Identity, Authority, Power (III) Power

Jesus told us that the agenda of the enemy is to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10a). But the verse we used last day Luke 10:19 not only tells us that the Lord has given us authority, but it specifically tells us that our authority is over all the power of the enemy. Peter tells us that he is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The interesting thing about the lion’s roar, is that its primary purpose is the frighten its pray into running, and so to reveal itself. But because of what we have been given (authority over all his power) we can in effect render him as a toothless lion! The problem, as with much of the Christian life, is in appropriating and tapping into our authority and the power.

The last part of the verse we keep quoting about the healing that comes as we confess our faults one to another is “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b NIV). The Greek lexicon Theyer says of the word translated ‘power’ here, that it means “to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds.” Some Christians would disqualify themselves here saying in effect “Well that counts me out, because I am far from righteous.” Indeed all our self righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But this is where our identity comes in. God calls us saints, which literally means “holy ones.” The point is that our standing before the bar of God is as just ones - those who have been justified (Romans 5:1). Paul tells us that he had cast aside his own righteousness in order that he might be “found in Him, not having my own righteousness ... but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9).

What I am saying is that when we know who we are in Christ, and we know the authority we have been given we can take the last part of James 5:16 and make he following declaration:- “My righteousness is in Christ, therefore my prayers are not only powerful, they are effective.” And we need to practice this, we need to say it until we believe it and then we need to say it because we believe it.” More to come!

Father in Heaven, we lift up and hallow and praise Your Holy name this morning. Help us Lord to fully know, experience and intuit deep within our spirits who we are in You, so that we may more and more fully operate in the authority and the power of Your Spirit as we declare Kingdom of God come, will of God be done on earth in the practical and tangible situations in which we find ourselves in Jesus Name Amen