Satan has no authority over us

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.  I John 3: 8

A conviction came to me with great certainty this morning that Satan has no authority over our lives.  If we have truly repented and given ourselves to living for God and not to please ourselves, we are living in the Kingdom of God. Satan has no authority in that Kingdom at all.

Adam and Eve walked on the earth in purity and perfect relationship with God.  They were the rulers over the earth in joyful submission to God.  Satan had no entry into the earth or their lives except by lying and persuading them that in order to fulfil their God given destiny, they must do something God had told them not to do. Through their sin and disobedience, Satan was able to gain control of the earth.  Jesus however came and lived the life that Adam and Eve had not lived and by perfect obedience to God, even to death on the cross, he took all of mankind’s sins, griefs and sorrows and overcame death itself. He won back for us what Adam and Eve had lost. 

Now by repenting of our selfish lives and giving ourselves to live for God, our sins are forgiven and we now live in the Kingdom of God. Satan has no authority in the Kingdom. He lives outside it. As Alan Vincent wrote, ‘Even to this day Satan has never been able to enter the kingdom and never will be able to. Anything inside the kingdom is out of his domain and he cannot touch it.’

The only authority Satan has over our lives is what we permit him to have. He can only come into our house, our life, by our permission. He will lie and tell us that he has the right to be there but he does not.  He will try and persuade you that the work of Jesus was not complete or that some bad habit or past failure keeps you outside of God’s protection and grace.  Lies, all lies. Jesus’ work on the cross was complete and Jesus came to destroy all the works of the evil one.  By learning to take authority over our lives in Jesus’ Name, every sin, addiction, rejection, hurt, inadequacy, insecurity, every sense of worthlessness, guilt, shame and generational curse is broken.

Let me repeat again Satan has no authority in your life. You do not belong to him. Move forward with confidence that you have been given the authority to see freedom in your life.  Please do not listen any more to the devil’s lies but live instead in the truth that you are a child of God, saved by grace, forgiven of all your sins, completely accepted and free from condemnation, guilt and shame. 

All authority in heaven and earth

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

We are all familiar with these wonderful words that Jesus spoke to his disciples after his resurrection. Just dwell for a moment on this truth that all authority in heaven and earth is in Jesus’ hands. As God’s children, bought by his blood, we too can operate under that authority and that means we have authority over our lives, homes and families. And that is just the start.

I have found that Christians tend either to lie down and let the devil walk all over them and their families with sickness, financial problems, marriage breakdown, children in difficulties or they start trying to take on major demonic powers in the heavenly realm ‘in the name of Jesus’.  Both extremes are wrong.

Firstly we need to realise Jesus has given us authority over our lives, homes and families and we must learn to walk in this. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to pray and take authority over everything afflicting our lives. We do not have to live in sickness, doubt, unbelief, poverty, criticism, abusive relationships, addictions and so on. We may have brought these things into our Christian lives but we do not need to continue to live in them. It may take time but the Holy Spirit is a wonderful guide and will show you how to pray and will lead you to people, books, teachings that will help you.

In South Africa there are many homes in our area that have trouble with baboons. The baboons have learned that humans equal food – nice food and they will do all they can to invade people’s property and homes. Defensive measures need to be taken but even then they can invade homes but when they do, people do not need to make the baboons at home; they need to drive them out forcefully. The baboons have no right in their homes.

In the same way the devil has no right to be in your life, home or family and you must drive him out forcefully. You may need to deal with old behaviour patterns, ungodly beliefs, areas of unforgiveness and also with the lies that say the devil has a right in your life. He doesn’t. You are a child of God and under his authority and covering you have all authority in heaven and earth over all principalities and powers in your life and circumstances.

Don’t let the devil steal from you. Exercise your God given authority and declare it over your life. Let the truth of who God is and who you are as his child infiltrate every area of your life, home and family in Jesus Name. He has all the authority and you belong to him.