They Obeyed Him

"He was not two-faced.  He was not hypocritical.  He did not have a dark side of his life that he kept hidden.  He didn't just speak the truth-he was the Truth Incarnate.  Jesus gave orders to unclean spirits, and they obeyed him.  It wasn't the words that kicked the devil out, it was the person who spoke those words."

Jesus gave orders to unclean spirits, and they obeyed him.  Aren't we supposed to be doing the same? 

   

"They obeyed him."

The authority of Jesus.  Jesus!  All authority has been given to Him.  He in turn shares it with us, if we will accept it, to continue on in the work of setting the captives free.   If it wasn't the "words" that kicked the devil out of people's lives but the "person" behind those words, then it makes sense that the devil would not want you to realize your true identity in Christ, or accept his authority in your life.  Realizing your true identity means defeat for him.  Realizing and accepting your true identity and the authority of Christ means that you now see the devil for what he really is, and the only authority he has in your life is what you give him.  You now see the devil and his deception clearly because you are no longer living in it. Living in falsehood, being someone you were not created to be is simply deceit. The devil has no problem working in this, in fact he desires it and thrives in it. When you accept the call of Jesus and begin to take the spiritual life seriously and actually live it, you take away everything the devil uses to remain attached to your life.  He loses his hold on you and others. He can harass and oppress, but he cannot hold on.  If he has to obey Christ, then he has to obey Christ that is in me.  I now share the authority that was given to Jesus.  See the importance of knowing who you are and accepting that truth?  The importance of dying to "self" in order for Christ to reign in you?  It isn't just for us, for our salvation alone...it is so Christ can save others through us.