Operating in the Miraculous: Key #2

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1)

The problem with many Christians is that they attend the services, volunteer in the ministry, sing in the choir, and all this is absolutely fine. The only sad part is that they do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why the devil laughs at them. This is why they have no authority over the devil and his works.

Beyond Receiving Ministry

Most church attendees today want the Pastor, the Prophet, or the man of God to lay hands on them and prophesy over them. Again, all this is fine, but they have never taken the time to personally get into prayer and the Word. In other words, they have not taken the time to develop a relationship with the Lord through prayer, the Word, and worship.

Authority in the realm of the spirit comes by having a relationship with the Divine. Demons are well aware of this rule of engagement. Nothing is hidden in the realm of the spirit. This is why evil powers can easily spot a faker.

The Seven Sons of Sceva

This happened even in the early church. The Christian disciples had developed a powerful reputation for casting out demons in the Name of Jesus. Casting out demons in the Name of Jesus worked so effectively that it even led some unbelievers to do the same. They thought the Name of Jesus was some kind of formula that could be used to cast out demons. But look at what happened:

“Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” (Acts 19:14–17)

The Main Lesson

The evil spirit knew that those who were attempting to cast it out had no real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It recognized that these men possessed no genuine spiritual authority.

The bottom line is this: to operate in the realm of the Spirit and to function in the miraculous, you and I must possess spiritual authority and that authority comes only through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the spiritual world has no obligation to obey us; instead, it will seek to hinder and humiliate us.

Bible Reading: Proverbs 16-19

Operating in the Miraculous: Key #2

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