When the Devil Pushes Back

My family had some wonderful victories in 2007. I don’t want to get into great detail, but it was a year to be remembered. God’s mercy, love, grace, and faithfulness was poured out in a very abundant way, in multiple different situations, that lead to much thankfulness and joy. It all culminated right around the Holidays. I for one will never forget Christmas of 2007 when family gathered on Christmas Eve and in our annual tradition went around the room giving thanks for everything we had to be grateful for in 07, and talked about what we were looking forward to in 08. It was filled with tears of joy and triumph and guffaws of laughter that only come from a deep understanding of God’s amazing goodness to those who believe.

2008 started out without much fanfare. Everyone was quickly working toward New Year goals and growing in and enjoying the triumphs of 2007. Then one by one members of my family started catching colds, flu symptoms, and infections. Now this was nothing serious, but we don’t all live right by each other and it seemed at one point, including this past week, about half of our family was struggling with some kind of sickness all at the same time. Now I know it is “flu season”, but let me just say that our family doesn’t typically suffer this kind of sickness and I know that at least 3 of us had symptoms one week only to get “sick” again just a couple weeks later. I can tell you that I can’t remember the last time I got sick twice in one month.

Now as I was lying in bed feeling pitiful and sorry for myself last week I started to get angry at what was going on. I got angry because I felt that the recent outbreak of sickness was an attack of the devil on me and my family. He was using what he could to steal joy, create stress, and cause trouble. I thought well if this is the best you can do, then bring it on because this is nothing. Oh and by the way, Mr. Devil, we don’t have to deal with this either.

I got into the Word and started pouring over scriptures of God’s power, which he delegated to Christ who delegated it to us the body of Christ, and I started speaking those words of authority over the devil and over the sickness. Now I won’t claim I felt better right away, but I know that the Doctor says that it normally takes a good week to get over what I had and I was feeling worlds better in just a couple of days.

Ephesians 1:19-21 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ and He gave Him this authority for the benefit of the Church. (NLT emphasis mine)

Paul is praying that we would understand the incredible greatness of God’s power, and he reminds us that this is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. That is death defeating power. He then goes on to tell us that God has put all things under the authority of Christ and this is for the benefit of the church. So he explains the power and then the authority. You see you have to take your authority to exercise your power. If you don’t know what your power is all the authority in the world won’t matter. If you don’t have authority then your power is useless.

So I believe that we have the power over sickness in our lives. I believe that Jesus is the healer and wants us healed. I believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe that God has given us power in this world and the authority to use it. I believe the devil is seeking whom he may devour and unless we stand up and exercise our authority we give him free reign in this world. So the next time the devil comes against you with sickness, stand up and take your authority over him and that infirmity, and receive your healing that has been freely given.