POWER, AUTHORITY, PRAYER
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer
Copyright Ó 2010
INTRODUCTION
Jesus’ power is greater than that of Satan or demons
He shares that power with us as well:
Luke 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
AUTHORITY
He gave them power and authority so they could drive out all demons
He gives us authority to speak in His name
When I came to India I came to the Delhi airport. There were many soldier there. They ad on a uniform and were wearing a badge. The badge gave them the authority to enforce the laws of India. They couldn’t do that on their own. When India gave them the badge they the governments authority to act in its name.
Jesus had given us as Christians His authority to act in His name.
When we became a Christian He gave that to us.
He gave us many things at that time
He forgave all our sins forever
He made us His sons and daughters
He gives us the right to talk to Him in prayer whenever we want
He guarantees we’ll be in heaven with Him forever
(add more…..)
He gives us many things when we become a Christian.
But some times we forget and don’t use those things.
There was an orphan boy who lived in the slums. He didn’t have any family or anyone to take care of him. One day a rich man was driving through the slums and saw the boy. He wanted to help him so he took him home and adopted him as his own son. Now the boy had everything the father had. It was wonderful for him. But sometimes he’d forget about all that was his. He’d get hungry and start begging or steal food. Then he’d remember all he had with his father and come back to him.
Sometimes we are like that boy. We have everything we could ever need in Jesus
But sometimes we forget and we live in defeat instead of in victory.
Never forget that God has given you His authority.
But He’s givens us something else as well
POWER
He’s also given us power.
Those soldiers in the airport had more than a badge. What else did they carry? A gun
If someone didn’t listen to their authority they had a gun to enforce it.
God has given us His authority but He has also given us His power
It’s not our power, its His power
The Bible says we have power when the Holy Spirit comes on us
DISCIPLES USE AUTHORITY & POWER
We have authority and power over demons
The Bible says the early disciples used that power and authority which Jesus gave them
Luke 10:1, 17-19 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. … The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
When the disciples came back they said the demons submit to us in Your name!
Jesus said they must submit
I was there was Satan was kicked out of heaven
He didn’t have power to overcome God then and He doesn’t have it now.
V 19 authority to trample on snakes and scorpions = pictures of Satan and demons
He has given us authority and power over them
He says we can overcome ALL the power of the enemy
He says nothing will harm us – we don’t have to fear Satan and his forces
PAUL USES AUTHORITY & POWER
The disciples used that power
Paul used it also
Acts 16:16-18 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Paul is followed by a slave girl who is possessed by a demon
The demon pretended to foretell the future and the owners of the girl are making a lot of money
Demons don’t really know the future
But they have been around a long time, are very smart and can make good guesses
Also demons work together to seem like they know the future
The demon in the girl would say something was going to happen
Other demons would make it so that did happen
Thus it seemed like they knew the future
Paul was very bothered by the demon in this girl
So he turned around and he commanded the demon
“In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.”
Immediately the demon left
“IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
Notice what Paul said – In the name of Jesus Christ
What if he would have said in the name of Paul I command you?
When disciples came back (Luke 10) they said the demons obeyed when commanded in Your name
We can do that in JESUS” name in authority, not in ourselves but in Him only
Our name means nothing, but His name means everything
Which is better, our name or Jesus’ name
We pray in Jesus’ name
We have authority in Jesus’ name
We want to pray and use that authority now
All those reasons we said that demons can come in
We want to pray and close those doors in Jesus’ name
I will pray and then you pray after me
REMEMBER ITS NOT MY NAME BUT JESUS’ NAME!
I want you to see how to use the power and authority you have
So you can pray for yourself
And also pray for your family and church that way
But first lets close the door to any reason those demons claim to work in your life or family
GROUP PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE
Dear Jesus, we thank you for the salvation you give us in Jesus.
We know you are greater than Satan and His demons
We know you have power and authority over them
We know you have given us that power and authority in Jesus’ name.
In Jesus name I forbid any demons to work against me or my family or my church
In Jesus name I close the door to any reason they think they can work against me.
If I have committed any sin that they use to work against me I put it under the blood of Jesus.
In Jesus’ name I forbid them to work and to be gone.
In Jesus’ name I break any claim that comes down through my family line.
I am a new creation in God’s family.
I forbid any claim against me through my name or family line.
In Jesus’ name I dedicate the land where my home and church are to God.
I ask for His presence only to fill and use those places.
In Jesus’ name I break any claim demons may make through those places.
In Jesus’ name I break any curses any one has made against me, my family or my church.
Jesus has taken all my curse on the cross.
His power has broken any power of the enemy against me
So in Jesus’ name I forbid any demons to work against me or my family or my church.
I commit myself and my family and my church only to God.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit
Surround me with Your angels
Use me for Your glory.
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