The Enemy Isn’t Waiting—Why Are You? 

You may not want to think about it, but we are in a spiritual war. And if you don’t acknowledge that fact, you’re destined to lose. We have an enemy who’s out to destroy us, and we have to learn to take our authority. 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 

1 Peter 5:8 

Satan is a defeated foe, so the only weapon he has left is deception. He comes against us with unbelief, doubt, and lies. And if you yield to any of those things, you’re the one shutting off the power of God in your life. That’s a strong statement, but look what it says in Ephesians 3:20: 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. 

It’s Not God Who’s Holding You Back . . . It’s You 

Most people quote the first half of Ephesians 3:20 and stop. But it doesn’t end there. What this verse is saying is that God’s power flows in our lives according to the power that works in us—not just according to His ability, but according to what’s operating in us. That means if you don’t have love, faith, or a revelation of your authority working on the inside, then it’s wrong to just say, “Well, God can do anything.” No, He’s tied what He’ll do in your life to what you believe and the authority you take. 

A lot of people don’t like that because it puts responsibility on them—and most people would rather say, “Well, God is sovereign and He’s just allowing this.” But that’s not what the Word says. God’s not causing the mess. We have an enemy who’s going around seeking whom he may devour, and we’re the ones God placed here to stop him. The sad truth is, most believers aren’t using their authority. 

When Authority Changes Everything 

I remember reading about John G. Lake, a powerful healing minister. He saw so many people healed in Spokane, Washington, they actually shut down one of the hospitals. But before that, his life was marked by loss. Several family members died young, and at one point, his sister was near death, barely breathing. In desperation, he cried out to God. And the Lord basically told him, I’ve given you authority—you need to stand up and use it. When he stood in faith and rebuked that sickness, his sister recovered. That revelation changed everything. He realized they had been praying and asking God to move, but they weren’t using the authority He’d already given them. 

It’s not our power—it’s God’s. But that power flows through us. And if we’re not using our authority, it’s not on God. It’s on us. 

The Authority You’re Not Using 

God created physical laws from the very beginning. Take electricity, for instance—we use it every day to heat and cool buildings, run lights, and do all kinds of things. But did you know that Adam and Eve could have used electricity if they had understood those laws? It’s not that God just created electricity a hundred years ago—it’s that we’re just now discovering the laws. 

Well, in the same way, there are spiritual laws that have been in place from the beginning. And one of those is the authority God gave us over the devil. If Satan is running wild in your life or in your family, it’s not because God’s allowing it—it’s because you aren’t using the authority He gave you. 

Now, I’m not saying that to condemn anyone. It’s no different than people a thousand years ago not using electricity—they just didn’t know it was there. Likewise, there are a lot of sincere believers who love the Lord and are on their way to heaven, but they’re still begging Him to do what He told them to do. We’ve got to learn what He’s given us and use our authority. 

What Has God Authorized You to Do? 

In Matthew 10:1, it says Jesus gave His disciples power over unclean spirits and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease. But if you also read Luke 9:1, you’ll see He gave them power and authority. Now, power—dunamis—means miracle-working ability, but authority is the right to use that ability. It’s like a police officer who holds up their hand to stop a semi-truck. They don’t have the strength to stop it, but they have the authority behind them, and that’s enough. That’s what God gave us. We don’t have the power to heal or deliver people on our own—but God has the power, and He gave us the authority to use it. 

Jesus didn’t say, “Go, ask Me to heal the sick.” No, He said, You heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead (see Matt. 10:7–8). Just like with preaching the Gospel, God’s not going to do it for us. He doesn’t send angels to preach. Even Cornelius, who was a godly man, had to send for Peter to hear the Gospel (Acts 10). Why? Because God gave people, not angels, the authority to preach. And it’s the same with healing. He’s not going to sovereignly intervene while we sit back passively. 

People ask why we don’t see more miracles. The truth is—miracles still happen. I’ve seen people get out of wheelchairs and be raised from the dead. But it’s not automatic. If we don’t take the authority He’s given us, it doesn’t get done. 

And I’ll just say this plainly: in my experience, this is the number-one thing that keeps believers from receiving what they’re asking for. They come to God begging, saying, “Lord, I have nothing. I am nothing. Please stretch forth Your hand,” not realizing that God already gave them authority to speak and command what He’s provided. 

The One Step Most Christians Never Take 

That kind of passivity in the body of Christ is hindering the ministry the Holy Spirit wants to do in people. I want to help you understand your authority and begin to act on it, so I encourage you to get the materials we’re offering on this teaching, The Believer’s Authority. I believe it’ll be a blessing to you and help you learn how to walk in the power and authority that’s already yours.