Using Your Authority to Overcome Spiritual Oppression
Affirmation: I have authority over the enemy!
Anchor Scripture: Luke 10:19
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Today’s post is a little different than normal and very personal to me. I pray that whoever it’s meant for will be encouraged by it. I want to talk about spiritual oppression because I’m tired of seeing Believers (including myself) oppressed by spiritual forces. Oppression may come in the form of mental/emotional battles, financial struggles, spiritual attacks, marriage malfunctions, untraceable strife and divisions, addictions and uncontrolled self-destructive behaviors, identity crises, and so much more. Oppression is defined as the malicious or unjust treatment of a group of individuals or enforcing an abuse of power on others, often in the form of governmental authority. If you study the original meaning of the word, it means to violently crush, to press or push down, and to subdue or prosecute relentlessly. I want you to pay special attention to the legal and judicial nature of these definitions, because we must understand that the spiritual realm is a legal realm. Spiritually speaking, there are demonic forces, powers, principalities, rulers, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12) that are seeking to crush you, destroy you (in this life so you’re destroyed in the next), and prosecute you before the Judge (God). Revelation 12:10 tells us that Satan accuses us (sons and daughters of God) before God day and night. That is relentless prosecution! Satan, along with all other demons, are working overtime to build a case against you to make you pay for your sins, when Jesus already paid the price. They set traps, temptations, trials, tricks, schemes, disasters, deceptions, and devices to lead you to sin and remain in sin, in hopes to keep you separated from God. However, the case they are building will only stand if you don’t stand on the word of God.
There is NO sin, NO curse, NO demonic covenant that our Father has not set you free from through the blood of Jesus! Take a look at what Colossians 2:13-15 says:
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Jesus made a JOKE, a MOCKERY, a complete CLOWN-SHOWN out of the kingdom of darkness, so why would we ever believe the lie that we are to sit back and wallow in oppression? We are called to WAR! These spirits, strongholds, and demonic patterns in life will come to oppress you, but God gave us the Way to overcome: Jesus. In Jesus we have freedom. In Jesus we have the victory, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be battles to fight. Instead, we approach the battles, the oppression, the demonic resistance knowing that every case these demonic powers build against us has been CLOSED and OVERTURNED by the blood of Jesus! However, when we don’t stand in that truth and apply it to our lives, those cases can remain open against us.
There are many of us who go through life bound and oppressed by things that Jesus already came to set us free from. Yet because suffering is an inevitable part of this life, we can become accustomed to accept it without a fight. This should not be so for the Believer! Jesus went to the cross for us to OVERCOME, not for us to be OVERRUN by demons who have no authority, unless we give it to them (through open doors such as unrepentant sin, unbroken covenants, and/or unbelief). Our Father in Heaven paid too high a price, the blood of His only Son, for us to be living in debt (the curse of sin, spiritual oppression, bondage). We must learn to stand in the authority that was given to us to overcome spiritual oppression.
Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So, yes, even though we will face trouble, we are supposed to take heart (stand up and fight the good fight of faith) and be overcomers through Him! Luke 10:19 tells us we have been given power over the enemy. Are you using your power? Are you exercising your God-given authority over the enemy? Or are you taking off your armor and laying down your sword (the word of God)?
If you are facing spiritual oppression, here are some key practical things to do to overcome:
Evaluate if this is demonic oppression, your flesh, or a refining trial/test from God. Everything is NOT always the enemy. Prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit for understanding of the situation you are in and ask Him for instruction, comfort, guidance, and understanding.
Be sure to repent and renounce any sin or demonic agreements that may have allowed the enemy a foothold or access to you, your mind, your body, or anything pertaining to you.
Pray the word of God and in the spirit! When you pray the word of God you are declaring His perfect will over your situation and building your faith. Choose scriptures pertaining to your situation and use them as prayer points. When you pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit is interceding for you in perfect alignment with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27)
WARship GOD! Worship is a weapon against the enemy. When you’re going through things and you decide to worship, you are inviting God’s presence to be with you (which guards you from the enemy) and you are declaring, “I don’t care what you send my way, I’m going to praise His name!” Worship is more powerful than we can imagine; Just read in 2 Chronicles 20 and you’ll see!
Set your mind on the Lord. When we take our eyes off of Him, that is when things start to fall apart. Isaiah 26:3 tells us when we keep our mind on Him, He keeps us in perfect peace. Also, Colossians 3:2 reminds us to set our mind on things above, not what’s going on on the earth; This suffering is temporary, His glory is eternal.
Thank Him that the battle is already won! Satan is defeated, eternally. Don’t let him take you down with him. Stand, resist the devil, and contend to the end.
Trust God. The authority you have was given to you by God, so it is God who has the final say over your situation. Trust Him and don’t try to force things to go your way or on your timeline. Sometimes we have to endure battles because God is building something in us. “…Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).”
Stay war ready. Once the oppressive situation passes, don’t just relax. Continue to proactively fight and pray in the spirit.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” If you know you’re prey, you wouldn’t just sit around waiting to be devoured. Don’t be a casual Christian, that’s how you become a casualty.
My beloved sibling in Christ, I pray that you know you are more than an overcomer through Jesus Christ! So stand up in your authority and go fight!
