 Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Good that you are joining in this session where we talk about the believers authority. Let's pray and we will get started. So I request somebody, yeah, please pray. Heavenly Father, thank you very much for guiding us here for Nancy-Anne's class, Heavenly Father. Please, slightly in this class, Heavenly Father, and help us to learn about your war, Heavenly Father. Help us to gain your understanding about the word, Heavenly Father. And thank you once again for guiding us here for this class, Heavenly Father. Please, slightly in this class. Please, let me pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. So in the last class, we talked about some defensive ways in which we can exercise our authority and dominion. And we also talked about some ways in which we can take the initiative to attack, you know, or counter the attacks of the enemy. And it's a very important class which we had. I know that our on-campus students were away. You were on a mission strip, but please do go back to the recording because it's really important. So in that we covered in the defense, we said that when we are positioned in intimacy with God, as Psalm 91 says, we are automatically protected, isn't it? Or when, say, we are doing what God has called us to do. For example, we said how God called Adam and Eve to take care of the garden. That was their responsibility. So in submission to God was their protection. They went away from God. When they their own thing, they came out of protection. So that's how we can defend ourselves. You keep yourself in that place of obedience, submission to God. Automatically, you're protected, you know, to a large extent. So that's how one should be. We also said the example of Job. It is that Job, he was really conscious about doing the right thing for God. So he had a life of devotion. He was giving offerings and all. And that made a hedge of protection. So even when Satan goes to ask God regarding Job, Satan says, you already put a hedge around him. How did the hedge come? Just a life of obedience, a life of devotion towards God, it protects us. Maybe don't come under the attack of the devil. So just being in that right place can help us resist the devil. Even otherwise, we looked at so many different terms such as give no place to the devil, withstand the devil, stand against the devil. So all these things are something that a believer must do. We have to stop the devil from coming in. Okay, so is there a question, Viku? I see your hand is raised. Okay, I can't hear anything, maybe by mistake. Sure, we'll continue. Yeah, so this way we can resist. Although there are times when our resistance, you know, sometimes we stand the ground and it's done. But sometimes we have to wrestle against the devil because he can be stubborn. So we also have to wrestle. You know, wrestle, it takes some time, right? Like you're going back and forth, you're using your energy, you're trying to subdue the devil. So sometimes defending ourselves from the devil can be like that. We have to even wrestle it out. Then quench all the fiery darts. We talked about that. Now coming to the offensive, we said that we can use certain terms that were used in the ministry of Jesus. He rebuked the devil. He commanded, I command you or I cast you out. So what happens when you speak these words with authority? You're exercising your authority. So let's imagine, you know, we have authority, but we never really tell the devil what to do. So the Satan has come, demons are coming, they're trying to mess with our family, mess with our finances. We just let it go. We never ever say, stop or we never ever say, I rebuke you, I command you. We don't do that. What do you think will happen? Yeah, it will continue. Basically, it'll continue. We are letting the enemy continuous destruction. So instead of that, we must take authority. And for that, there are certain terms. I've explained this in the previous class. We could cast the demons out. We can say, okay, you are destroyed. So just in those words that we are speaking, what's happened? Authority is being released. By faith, when I release those words, authority is being released. And we can see the work stop or remove. All right. Now, let me just jump all the way to prayer and intercession. There in intercession here, we said that when we pray, prayer also is a weapon. In the armor of God, there are all those other parts. But towards the end of that armor of God description, he says pray for all the saints with all kinds of prayer, Ephesians 6, 18. Why did he talk about prayer? Because prayer also will protect us. It's part of the armor. So if I'm not a prayerful believer, then I am leaving some gaps for the enemy to work. So just, you know, as I go about my daily work, daily thing, I say, okay, God, I submit everything into your hands. I come, I confess my sins. You know, you just take your daily time with the Lord, you pray. There is a covering that comes just from that place of prayer. So prayer will also help us exercise our authority against the devil. So there are a few more things that will help us exercise our authority. And that's what I want to talk about. Now, righteous actions, righteous actions, they also are a way in which we can exercise our authority. And I'll explain, you know, what I mean by that. So when the enemy is doing the wrong things, he is instigating people to do unrighteous deeds. When we do the right thing, it's like you're destroying the devil. For example, let's say, you know, it's a group setting. And everyone is speaking accusation and condemnation and, you know, curses on each other. You're also part of that group. Now, if you choose not to speak evil words, and instead of that, you speak words of blessing, you speak words of peace, you're going against the tide. Okay, so that's a way of righteous action. You're doing the right thing when everybody else is doing the wrong thing. What happens? The enemy is defeated just by that, because he's not able to get you to react. He's not able to get you to do the wrong. So even righteous actions, what do they do? They help us overcome the devil. Now, take for example, in a, let's say, there is a region and there is a stronghold of corruption. When it comes to money, people are bribing, people are extorting, people are doing all kinds of evil things, right? Trading in the wrong way. But in that setup, if you are the person who is dealing righteously with money, what will happen? It's like a weapon against the devil. We may not fully understand how we are attacking the devil. They're actually doing it because you are that righteous person in that setting and your right actions will, will, it'll thwart or it'll destroy the works of the devil. Because why are you doing that? You're doing it by faith, knowing that God is ultimately your rewarder. So righteous actions, doing the right thing when the wrong is going on, even that gives us protection. So imagine when people, if we are living in a community where people are very selfish, people are very, you know, like they are covetous, they want to take, they want to take what is others. If you are a generous Christian, you're a kind Christian, something about the kingdom of the enemy is being broken with just that. You understand? You're going opposite to the darkness. You, because we are the light. So if darkness is unrighteousness, corruption, wickedness, condemnation, whatever it is, when you do light, generosity, kindness, you know, integrity, things like that, we can overcome the power of the enemy. Now, even at times when things have gone wrong, right? Some, some testimonies or, you know, some stories in history, you might have read about this, like I've read about regions where there was a racial disharmony, like people of one skin color, they don't like people of another skin color. So many things have, you know, because of racism. But even in such, because of these things, what happened is the generations came later, the different generations, dated an act of restitution. What is that? So they went back to the people who were, who were ill-treated. It's just representative, representative of a race that ill-treated another race. They just go and they say, we are so sorry this happened to you. You know, and from now onwards, we do not want such things to happen. This is not a godly thing. They make restitution. They ask for forgiveness. It's an action, but it's an act of faith. It's an act that destroys a stronghold. You understand? So even acts like this that have been done, overcome past mistakes have broken the power of stated over communities. Let's say, for example, if women have been ill-treated in a, in a, in a region and a lot of evils have happened to women, but once believers recognize, hey, what has happened is not good. They go back. They seek forgiveness. They try to set it right. Something powerful happens. The righteousness is stored. So even when a billkeeper is walking in righteousness, we will be able to overcome the devil. That's another way in which we are actually exercising our authority. Remember breastplate of righteousness. So just want to encourage us to follow this and truly we will see our authority established. Now coming to the next part here, this is power of agreement. Power of agreement. We have discussed this during the course on prayer and intercession. Well, the Bible says that when we agree together in prayer, right? So that one oneness of in regarding a particular matter will bring a breakthrough. So that's why when you look at the book of acts, what is nice about that group, they were in one accord. It says, right? They were in oneness of heart, oneness of heart. So oneness of heart, when we pray like that, you know, togetherness, we can release authority and things actually happen. So in our individual settings, we know like two of us, we may pray about, you know, somebody's family matter or somebody's financial situation. And that's okay. But when it comes to larger things, let's say we are praying for the city. Okay, or we are praying for the nation. How to use this power of agreement? If, let's say the pasts of the city come okay, and they are in agreement that our cities should be saved. Many people should come to know Christ in our city or certain sins which are happening, crimes which are happening, they should not happen. They agree and pray. That is so powerful. So corporately, we can leverage. So pastors praying together. How about churches praying together? I know in some cities such events have happened. At least in my growing up years, I have seen that even in Bandra, I've seen when churches have come together, they've had corporate events, like many churches getting together in one place, worshipping the Lord and breaking bread together. What is it? Corporately, we are in agreement, right? When you are in agreement in a corporate way, that is very powerful. So we should aim for that. I'm not just talking about doing group events. Event is one thing, you know, you can even have an event, but behind the scenes, there can be so much of disagreement among people. So it's not just physically coming together. It's oneness of heart. So that oneness of heart will destroy the works of the devil. So power of agreement is something which we can use, which we can work with, even when Jesus sent disciples. How did he send them? How did he generally send them? How many? How many at a time? Yeah, two by two, right? Like you just send them, go in twos. But why in twos? Is it that an individual cannot minister? No, even a single person can minister, but there is something about working together with another person, being together in prayer, right? So the power of agreement is also key and we must make sure that we use it. Okay, now what if the opposite happens? If there is a lot of division in the church, in the family, do you think we can make effective prayers? No, it becomes an advantage for Satan. Now that these people are not in agreement, come on, let me try to do something. So use agreement as a weapon against the devil. Now what are some other things which will help us overcome the devil? Two more things and I think I will just stop with that today. Okay, so the next one is angelic assistance. Angelic assistance, we can pray as God for the involvement of angels in our ministry and angels we have seen in scripture, they were sent out as messengers, they were sent out in Psalm 34 verse 7, it says, the angel of the Lord encams around those who fear him and delivers them. So they can act as guardians, angels can also engage in battle, they can engage in battle. We know that when Daniel prayed, the angel went there, engaged in battle and made sure that the prayers, the answer to the prayer actually came. We have other scriptures which are given here where even in a physical battle, angels came and they destroyed the enemy. So one thing we notice is when we are fighting the demonic, God does send angels. So we can ask God, you can say, God send your angels, send your host of angels, let them come and let them also serve. Now when we are praying, when we are doing the ministry, when we are open to the work of the spirit, the supernatural, sometimes even without asking, God will send his angels. In the book of Acts, you see that. I think Peter and John, they are captured, but what happens? They are actually supernaturally released and they are instructed, I think by an angel, they are told that okay, you go back to the same place and you reach over there. Later you see itself, you see that Paul is Peter is put in a prison and he thinks he is having a dream, but actually an angel come out of the prison, angel even takes them out of that place and allows him to be set free. So why is all this happening? When the people are open to the work of the spirit, open to the supernatural, all these things can happen. God sends angels, you will be surprised, you will be amazed that you actually had an encounter with an angel, but these things can happen. So we can pray and we can say God, you release your angels and even if there are demonic powers opposing us, angels be released to fight and usually how do the angels start working? What do they need? What is their input to start working? Okay, if I tell an angel, okay, angel you come, you help me in the house, do you think the angel will do it? Sure, yeah, I don't think so. So how do you engage an angel inviting? Inviting, okay, what else? How can you have an angel come and help the powers of darkness? Okay, in the name of Jesus, okay, right. What else? What are the other? We want angels to help us. How are you going to get them to help you? That's the question. Hearing the word of God, if you are hearing the word of God, declaring the word of God, okay, declaring the word of God. So here in the chat, Nina says, through prayers. Alright, so one is through prayer. Remember Daniel prayed, angel came. So when we are praying, in the spiritual realm, it's like warfare. You don't even have to command or invite or ask, God will send the angels, they will engage. Okay, so pray. It's amazing. You pray and angels will come. You know, angels are sent because you're praying. It's very powerful to understand that revelation. Now, the other way is in Psalm 103, please read this verse, Psalm 103 verse 20. Yeah, okay. So how do they, how do they engage hearing his voice? Isn't it? Who excel in strength, but then they heed to the voice of the Lord. So angels respond to what God has said. Now, if I want to engage, you know, angelic assistance, I need to declare the word. That's what Prince was saying. If you say what God has said, then angels can start working. That's how they work. They only respond to the command or the word of God. And that is another reason why declaration is so important. When we declare the word of God, angels will get to work because that's what the word of God says. Right? Like, he will lead us in triumphant victory in Christ Jesus, scoting a script. That's what God's word says. And so now angels can work towards my victory. Got it? So in that manner, whenever we believe the word and we make declarations, that's the way in which you can have angelic assistance. One is prayer. Second is you declare the word of God. And this, in this manner, you can overcome tax from the evil one. The final one is authority gateways. So authority gateways is simply going by the structure which God has created. So in the family, we know the God appointed structure of husband, wife, children. So the Bible says, you know, the husband is the head of the household. Okay? So when you follow the God given structure, even then you can overcome the devil. Because if we try to go any other way, let's say a child is trying to dictate all terms for a family, it doesn't work. There'll be a lot of confusion. As per what the scripture says, the husband or the father is the head of the family. So you go according to that family structure or let's say church. It'll be the pastor. So when we keep the authority structure, it is then that we will again be able to overcome the evil one. Otherwise, when you switch it around or let's say you're talking about the state or the community of people, the Bible says in Romans chapter 13 that we are supposed to honor government officials, leaders. There is an authority structure. You honor them, the Bible says. So keeping the structure will also help us avoid the attacks that the enemy causes on us. Yeah. And the other point which is given here is that if let's say somebody is in a position of authority, for example, if I'm a pastor and I pray for the people who I oversee, I can exercise authority on their behalf. Okay, let's say a believer is not able to pray for deliverance themselves. When I go and pray, it will be very powerful. Similarly, we discussed this, you know, if there are parents, their prayers are the most powerful prayers over the children. So we can use our authority because this is the authority gateway. Through me, God's authority will flow through the people who have been entrusted to me. Now, what if me as an authority figure, if I am, you know, into wrong things, just I'll just give one example. Let's imagine I am I have an office and I'm the boss. I have 50 people under me. Okay. And I have a weakness and that weakness is for money. So I take bribes. I do all kinds of wrong feelings. That is my weakness as a boss. And I am the authority figure here. How is it going to affect the people under me? It's most likely that Satan will use the weakness of the leader to have a similar thing happening among all the employees. If the employee stands up against it, well and good. Otherwise, you'll find that the culture of that particular office is like that. If the boss is like that, everybody in the office is okay to take a bribe, you know, do corrupt things. Or lusts. Say the head is like that. They are open to lustful, you know, things and all. People under them, obviously they would have given them permission. Yeah, it's okay. Nothing wrong. Nothing wrong. So you'll find the same culture. So as an authority figure, for us to keep the doubt, if I am a leader, I have to make sure that I take care of all the loopholes. There should be no loopholes. Because if I allow loopholes in my life, it'll affect the people whom I am taking care of. Okay. So that's also how we can protect people whom God has entrusted to us. So those who are in authority, we must ensure that we position ourselves in the right way. For those who are under authority, we must maintain a good relationship with the person who's leading us. So it might be a boss, it might be, you know, a manager, it might be our parents. We have to have a right relationship. What is right relationship? The Bible talks so much about it. You honor them. You obey, right? You obey them. So whatever is the right form of submission, we follow that. Now what if they tell us to do something ungodly? What do we do? Okay. Anyone online? What if the authority, person in authority tells us to do something ungodly? How do you deal with it? You should not do it. Okay. Yeah, you shouldn't do it. If it's ungodly, just don't do it, right? But how do you go about dealing with it? There are many things the Bible has to say, right? So then you really have to apply your wisdom on how is it that you actually stand your ground and don't do the ungodly thing. You could always pray and you know, speak protection over yourself and ask God's wisdom not to get into the so-called sins of those who may be leading us. Sometimes it's unfortunate, but these things happen. We see the so-called people who are supposed to be leaders or supposed to be mature, but then they are making mistakes. But as a person who's following, how should I deal with it? Okay. I can be careful not to do what they are doing, right? At least I can learn a lesson that oh, this is not the way to lead and you protect yourself through prayer. You make choices which are different from that particular individual who may currently be heading up or leading. So this is how a person who is in submission should actually protect themselves. Okay. So I'll stop with this for today. I know we are just about halfway. Any questions? Ma'am, like we are talking about, right? If the person in authority asks us to do something that is not right and at that time we have to use wisdom. We have to like say no, but to escape or to avoid doing what they are asking to do, is it okay if we lie at that time in order to not to do it? Okay. What if we lie to escape? It's like, can we lie so that we can't think that they are wrong? Yeah, I don't think so. Because it's like two wrongs don't make a right, you know, as they say. So they are asking you first of all something wrong and then you're doing also something wrong. How can anything right come out of it? Yeah. So it's better to tell like, okay, I don't want to do it. Instead of telling I have some work lying in that way. Okay. See, you can escape it without lying also. And that thing wisdom, wisdom, no, there's always a way out. But what is that godly way out? For that we have to pray and we have to ask God, he will help us. See, when you when you read, right, if somebody in authority is telling us to do something that is outright ungodly, for example, in the book of Acts, they said, don't preach in the name of Jesus. You know, they basically they said, stop worshiping the worshiping God. Peter and John say, sorry, we cannot do it. They go against it. They don't stop preaching in the name of Jesus. They continue doing the right thing. Okay. So Daniel, you must bow down and say, no, you can defy when there's something that's outright ungodly, you know, if you don't worship the statue, then we put you in fire. Okay, put us in fire. So they are defined for certain things. But it is the same Paul who wrote Romans chapter 13, where he says, honor the government, honor the leaders. So we can ask Paul, what is this Paul? You know, your people are not listening on one side. And then you're saying honor your leaders. So you see, there is a place for everything. If the instructions are such that you can accommodate it without making an ungodly decision or action, then yes, okay. But if they're asking you to do something which is making you go against God, then you just say, no, I'm sorry, I can't do that. Fine. So anything else regarding this? Yeah. So Jack in the saying, in the we have to obey what God approves. Correct. That's, that's right. So children obey your parents in the Lord. Right. So we want to do what is right as per God. And that should be the desire of our hearts. So when we walk in all these ways, even righteous actions, the right authority structures, prayer, intercession, engaging, leveraging angelic assistance and agreement will definitely help us overcome the enemy. So in the next class, I'm going to move on to exercising authority. Fine. So I'll see how it goes. Maybe we'll go to casting out demons and practical instructions on how exactly to do it. So hopefully, we should be able to finish your portions a little sooner than the actual given day. Okay. So if there are no more questions, let's wrap up. Okay, there are no questions in the chat. Oh, one question. Yeah, go ahead. Uh, ma'am, I've seen in certain families when it comes to praying for their children, you know, more than them praying themselves, they asked the pastor to pray for the children. That I've seen that, you know, like, I mean, the pastor says that, you know, you should pray for a child that's very important more than us praying. It's very important that you pray for a child and only it'll be more effective. You know, suppose if it's depending on their studies or their behavior, they say it's better if you do it rather than us doing it. Yeah. Many, many families have seen that they've already asked the pastor to pray rather than they themselves praying and taking that time to pray for that child. Yeah. Yeah. So maybe they don't know the importance of the parents praying. That's true. So all right, let's close with the word of prayer. Could somebody lead us please? Heavenly Father, thank you very much for leading us lightly in Nathiyan's class. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Sean. Thank you, everyone. God bless you. Have a good week. We'll see you again in the next class this week. Thank you. Bye.