Luke 10:1 NKJV (1) After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
Luke 10:17-20 NKJV (17) Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (18) And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I give you the authority (delegated authority) to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (ability) of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (20) Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Notice Jesus gave them authority over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
Serpents and scorpions are simply symbolic of demonic forces and evil spirits.
We have no less authority then Jesus gave His disciples in the early church.
How much authority does Jesus have?
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV (18) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Ephesians 1:15-21 NKJV (15) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, (16) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (20) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We are the Body of Christ. The Body has just as much authority as the Head does.
We are seated with Him in heavenly places right now!
Romans 5:17 NKJV (17) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
The value of our authority rests on the power that is behind that authority and God Himself is the power behind that authority.
The believer who thoroughly understands that the power of God is backing him can exercise his authority and face the enemy fearlessly.
Authority is delegated power.
Example of a policeman stopping an automobile just by simply putting up his hand.
We must understand the scope of the authority that we have in Christ.
Does this mean that I can take authority over the devil in someone else’s life?
You can only exercise that authority as far as someone will let you or give you permission to.
Example – you do not have any control over my money unless I give you permission to have that.
You do not have authority over someone else’s children unless they gave you permission.
Husbands and Fathers should exercise authority over that family and protect it from the efforts of the enemy.
Single Moms or the Head of that Household can do the same thing.
How do we pray for someone far from God?
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV (3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Matthew 9:36-38 NKJV (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
We must not get relaxed and lazy and allow the harassment of the enemy in our own lives.
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV (18) “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:18-19 AMP 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Get in God’s Word and determine what God has declared to be illegal for your life – sin, sickness, poverty and lack.
Exercise your authority in the Name of Jesus and put a stop to those things which God has declared unlawful.