Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Luke 10:19

Jesus spoke this to 82 disciples, not just the 12 apostles as some believe.  So right here we see that the apostles were not the only ones who were given power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and raise the dead.

The first word translated here as “power” is the Greek word “exousia” which literally means “delegated authority” as in the lawful authority to exercise supernatural force.  Since Jesus had been delegated this authority as the son of man from the Father at His baptism in the Holy Ghost, He was able to delegate it in turn to whomever He desired.  All true believers have this same authority.  

It is like watching an old Wild West movie where the Sheriff needs to round up a posse to go out and arrest a gang of outlaws that has been terrorizing their town.  He picks out a few good men and deputizes them all as Deputy Sheriff.  He then gives them a badge and a gun to be able to lawfully exercise this authority with the power of ability to exert force when required or necessary until the gang of outlaws are apprehended and brought to justice.  It was the law of the west.

According to Collins dictionary a deputy is “A person appointed to act on behalf of or represent another.”  As a Deputy Sheriff, they have been delegated the same authority to act in the same capacity as the Sheriff does who has been delegated this authority by the government.

We practice this too when we take out a new believer and “activate” them to lay hands on people as they minster healing to them.  Yes, technically they have already been delegated this authority directly but many of them do not believe it or realize that they have it, the proof of which is, that they do not walk in it or exercise it.  So, we take them by the hand and deputize them on the spot as they lay hands on their first candidates and watch them instantly get healed right in front of their very own eyes.  This is the quickest way to let their faith arise to the point of believing that they too can do the works Jesus did as He has instructed all of us to do and even greater works.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  John 14:12

This is further confirmed by Jesus’ last instructions to all His disciples before He ascended into heaven.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:18-20

This also confirms that Jesus commanded His disciples to teach all new believers to observe as in the sense of to guard, to keep, to preserve, all things whatsoever He had commanded them.  What this really means is that whenever you read in the gospels that Jesus commanded His disciples to do something, He commands the same to us to do today.

The second word translated as power in the top verse is the Greek word “dynamis” which literally means “force” as in possessing the ably to exert force.  We get our words dynamo and dynamite from this word.  The enemy may still have power by ability of force but he no longer has any lawful authority to do so.  The debt of redemption has been paid.  The captives have been set free.  As such, the enemy no longer has any legal right to exercise any of his ability of force at all.  But he is a lawless criminal sentenced to death who is still on the loose and practicing as much scorched earth policy as he can while he is still free and trying to take as many people with him as he can to his doom.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  1 Peter 5:8

God gave dominion over the earth to man.  Adam by his fall, surrendered it to Satan.  Jesus as the last Adam, restored dominion back to man and reinstated man’s dominion and authority over the earth.  He even gave man new power to be able to enforce his authority, namely the endued dynamic power from on high of the Holy Spirit.

So, to read the top verse in its proper context, it should read like this

Behold, I have given unto you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the ability of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Luke 10:19

This is confirmed in the next verse where Jesus tells them not to rejoice in the fact that the spirits have been subjected unto them but to rejoice in the fact that their names are written in heaven.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.  Luke 10:20

It is a far better thing that our names are written in heaven because with this we have all things and are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus.  It is because of this position that He has given unto us power over all spirits and that they have been made subject unto us.

Jesus has deputized us to destroy the works of the enemy just as He did and He has empowered us to do so in His name and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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.  1 John 3:8

Even more than deputies, we are the sons of God.  The disciples needed to be deputized because Jesus had not yet been resurrected.  They could therefore only operate on delegated authority.  After Jesus’ resurrection, they could operate in full authority as sons of God.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  John 1:12

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Galatians 4:5-7

As sons of God, the disciples were given dynamic power to enforce the will of God when they were endued with power from on high at Pentecost.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

As sons of God, you and I have received this same fullness of authority vested in us when we received the baptism of the Holy Ghost which was our personal Pentecost.  But like anything else, we must exercise our authority for the enemy to take notice and obey.

Franciscus M. Dartee

Grow in Faith | Walk in Power

 

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