had never come to anything. This was a couple of years ago now and I’ve not ever had a cold sore since.
I sensed God was saying to me, “You have a choice. You can either passively accept that this is your lot, which is like coming to an agreement with the powers of darkness that they can visit whatever it is upon you, or you can rise up (as our scripture today tells us), and warfare with the authority of the name of Jesus, and see it off”. This is our choice.
Next time the flu, or a bug, is going round, if you say “well I suppose I’ll get it then”, then you probably will. But if you rise up and say “No way in Jesus’ name am I going to succumb to this bug!”, then you can warfare against it. We have the authority. We can only use the authority of the name of Jesus if we live in the name of Jesus.
Jesus makes it clear that we’ve been given His authority over ALL Satan’s power as disciples. Hebrews 1:3 says that all things are upheld by the word of His power. As believers we have to know who we are, and know that we have the authority to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. Therefore, when we sense an attack from the evil one on our body, our home, our relationships or our finances, we have the right to exercise our authority in Jesus’ name.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your word teaches us that the devil prowls around seeking whom he can devour. Keep us alert and watchful today to any attack from the evil one. Help us to rise up with the power and authority of the name of Jesus, that You have given to each one of us as believers. And help us to be overcomers in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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