I want to share with you the key to being able to say no to the enemy invading your house. The authority of the believer has been given to us in Christ in order to protect our homes from the enemy’s attack.
Today Satan is attacking homes like never before. Divorce tears apart marriage. Rebellion among children destroys relationships. Sin enters a home and opens a door and the effects can be devastating.
1 Peter 3:10-13 gives us a powerful key to the authority of the believer. Peter tells us two ways we can keep the walls of spiritual protection up around our house. He begins with this promise.
“For, “Whoever would love life
and see good days
Sounds good, doesn’t it? That is a promise of spiritual protection for the family. Peter goes on to say that the actual way we live is what allows those walls of protection around our families. Peter really gives us key number one in protecting our home. Living right. Being right. Keeping ourselves clean before God, turning from evil. Here is how Peter put it.
They must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
In other words, there is a link between the spiritual protection of your home and practical holiness lived out inside of that home. But Peter give us another key that is extremely powerful in this passage.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
What does prayer have to do with it? Prayer is exercising your spiritual authority. Here is the good news! When you live right. When you pray with authority. The enemy doesn’t have a chance. If you are a disciple of Jesus, Christ has given you his authority. The authority of the believer is a teaching you need in order to protect your home.
Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Luke 10:19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
There is a spiritual attack going on in America against the home and the family. The traditional family in America is rapidly declining. If God’s people don’t stand up, take the authority that God has given them, and resist the enemy, America will see an onslaught of brokenness unprecedented in our world. Satan’s agenda for every family is seen in this verse:
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;”
Imagine if your home was ransacked by a thief. Furniture is tipped over, drawers are pulled out, anything made of glass is broken the contents poured out. Everything would be damaged. Anything of value would be taken. Everything else would be tossed to the ground.
What is true in the natural is true in the Spiritual. Satan wants to destroy every home in America. Satan is opposed to marriage. Why? It is the first institution that God ever gave and has been lifegiving and joyous and wonderful. If you are married he wants you divorced. If you aren’t married he wants you living together or sleeping with whoever. So that in the end when things break up you feel betrayed. He doesn’t like parenthood either. He wants your kids rebellious, angry, and disobedient. He doesn’t want you to have any positive relationships or friends that bring life or hope. He wants to destroy your home. He wants to steal your marriage away. That is his agenda.
But this is what I believe. Satan may have the authority to destroy homes and families that do not know Christ. But if you are a believer, he can’t do that, unless we let him. The authority of the believer is ours if we will use it!
I have never been a thief, but I know one thing. If I was going to break into a house to steal kill, and destroy. I wouldn’t want to choose one where dad was standing there with a weapon in his hand. I wouldn’t choose to try to come into a home where mama was packing heat. Satan wants your home with the walls down. But God wants you to be standing in the door armed and dangerous. Armed with the Word! Empowered by the Holy Spirit!
God has given us authority. That authority comes in prayer. I believe that it is time for the church of Jesus Christ to stand up against the enemy of our souls and say. Enough is enough!
We need to follow Peters advice in 1 Peter 5:9 “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
All over the world today, in the family of believers, there are those who are standing firm, resisting the enemy. They are saying, you cannot have my home and my family. I will not even give you a foothold. They are exercising the authority of the believer.
Ephesians 4:27 “and do not give the devil a foothold.”
I want to show you this morning, two Old Testament stories that will greatly open up your mind and your heart to the authority that you have. They show us how to fight and use our God given authority.
- AN EXAMPLE NOT TO FOLLOW
Can you imagine if someone came to your house, and said to you: I am taking everything you have. I am taking your wife! I am taking your kids! All your stuff…it’s all mine. By the way I will take your money from your bank accounts. Can you imagine how weak-willed a person would have to be just to say, Go ahead. You can have it all! It’s all yours! That is exactly what one of the worst kings in the Old Testament did.
We are going to look at 1 Kings 20:1-7
“Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says:3 ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”
4 The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”
5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children.6 But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”
7 The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”
This true Old Testament story is meant to be more than just words about a historical situation. It is given to us an example so that we might learn from it.
Because you see, Ben-Hadad is a type of Satan. John 10:10 tells us that Satan kills, steals and destroys. That is exactly what Ben-Hadad was intent on doing. And what more pathetic words are found in the Word, than this. When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.
I am going to give you two reasons why Ahab had no spiritual authority to refuse him.
- Ahab never had a real relationship to Jehovah God.
True authority comes from having a relationship with God. All through the Old Testament you see authority given to those who had a relationship with God. David had authority to defeat multiple kings. Moses had authority to bring Pharaoh to his knees. Joshua had authority to defeat Canaan. Why? Because they had a real relationship to God. Ahab did not.
Ahab was one of the most evil kings in all of the Old Testament. King Ahab seemed hell-bent on provoking God from the moment he took the throne. His first recorded move was to marry Sidonian King Ethbaal’s daughter Jezebel and serve her gods. She promoted the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth. Underneath his reign Israel reached an all-time spiritual low! What did God do?
Elijah calls for a three and one-half year drought. At the end of that time, there is a showdown. It is Elijah versus the prophets of Baal. Baals’ prophets were defeated and killed. Then Elijah prays for rain. God sends rain. Ahab observes it all. But does any of that change Ahab?
Some think that Ahab repented finally. When he heard Elijah tell him that God was going to wipe him and his descendants off the earth, how did Ahab respond? “He humbled tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his bod, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning” (1 Kings 21:27).
Although the repentance put off God’s judgment, Ahab’s heart really didn’t change. It’s like the kid who says he’s sorry because he got caught but goes out and does the same thing again. Ahab rent his garments but not his heart. We know this because Ahab did not forsake his idols, he did not return Naboth’s vineyard to its rightful heirs, and he did not bring Jezebel in order. He even went on in the next chapter to put Micaiah, another man of God prophet in prison because he wouldn’t prophesy according to the party line. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words. So not knowing God he had no authority.
The authority of the believer is for those in relationship with God!
2. Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord
1 Kings 21:25-36 “(There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)”
You have no authority if you are bound up in sin. And so consequently, when Ben-Hadad sent him the message I want you silver, gold, the best of your wives. Ahab was powerless. He could only see through natural eyes. He understood that there was 32 kings out there and Samaria was under siege. He had no eyes of faith. He had no courage. He just said ok, come get them.It’s unbelievable someone would actually say that. If God had not sent a prophet, Ben Hadad would have been given free access.
Ahab is a good example not to follow. He was compromised. He was full of sin and iniquity himself. He was under the influence of Jezebel. He allowed her to reign. He knew nothing of real prayer or repentance. He knew nothing of the Word. He couldn’t even recognize that God was God when he sent fire and rain. The authority of the believer is limited if they are bound to sin.
Here is an example are we to follow.
- AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
If ever a man was used by God to turn a family and a nation back to God, it was Moses. When Moses came on the scene, he came to a nation that was in a spiritual mess. The children of Israel were enslaved. Many had been involved in idolatry because that is the first thing they turned back to when things got tough. They were in Bondage. Even when God started showing up and doing great things, they quickly turned back. There homes were in chaos. They were in poverty.
But Moses had the courage as a father in Israel to use his authority. While Ahab said, you can take it all, my wife, my kids, my silver and my gold. Moses was the opposite. He had marched in to Pharaoh and said, Let my people go! We are leaving. And Pharaoh tried to make a compromise. Even though the plagues from God are upon him and his country, Pharaoh kept hardening his heart. Pharaohs officials are already saying. Egypt is ruined. Let these people go. He still doesn’t want to let them go.
Exodus 10:8-11
“Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the Lord your God,” he said. “But tell me who will be going.”
Moses answered, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.”
Pharaoh said, “The Lord be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil. No! Have only the men go and worship the Lord, since that’s what you have been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.”
And then a few verses later after yet another plague we have a second offer of compromise:
Exodus 10:24-25 “Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.” But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind.”
I like that! Not even a single leg of lamb will be yours! That is the spirit you are to have when it comes to your home. You are to say: Devil, you have no authority here. Only God has authority. You are not allowed here, so get out.
There are three reasons why Moses had that authority.
- He had an encounter with God
There are so many in our world today, who only know God from what they have read or what they have heard or what others have told them. They have never had an encounter with God. But Moses did.
Exodus 3:4-5 “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Moses had grown up taught by his mother. She had probably told him about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. She had told him all that God had done and how they got down to Egypt, but he did not walk in fullness of strength and power until he had met “I am that I am”! Moses had an encounter with God by that bush.
I am grateful for the many encounters I have had with God across many years. My heart goes out for people in churches who have been taught that the moving of the Holy Spirit is for another day. If you have never had an encounter with the Resurrected Christ, then seek Him until you do. It will take your authority level higher.
2. He appropriated the authority of the Blood
The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt and Moses marches in and says, “Let my people go!” And after each encounter with Pharaoh, God sent a plague. They were tragic plagues: Locusts, Frogs, Darkness, Boils, Gnats, the water turning to blood.
On the final day before they left Egypt, he went in to Pharaoh and said, God says that the firstborn of every family is going to die-The firstborn of your cattle -the firstborn of the royal family. The firstborn will die, because the death angel is coming.
But he told his people. God is going to make a distinction between us and the Egyptians. I want you to find a lamb. A perfect lamb without spot and without blemish. You are to take that lamb and prepare it to eat it. You are to take some of the blood and place it on the doorpost of your houses. You are to mark your houses with blood of the lamb. And they did so that night.
Exodus 12:12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
And in the morning across Egypt was a powerful cry as they realized every firstborn animal and person was dead. But among the Israelites, no one had died.
This is a type of what happens to a believer when they accept Christ. There is a difference in a home when mom and dad have given their lives to Jesus Christ. The old-time preachers used to put it like this.
“Satan cannot cross the blood line.”
1 Peter 1:2 NLT “God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
When Satan like a roaring lion is roaming about seeking whom he may devour. He may be able to enter your neighbor’s house. He may go to the house across the street. But he has to leave you alone. Why?
Because you have been washed in the shed blood of Jesus! The lamb in Moses day was just a type of the perfect lamb of God that was sacrificed. Jesus Christ our Passover lamb. If the power of the lamb in Moses day had the power and the authority to set a house apart.
I say, we plead the shed blood of Jesus over our homes. I say we plead the power of the blood of Jesus in our lives.
3. He frequented the place of prayer in love for his people
Another reason why Moses had such authority was that he was willing to pray for his “spiritual children”. When he came down from the mountain and found them in idolatry and pagan revelry. Moses interceded. His love for the people was poured out in prayer. He even prayed, “Blot my name out of the book.” That shows us the intense and powerful intercession he had.
Exodus 32:31-32 “So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
But it was more than that, he led by example. He frequented the place of prayer and intercession.
Exodus 33:8-11 “And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
When he went to the tent of meeting, the people saw the presence of the Lord and were touched. God is calling the church of today back to the place of prayer. Where are the moms and dads and grandparents that call out the name of their children in prayer each day.
I am blessed by the powerful prayers of my in-laws Bennie and Verla Gerdes. They pray for us each day. When the family comes to visit, each night the Bible comes out, a chapter is read, and names are called in prayer. This gives great authority to those who will frequent the place of prayer.
Will you use the authority God gave you! Living right and a prayer can keep the spiritual walls up!
