Open Heavens 11 October 2016: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Believer’s Authority I

Topic: The Believer’s Authority I [Tuesday 11, October 2016]
Memorise: Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. – Luke 9:1
Read: Luke 9:1-6 (KJV)
 1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
 3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
Bible in One Year: Daniel 1-2, Psalms 78:1-8
MESSAGE:
 A believer’s power and authority are two potent legacies that are highly irresistible beyond any man’s imagination. However, it is unfortunate that many children of God do not recognize them. This is the reason why the devil batters them on every side. As a result of this ignorance, the victor becomes a victim of circumstances. I pray for someone using this devotional; you will never be a victim of circumstances in Jesus’ name.
 Power is the ability to perform a function and this is what Jesus Christ has made available to all His genuine disciples. Authority is more valuable than power because you can have the ability to do something, but if you don’t have the authority, you may not be able to. For example, with the power of the gun, you can hunt wildlife in the jungle, but if you are not licensed to hunt and you do, you may be jailed. In John 5:25-27 the Bible says:
“25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”
Interestingly, according to today’s memory verse, this power and the authority to perform have been given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ:
“Then He called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.” - Luke 9:1
 When a (so called) child of God is now caught in situations that are unbecoming of a saint and he then says “it is the work of the devil!” such a believer does not know the authority he has. The power to live above sin is made available through the work of redemption that Jesus Christ wrought at Calvary. The Bible says in 1 John 3:8:
 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
When you come to Jesus Christ and you believe that He came to save you from the power of sin, He will not only forgive you, but will also give you the power to go and sin no more (John 8:11). This is the assurance that we have; that the grace of Jesus Christ will deliver us from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14). My prayer is that you will not be beaten by the power of sin in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: I prophesy to my life: I will no longer be a victim of sin, but a victor in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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