Many Christians fail to realize that they have authority over the devil and evil spirits. But just because you have that authority, that doesn’t mean the devil is going to roll over and play dead for you. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ has provided an inheritance for every believer, that does not mean that it will automatically fall on them like ripe cherries off of a tree. There is still a part that we have to play.
Without an understanding of this, the devil will take advantage of us, even though we are the ones who have authority over him. With that said, here are five truths about the Christian’s authority over the devil.
1. Our Authority Is Delegated Authority
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. — Luke 10:19
Authority over evil spirits does not originate with us. It originates with Christ. Jesus declared that He possesses all authority (Matthew 28:18), and then He delegated that authority to the believer (Mark 16:17). Rev. Grier consistently teaches that the believer is never instructed to ask God to deal with the devil for them — the believer is instructed to resist him.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. — James 4:7
Notice the order:
- Submit to God.
- Resist the devil.
- The devil flees.
The fleeing is automatic. The resisting is not.
2. We Wrestle — But Not Against Flesh and Blood
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. — Ephesians 6:12
Many believers misidentify their enemy. They fight people, systems, and circumstances while ignoring the spiritual root. People are not the problem. The government and politicians are not our problem. The problem is the spiritual forces behind people and systems.
I remember one time I was dealing with a person, an extended family member, and no matter what I did, this person always seems to be against me. After some time, I got the bright idea to pray about it. The Lord revealed to me that demons had been assigned to hinder the plans of God in my life and were working through that person, unbeknownst to them, to try and hinder what God wanted to do. I took authority over that spirit and it stopped hindering me and the ministry.
This hindrance was not natural. It was spiritual.
This is a crucial distinction. You do not have authority over human wills, but you do have authority over demon spirits. When believers fail to recognize spiritual opposition, they allow unnecessary harassment.
3. Jesus Will Not Do What He Told You To Do
When Jesus appeared to Kenneth E. Hagin in 1952, the Lord was trying to give him specific revelation, but a demon was continually interrupting and hindering what Dad Hagin could hear. Jesus was still speaking, but Dad Hagin couldn’t hear. This little imp-like demon just kept jumping around yelling “Yackity-Yak” while a smoke screen was blocking the Lord. Jesus did nothing about this demon. It wasn’t until Dad Hagin commanded the demon to stop in Jesus’ name that anything happened. Jesus then said, “If you had not done something about that demon, I couldn’t have done anything about him.”
That statement changes how many believers think. The New Testament never tells the believers to pray that God will rebuke the devil for them. Instead, it instructs us to resist him, cast him out, and stand against him. Authority unused is authority forfeited.
4. Not Devil-Conscious — But Authority-Conscious
There is a careful balance to this: We should not become devil conscious or demon kooky. We should be Word of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit conscious at all times.
Teaching on the believer’s authority is not about magnifying Satan. It is about refusing to ignore him. Some believers swing to extremes. They either blame everything on the devil or they deny his activity altogether. Both are errors.
Peter warned plainly:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith…—1 Peter 5:8–9
Notice again — resist. Bullies only pick on people who won’t stand up to them. The devil does the same thing. When we resist him, in the authority Christ has provided, he will flee.
5. Practical Application: How To Exercise Authority
If you’re going to resist the devil and watch him flee from you, you have to do what the Word says. The first thing you have to do is submit yourself to God. Authority begins with surrender. If you don’t do this, nothing else will work.
Then you have to speak the Word. Declare who you are in Christ. This is done from that position of authority that you have been given. Next, command in Jesus’ Name. This is your legal standing in Christ. You must resist consistently. It’s not a one time event. The devil is not going to stop coming against you just because you do it once.
As long as you are on the earth, you are going to have to deal with the devil. Authority is maintained by steadfast faith. And as you go about life, refuse to fear. The devil uses intimidation as his primary weapon, so don’t give in. Stand on the truth of who you are in Christ and who Christ is in you! As a final reminder, you do not beg devils. You command them.
Stand firm in your authority, following what the Word says, and the devil will flee from you. God is with you!
