Stand Firm In The Authority of Christ

This week as I’ve been studying what God’s Word says about the authority of Christ in us, I’ve had the enemy throwing darts at me, attempting to pierce my heart and mind. But I stand firm and am “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Col 1:11-12)

I am a child of God, who can’t be snatched from His hand; therefore I already have the riches of His glory–“which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). I am encouraged in love, with the full assurance of understanding that I have His treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).

I received a call a couple of days ago from TWC (regarding my continuing unemployment benefits) as they finally received a response from the company where I worked for a couple of days. Immediately when I got off the phone, feelings of shame and hopelessness came at my mind with brute force. I took up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).

The Lord took me to this passage: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Phil 4:6-8)

As I prayed, I realized that only the Lord is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy; so I meditated on Him. I looked to Jesus, “the author and finisher of my faith” (Heb 12:2). I am no longer a slave to the enemy because Jesus “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). When Christ was raised from the dead, He removed the bullets in the gun Satan was waving at me. He has no power over me. In Christ I am “complete… [because He] is the head of all principality and power” (Col 2:10).

While the enemy tried to get me to feel shame and to doubt my Lord’s promise to make provision for me, I doubled down into God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit. He did give me peace, even if TWC decided not to continue my benefits. I stood firm knowing that I am His possession, and He promised to make for my provision IF I seek Him first, and He promised to protect me from the enemy’s attacks.

This morning, TWC deposited money into my account. It was a confirmation that God cares for me, and cemented the truth that being anxious about what might happen was Satan’s attempt to get me to look to myself to obtain a victory (to make me think I could be like God-pride!), instead of standing in the truth that God fights for me when I stand firmly in the victory He already has. I want to share one prayer from Tony Evans’s book “Prayers for Victory in Spiritual Warfare”.

Put On the Belt of Truth: Father, I praise You for giving all authority to Jesus Christ. Your Word says, “He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:22-23). As a member of Christ’s church, His body, I represent the fullness of Him who fills all in all. I have complete and total access to the greatest authority over all. Nothing can stand in my way when I seek Jesus Christ and His power in faith and humility. He holds the keys that unlock the power to bind the gates of hell from advancing on my mind, relationships, future, career, and all other things. Satan wants me to forget that truth. My emotions do not dictate the truth. How I feel at any given moment does not dictate what is true. The truth is that all things have been put in subjection under Jesus’s feet. I am in Christ, so His authority is always available to me as I live aligned under Him. Thank you for this!

Put On the Breastplate of Righteousness: Lord, I am righteous in You because of Jesus Christ. Christ has in fact become my righteousness, and righteousness has become my breastplate in the war against the enemy. I claim Christ’s righteousness and His victory as my own, not because of any righteous thing I have done, but because I have placed my faith in Him. Satan keeps whispering to me that I am righteous in my own flesh, but that’s a lie, and I refute it and replace it with the truth of God’s Word. My victory does not come out of my own goodness. Rather, I will boast in my weakness because when I am weak, Christ in me is strong.

Put On the Shoes of Peace: Today, Lord, I wear the shoes of peace, shoes especially fit for me as pieces of my armor against Satan. These shoes lead me on the path You’ve designed especially for me. This path is mine alone, carved out for me by Your hand. You have created me for this path and given me authority in Christ that can overcome all opposition. I praise You and thank You for Your individual attention and care for me. I praise You and thank You that just as Jesus stood and calmed the waves of the storm with only His words, He has authority to calm any storm in my life when I call on Him. Jesus is my source of peace because Jesus has authority over chaos.

Take Up the Shield of Faith: Father, I take up the shield of faith to combat the lies the enemy throws at me–lies that I am powerless, fearful, weak, defeated, and so much more. In truth, I am able to overcome any scheme of the devil when I place myself under the authority of Jesus Christ. When I put my faith in His authority, He will fight and win my battles for me. Placing faith in His authority, though, also means that I don’t turn to my own methods to fight as well. Faith is complete and total trust, so I let go of my ways, Lord, and look to You to carry out the victory in the way You choose. I trust that You will guide me with all wisdom, revealing the part I am to play in each battle I face.

Take the Helmet of Salvation: Lord, at my salvation, You made me a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). I praise You for this great salvation, which gave me authority through Jesus Christ. Satan, I am a saved and redeemed person, I am no longer a citizen of your kingdom. Rather, I am a citizen in God’s dominion of light and truth. God’s salvation equips me with every tool to overcome your tactics and your accusations. Lord, thank You for this, my helmet of salvation.

Take Up the Sword of the Spirit: Lord, Your sword is able to stop Satan in his tracks because it is truth. The authority given to Jesus Christ has not rendered Satan powerless. He still has power, but that power can be cancelled through Your authority. Help me remember that Satan still has power so that I don’t seek to fight him with my own power. I would not win that battle. I win only when I face Satan with the authority of Jesus Christ. So I must abide in Christ and let His Word abide in me so that I will always have my sword handy to overcome the schemes of the devil. Thank You for giving me this wisdom. In Christ’s name, amen.

Part of the Series: The Authority of Christ (links will be added when they are published, and more may be added to the list as God leads)

Sources:

Seeking Passionate Prayer in Spiritual Warfare