PASTOR’S CORNER: It’s under your feet

This message this morning is a declaration or a confirmation of our faith. It is affirming something that we already know but has not been acting on. This is a powerful statement that we can proclaim loud and clear in the name above all names Jesus Christ our savior; this morning community. We are not exercising or using our full potential as Christians. Some of us are living beneath our privilege as sons and daughters of almighty God.

Just a few weeks ago we celebrated the fact that we serve a risen savior. With all power and authority we as Christians share in that authority, but like anything, it will only work when we use it.

It’s like having a key to a mansion on a hill. It has been deeded to us; we have ownership of it, but unless we insert the key, turn it and unlock the door we will never have access to that mansion. It’s like having $1 million that has been deposited into our personal bank account with our name on it, but unless we unleash the money through a withdrawal, through our debit card or outright withdrawal from the bank teller itself then the money will do us no good.

It’s like if you were given a brand new car and the owner of the car dealership says it’s yours, you can just drive it home. There are no car payments, no strings attached, it belongs to you; but unless you put the key into the ignition switch, turn the car on, put it in drive and ease on down the road, that car will stay right there on the car lot. Just looking at it won’t move it.

There are benefits that we have received as Christians. Things that have been given to us freely. It’s not that we deserve it, but by grace through faith, and by virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ it has been given to us. We have power and authority, a pandora’s box has been opened to us in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but because we don’t turn the key of faith to open the door, because we won’t make a withdraw from our account, or turn on the ignition switch, everything stays where it is.

By virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have power and authority over Satan and his demonic forces. I said we have authority over the devil! He doesn’t have authority over us, but we have authority over him. The only authority that Satan has is what we give him. Not just the preacher or pastor, not just the deacon or missionary; every blood-bought Christian, saved by grace has that same power or authority over the enemy.

And, that’s not all. He’s under our feet! How about that? But, we must use the key! The word “authority” means “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, or enforce obedience.” There’s something to that because this means that every Christian believer has the right to “give orders.”

See, He bruised Jesus’s heel on the cross in that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, according to Isaiah 53:4. But, Jesus bruised His head when He died on the cross and that Sunday morning when he got up bodily from the grave He said “All power” …meaning “All power in heaven and here on earth was given to him which includes power over the devil and his demons, (Matthew 28:18).

That’s why we don’t need to be saying, “The devil made me do it!” Please don’t say that! If we ever said it, don’t say it anymore! If we did it, it was because we chose to do it, but he can’t make us do anything! My friends, let’s determine today that we are going to access what we have;. Let’s determine today that Satan will not rule over our lives anymore, he will not steal my joy anymore, he will not steal my peace anymore, he will not rob me of my spiritual birthright, he will not exercise any place in my life. Let’s determine that I’m not going to walk around mad with anger in my heart with anybody, that we choose to live and not die. In fact, somebody ought to speak life in your life this morning. Say, “I’m going to live until God says it’s time for me to go!” the devil will not occupy any place in my life.

Community, we can do this. How? Because the devil is under our feet.

The Apostle Paul said, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his power. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead… and has put all things UNDER his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,” in Ephesians 1:19,22. I don’t think we get this; the extraordinary divine power by which Christ was raised from the dead is available to us.

The greatest power shortage today is not in our generators or our gas tanks or Progress Energy. It is in our personal lives. We are walking around with a power shortage in us! Christians are supposed to have power! The very power that raised Jesus from the dead should be evident in our daily lives! Friends, Jesus hasn’t retired! He’s still on his throne.

Remind the devil, that he’s under our feet. Let us declare today, that circumstances, the devil, worry, problems and enemies are all under our feet.