Why Beg for What’s Already Yours?
I’ve met thousands of people who believe God can heal, deliver, and provide—but they’re still waiting and praying, and nothing’s happening. I guarantee you, nine times out of ten, it’s because they don’t know about the authority God has already given them.
In James 4:7, it says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” That’s not a suggestion. That’s a command. And notice it says the devil will flee from you—not from God. God and the devil already met—Jesus beat him hands down. The problem is, most Christians don’t act like it. They’re still begging God to do what He’s already equipped them to do.
The Battle Is Real—But You’re Equipped
You may not want to think about it, but we are in a spiritual war. And if you don’t face up to that fact, you’re destined to lose. We have an enemy who’s out to destroy us, and we have to learn to take our authority.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
A lot of people don’t like that because it puts the responsibility on them. It’s easier to just say, “Well, God is sovereign, and He’s allowing this.” But that’s not what the Bible teaches. God’s not the one causing the problems. We have an enemy, and we’ve been given the power to stop him. The sad truth is that most believers aren’t using it.
Jesus Empowered You to Win
God created physical laws from the very beginning. Take electricity, for instance—we use it every day for heating, cooling, running lights, and all kinds of things. But did you know that Adam and Eve could have used electricity if they had understood those laws? It’s not that God just created electricity a hundred years ago—it’s that we’re just now discovering the laws.
In the same way, there are spiritual laws that have been in place from the beginning. And one of those is the authority God gave us over the devil. If Satan is running wild in your life or in your family, it’s not because God’s letting him—it’s because you aren’t resisting him.
Power vs. Authority: What’s the Difference?
Luke 9:1 says that Jesus gave His disciples power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. Power is miracle-working ability. Authority is the right to use it. It’s like a police officer putting up their hand to stop an eighteen-wheeler—they don’t have the strength to stop it, but they’ve got the backing of the law. That’s what God gave us. It’s His power, but we have the authority to use it.
Jesus didn’t say, “Ask Me to heal the sick.” He said to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Matt. 10:8). Just like with preaching, God doesn’t do it Himself. He sends people. Remember Cornelius in Acts 10? An angel showed up—but he didn’t preach to Cornelius. Instead, he told him to send for Peter. Why? Because God gave people—not angels—the authority to preach the Gospel. And it’s the same with healing. If we don’t use the authority we’ve been given, it won’t get done.
I believe this is the number-one thing keeping believers from receiving from God. They come to Him like beggars instead of believers.
I encourage you to visit awmi.net for more free teachings. If you would like prayer, we’re here for you. Call our Helpline at 719-635-1111 to speak with one of our trained prayer ministers. They will stand in agreement with you for God’s perfect will in your life.
We love you,
Andrew and Jamie
