“Now, men, don’t try this at home,” are words that Jesus never said.
“I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,” were His words, instead.
“Whatever you bind (or loose) on earth will be bound (or loosed) in heaven,”
were just as much His words as those that said to “forgive, seventy times seven.”

“Peace, be still,” He spoke, with authority, to the fury of wind and wave.
And a disciple is one who closely adheres to the example that his teacher gave.
“Greater works than these he (the believer) will do” was a bit jarring, by the way, since keeping things “normal” tends to be the way we often prefer to stay.

We’re commissioned to send the Word, with authority, as Jesus, our Lord, did–
Yet we sometimes hesitate, as if this is something that our Lord would forbid.
Some circumstances make us want to concede, when they seem to be too tough. But that’s when we must enforce the enemy’s defeat–that we have had enough!

“It is written,” which Jesus said, is a prime example of Him using the powerful sword…of the written Word of God.  In resisting the devil, it must be underscored.  Let’s turn this whole world upside down as in the new Testament book of Acts–Those accounts aren’t fables; no, instead, they’re God’s “truths” that overturn “facts.”

P. A. Oltrogge

“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 KJV

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 KJV (and Matthew 18:18)

“Then came Peter to him, and said, ‘Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.'” Matthew 18:21-22 KJV

“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 KJV

“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 KJV

“Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.” Luke 7:7 KJV (from Luke 7:1-10, the story of the healing of the centurion’s servant)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV

Encouragement at http://www.sidroth.org and also http://www.billyebrim.org for “The Authority of the Believer and How to Use It” booklet for $2 in “Store”

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45 …as spoken by Elizabeth to Mary

Father in heaven,

I’m looking to You for the fulfillment of Your perfect will being done, for it’s in trusting You, dear God, that I know that the victory is won.

You will orchestrate the solution for that about which I’m praying…as I declare and decree Your promises, which are Goliath-slaying.

I can take authority over all the power of the enemy–every demonic tactic, and thank You ahead for a good outcome–Your wisdom and power are fantastic.

And then, I can proclaim it’s finished through Jesus Christ, Your Son…who taught us to pray for Your kingdom to come and for Your will on earth to be done.

P. A. Oltrogge

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

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

“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….” Hebrews 12:2

“And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45 KJV

and Ephesians 1:18-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; Isaiah 41:10

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

“While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine–where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.'” Luke 17:11-19

When I think of the healing of the ten leprous men, and how only one man turned back, in thanks to God, out of the ten…

I’m reminded of how I often take for granted God’s care, when I should “turn back” to the place of blessing and thank the Lord there.

Joining you in thanking God today for all of our blessings–for our salvation through Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 1:3-14), the Lord’s many provisions, for opportunities to pray for and serve others, and for friends and family; also for answers to prayer that we can yet anticipate (Hebrews 11:1, Psalm 27:13) and for His comfort and joy.

And thank you for taking the time to visit here on the Porch of the Lord.

“Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.” Psalm 106:22

Many Christian books have been written on the authority of the believer; but as one minister has said, always remember this, in being a receiver.

“The Authority of the SPEAKING Believer” is a more distinct book title for such. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. What we say, Proverbs says, matters much.

Jesus said to say unto this mountain, that it should be cast into the sea. Pray and also say, (from Mark 11:23-24)–we reign in life by our verbal decree.

Remember that David spoke words of faith in God as he faced Goliath, the giant. Not just a stone and a slingshot, but those words helped make things compliant.

Three Hebrew men spoke with faith, and were rescued from a terrible blaze. Joseph went from slave to ruler. “God meant it unto good,” was his faith-filled phrase.

Noah, who “walked with God,” built an ark for a flood, which God had said would be vast. His actions spoke of his certainty in believing God, even after much time had passed.

All the people in these examples were lauding God, as their specific stories tell. Your THANKS and WORSHIP to God become a shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of hell.

Think about whether you’ve been too quiet, only believing in your heart. Speak God’s Word and words of positive faith to cause any “mountains” of concern to depart.

P. A. Oltrogge

“…But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6

“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20-21

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23-24

“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47 (David’s words to Goliath.)

“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.” Job 22:28

James 3:3-6 refers to a bit in the mouth of a horse or the small rudder on a ship determining their direction, in speaking of the tongue and our words.

“The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life.” Proverbs 10:11

“A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words….” Proverbs 12:14

“…Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9

“By faith (with confidence in God and His word) Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this (act of obedience) he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.” Hebrews 11:7 AMP

“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16

“…I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:15

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it, with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

Scriptures NKJV or as noted

Book recommendation (Mini-book for $2) at http://www.billyebrim.org under “Store,” …”The Authority of the Believer and How to Use It”