 Okay. Jathina, can you lead us in prayer? Okay. Yeah, maybe John? Sure, sure. Let's pray. Father, we want to thank you for this morning. Thank you for bringing us together to listen from your word. We pray to God that you would speak to us, help us to understand the authority that we have and as we continue to learn on this topic, we pray to God that you speak to our hearts, Lord Jesus. You also submit us, Nancy, to your hands. And I pray to God that you would enable her to deliver your word in its fullness, Lord Jesus. Thank you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Thank you, John. Thank you for that. So we will get back to what we were studying in our last class. But before that, everything okay with the assignment? I know John said there was some issue typo. So that was corrected. Any other challenges? No, Pastor, I think it's good. It's okay, no? Okay, fine. That's good. That's good then. Great. So yeah, please do go ahead and complete that assignment. Yeah, you have sufficient time to do that. So we were in Chapter 7 and we saw how the enemy, there are different realms in which we can take authority over the enemy and we had just started. We have authority over Satan. We have authority over his works, his evil works. We have authority over demons and, you know, the manifestation of these works are in the form of it can be, it can affect our mind or it can affect our bodies. So the oppression can show up in these ways and since it can affect our bodies, there can also be a sickness which is manifesting through the demonic work. So we have to recognize, you know, this is the way in which Satan is coming against us, take charge of that situation and we can use our authority. Now, how do we use our authority? We've seen so far that we can command, we can say, you know, I come against you in the name of Jesus, we can bind, we can lose and if there is a demon spirit, okay, like in the case of the girl that Paul met in Philippi in Acts Chapter 16, it was through an individual who was possessed. So he had to cast out the demon spirit in order to see the manifestation of God's kingdom in that place. So in the same manner, in the same manner, we can also exercise our authority and apply it in whatever we are doing. So this could be something that we are not generally utilizing, but try to, you know, try to apply it in theory, you know, but try as you discern from the spirit to say, you know, okay, I rebuke, I cast out, I bind in Jesus' way, you know, issuing commands to do things like that to see that authority at work. Now, demonic influences, and we have seen this, we've studied this also at length. We said over people, individuals, groups of people, there can be demonic influence, world systems, okay, political systems could be a demonic influence by certain things are playing out in the field of business, corruption, extortion, you know, malpractices, immorality in the world of business. So these things could, they are not just through the individuals, but it could also be through demonic spirits that are at work, media, arts, entertainment. So Satan, he has influence over these realms, and therefore we can sort of come against it and we can show God's power. So we've seen there are people like Joseph in his time during the period of lack. He enforced the kingdom of God through wisdom that God gave him. So we see that Moses from slavery and bondage, Moses was somebody who was anointed to bring people out of that. Elijah, Elisha through the manifestation of the supernatural works of God. And Prophet Jeremiah, he talks about the word of God which was given to him to build up, to tear down, to plant, to uproot. So he used the authority of God's word to prophesy to the nation and see God's work being fulfilled. And also Daniel, we saw how he too was flowing. One is his character is commendable, his example that we can learn from. And the other is the way the power of God was manifest through his life and the spiritual capabilities of seeing visions and dreams and interpreting. So he flowed in things like that, not only for his times, but we know that even for the end times, God gave him so much of revelation. So we see that in the midst of opposing influences over world systems, men and women of God in times past have expressed God's power and they have seen God's kingdom. What is God's kingdom? God's kingdom is righteousness, peace, joy, justice, everything that demonstrates the character of God. So all these people were able to demonstrate the kingdom of God in the midst of the opposing demonic influences over the political, the business system, things that existed around them. So that gives us a lot of confidence. How much more after the cross you and I can actually walk in that form of authority. So we have to understand that yes, there are boundaries to what we can do, but then we can do so much. And there is an extensive realm available for us to use our authority. So to use it whenever we see something that is going against God, we see the works of the devil, we come against that. Over geographical regions, we've seen that. There is a control that demons can take over an entire region. So remember, Philippi is an example. We saw Pergamos. We saw how Satan, his seat is on Pergamos. So he can take control of an entire region, but as God's people, we can go against that and we can break that stronghold that he has over a region. So we have influence, we have influence. And of course later we'll see when it comes to exercising our authority on let's say a geographical area, it is not just the work of an individual, but it's more helpful to pray in groups, to pray as a community, to pray as a church, to pray as groups of churches as well. It creates a lot of power and we are able to disrupt the work of the devil over an entire geographic region. So that's again, a realm that we can function in. And so there's value to that in the past when you read about the revivals and all that you see over entire regions, people raised up prayers, people, they saw crimes happening, this happening, that happening. They were able to stand up with the help of their authority against those things. So over geographic regions, we can do that. Over demonic habitations, remember, we said that there can be spaces that are, if you want to say, infected by demons. No, we can take authority and we can cast out those spirits. I know a friend of mine, she's very well placed in her role in the workplace and she gets to travel often and wherever she goes, she told me that she has this practice. Sometimes they are led to sites where she very clearly knows that there is a demonic presence here or in the kind of work that is going on, there is a demonic influence. So as a believer, she's not afraid of these things. Wherever she goes, wherever she travels, if she senses, hey, there's a demonic presence here, she immediately takes authority. She prays it through, she speaks scriptures of protection over herself and things like that. So basically she's using her authority and then she's there to work wise, whatever she needs to do and provide her expertise. She does that and she comes back. So there can be places that have been dedicated to demons and therefore there's activity of these spirits, but we can go against that. Over objects and artifacts, there are things that can carry the presence of these demons. We've already discussed it, but I'm sharing it so that in a practical way we are able to use it. So we already have authority over it, isn't it? So best is to not take it. Sometimes when people go travelling, we purchase things. So it's good to be a little cautious and know what are these articles, do they have to do with some occult practices or some religious practices and all that. So if there is an association, avoid taking that. Now let's say somebody has taken it and because of the influence of that object, there is confusion in the house or there is a strike in the house and all. And when we have the sense, it can be thrown out. It can be destroyed. Now in the city of Ephesus, we know that when God's power was demonstrated, so you see in Acts 19 where Paul was demonstrating, the demons were cast out and God's glory was revealed in that way. There were a lot of magicians, sorcerers, people who practiced spiritual things in that manner. You read that they brought the articles that they had and they burnt it. So in the city that practiced wicked things of that sort, when God's power was demonstrated through the life of Apostle Paul, unusual miracles were done through him. David took handkerchiefs and people started getting heath. So when they saw the real power of God, what happens? The people brought all their articles and they just burnt it out. You read about what a worth of money it was for all these things that got destroyed. But people were willing to let go of the works of demons and follow after God. So sometimes these articles need to be destroyed. So yes, while we are ministering also, if at all there is a prompting that there is such a thing which has to be, you should get rid of it then. Yes, get rid of that. Sometimes when we are ministering to a person during deliverance, now we could be trying to cast out the demon, but the demon might keep saying, no, I'm not going, I will not go. This person has given me authority and charge and I'm going to stay here. You might notice that they have some articles on their body, could be a chain or a bracelet or something, which is what is a symbol of having dedicated this person to that spirit. So to complete our process of deliverance, we might need to tell the person of their own free will of course, if can you please remove this. If you would like to, we are not forcing you. If you want to remove it, you remove it, then we can fully cast out the demon. So demons can influence through objects and we can use this knowledge to minister deliverance and enforce the authority of God. So just for our understanding, I'm sharing all this. Okay, now over occult expressions, so there can be curses, witchcraft, sorcery and things like that happening in certain regions. But we've seen that God's power is greater. Remember Moses in the courts of Pharaoh, the sorcerers did their magic, but ultimately what Moses did, it overpowered whatever the magicians were able to do. Even in the case of Elijah, there were the prophets of Baal who did so many amazing things. But what Elijah did at the end of the day stood out and it was victorious over any demonic manifestation. So even today, we can expect that there are regions where I have heard testimonies of pastors who have planted churches that are surrounded with witchcraft. There are places surrounded by sorcery and there are threats to the congregation that meets there. But at the end of the day, I heard one beautiful testimony where a particular pastor, he has established his church and there are lots of such magicians. So apparently they came to disrupt the meeting. They came to release their spirits and do stuff like that. But during worship itself, during worship time itself, these sorcerers, they got a headache and the demons were pressing them to leave the place because the demons were saying that we can't stand here. Please get out of here, get out of here quickly. So nothing happened. They're not able to do anything about the pastor or the congregation or their meetings because they're not even able to come into that zone because God is being exalted, the spirit and the presence of God is taking over that area. Think about all these things. How the authority which we have in God, we can use it against demonic influences. So don't get scared when you hear that such people exist and they are using their demons against God's people. I think it's, what is that thing? Do one second, let me just get you that reference. Yeah, numbers 23. Numbers 23 and verse 23. Let me just post the NK3 version of it for us. Yes, beautiful scripture. It says, but there is no sorcery against Jacob nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, oh what God has done. So these things will fall even if they rise against us and that is our authority as God's children. Again, look at this. Old Testament, we had so much authority that how much more after the cross, how much more being filled with the Holy Spirit. So we should not get scared. Instead, we should ask the Holy Spirit, Lord, what do you want us to do? And God might lead us. Okay, lift up a praise or pray or bind, lose, command, use it. We will see victory. Also over organizations, institutions. Similar to how we said over politics, over business, there can be demonic influence, even over certain organizations that could be. But we can use. This is given for us realm of authority where we can use our authority. So we can use it in these zones. Now coming to doctrines of demons. Now in a sense, it is important for us to know this and especially during our times because scriptures tell us that it says the last days, but the last days is actually the time from when Jesus rose from the dead until now. So we are in the last days from that period onwards. But scriptures don't talk about how there will be a rise in doctrines of demons. There will be teachings that spirits will bring, which all kinds of teachings. There is the spirit of Antichrist which will deny that Jesus is Christ. Now how will the spirit deny that Jesus is Christ by saying things like oh he was not fully human, he had some supernatural powers. That's how he was never fully human or the flip side. He was never fully God, he was only human. So there are these demonic teachings out there, philosophies out there which are turning people's hearts away from God. And in the last days and especially in the last of the last days we can expect a lot of such teachings. Now what is the true test? Does it really? Does the teaching help us to know Jesus Christ for who he is? Does it cause us to worship him? If it is, then we know that the Holy Spirit is in alignment to that sort of a teaching. But if the teaching is in contradiction in any way to acknowledging Christ and worshipping him in spirit and in truth, then we know that this has been developed by devonic spirits and believers have to be established in God's Word. Now what is one of the signs of our maturity? We are not tossed around by every wind of doctrine, the scripture says. So one who is mature is firm and strong in the foundations of our doctrine. Who is God? What is the Trinity? Who is the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ, His humanity, His deity? He lived, he did the will of the Father, he healed, he did his supernatural works. He died, he was buried, he rose from the dead. Then the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the works of the Holy Spirit, the early church. We are clear on all these things such that every new wave of some teaching that is actually drawing us away from the worship of God in spirit and in truth. We are able to counter that. Now as believers speaking authority, how do you come against these demonic doctrines? You see the Bible says that Satan blinds the eyes of the people. So we can take authority over the blindness that demon spirits put on the spiritual eyes of people. And say God, we pray in Jesus' name that you will open their eyes to see the truth. And so when we start warring like this in the spiritual realm, recently I've had parents talking to me and saying our kids are slowly going away from the faith because they have their own questions. Yeah, what about this? Nothing wrong in asking questions and finding logical answers. But in contradiction to who Christ is or in fact more specifically it was about the timings and the years in the Bible and how that is not lining up with what some of the scientists say. And so the Bible is an error. So it's so many things like that that the kids are caught up and drawn away because they don't have someone to explain in a correct way. So you see that there is a need for us to always pray Lord, we pray that it will be open. Young people, let their spiritual eyes be open. Whatever Satan is doing to blind their eyes, draw them away from you. We come against that in Jesus' name. And so begin to pray. I'm just telling you how we can use our spiritual authority. You can also command that blindness to come off of their eyes and more and more so that people are kept in the faith because we can only see wrong teachings increasing as days go by. And also we are told that there is something known as messengers of Satan. In Acts 13, if you remember, there is a barred Jesus or Elimus who is preventing surges policies. He is one of the leaders in the government office. This sorcerer is preventing this leader from accepting the gospel. So Paul and Barnabas go and minister the Word of God and share about Jesus. But something spiritually that the sorcerer is doing is not allowing surges Paul is to accept Christ. Paul, he takes authority. He rebukes this Elimus. And once Elimus is out of the scene, Paulus is open to accepting the gospel. So there can be some messengers of Satan. They are called as messengers of Satan, messengers of light. Sometimes it appears like they are doing the right thing and they are drawing us closer to God but not really. So we have to be discerning of such individuals and if need be take authority against people who are messengers of Satan. And once they are dealt with, people are set free to accept Christ and to walk their spiritual walk with the Lord. So these are all our realms of authority where we can use it. So far we have seen the works of the devil is one realm. So in the mind, the body, we can use our authority over influences. We can use our authority. So we have seen various ways the influence of the enemy comes in and we can use our authority. We can also use it against these doctrines of demons that are created of people, messengers of Satan who may also bring it. Now, we can use our authority over sickness, disease and death. Matthew 10 verses 1, 7 and 8, this is given in our notes. Would somebody like to read it? Matthew 10 verses 1, 7 and 8 please. Matthew 10 was one and when he had called his 12 disciples to him, he gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10 verses 7 and as you go preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give. Yes. Thank you John. And it's so clear there that he gave the authority to heal the sick, to face the dead, cleanse the leper and also cast out demons. See that we have authority over sickness, we have authority over death as well. In some instances, we are able to raise people from the dead and so we can use that authority as being led by God. We have authority over circumstances and situations. We've already talked a lot about binding and losing where we are using the keys of the kingdom to release the kingdom. So anything in opposition to the kingdom, we have authority to bind and lose and over natural elements. So I know in the last lesson I just ran over this on touching it a little more in detail. For the natural elements, we saw how Jesus walked on the water which was in opposition to the law of gravity. Obviously, everything that goes up, it has to come down. So even like when he is on water, he needs to go in. But then you see that that didn't happen. He was still walking on the water. So a natural law was being defied or the fig tree. You don't find something that is still alive just dry up overnight. But it happened to the fig tree and we know that it was something surprising because the disciples were amazed at what happened. So unnatural. So the fig tree withered. We saw how a storm, in a moment a raging storm stopped. How does that happen? It's supernatural. We saw how food got multiplied. A few fishers, a few loaves could feed thousands of people. Unnatural or let's use the word supernatural. And Jesus, he asked his disciples when they had to go and pay taxes to go and find money in the mouth of a fish. How do you get your tax paid like that? Supernatural. So it's not normal in other words or in accordance to your regular way of doing life. When you see things like this, we know that Jesus was exercising his authority in all these areas such that even the natural principles were defied on occasions when it was necessary to do so. And similarly today, we as a church, we are serving, John 14 verse 12, it says that you shall do greater things than these. And that's the promise which God has given to us. Why can we do greater things? Jesus said, because I go to my father, most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works I do, these are all the works which he did. He will do also and greater works than these he will do because I go to my father. So we can move in supernatural manifestations of God's power, which can also define the normal and the natural. How do we do this again? We said the way you release your authority, you command, you step in with an action like Jesus gave thanks and then what did he do? He broke bread and he's breaking and breaking. Do you know this? The food multiplied. So these are all ways in which we can release that authority. He spoke to the storm. He said, be still. He released the authority and it happened. So we too can see the natural being defied when it is required. Now this is, we really have to be cautious in this area and I think I've already told us that this is not so that we can do whatever pleases us. So it's not for our whims and fancies, but it is more for God's glory. And I don't know if you have ever experienced situations like this in ministry, but we can expect. There are a couple of times certain things have happened that I can only register as supernatural. So there was once in our, we serve at the North Church here and after service, those times we had our African brothers. So there were a lot of people and we had decided we were going to stay back and have a cleaning time. We will have the cleaning time. We clean up the church and all before we lock up and leave. So only when we closed, I realized that it was a lot of work. It's not going to get over quickly because after that we had our Canada service. So one Canada pastor used to come with all the Canada people. So then there it was time for their service to start. So then our team decided, okay, we will stay back till the Canada services over and we were all so hungry. We're like, oh no, we should have planned to get lunch. And it so happened that the Canada church had planned for lunch for their group and it was a big group. So somebody from the congregation said, okay, we are going to cook for everyone. So they had sort of calculated and prepared food only for their people. So this Canada pastor came to me after their service got over. He said, sister, you don't worry. We will pray. We will serve. Okay, you don't worry. I think we can manage. So we paid and these women are serving and serving and serving and serving. There was so much food all of the way including our large team that had waited for lunch. And like for me, I know that it was not normal because those two women had cooked from their home and not like they had cooked excess. But something supernatural about that afternoon that the food was more than enough for the whole Canada congregation and our volunteer team. Until today I think, wow, as they were serving, I don't know whether the food multiplied or what, but we prayed for the supernatural that day and something like that happened. So, you know, things like this we can expect. I also remember just to encourage us, I'm just sharing some incidents. I remember in my college, this was close to my final exams. And one subject, they required a record book, you know, your lab and record book. So throughout the year, we had practicals and everyone had a quota. So we completed the quota. It was a huge quota. I completed the entire quota. It was my final year. And that record book needed to be submitted before we go for exams. And in my college we had lockers and I shared the locker with one of my friends. And we both know where we keep our record books. So it was very much there. I got the signature of my lecturer and everything was ready. But to my surprise, you know, over a week, there were a couple of things happening, some painting going on in my house and all. And to my surprise, that record book is not there. And in a few days, I have to submit my record book. So I'm so shocked. I was like, God, what happened? You know, obviously, I don't remember. Did I bring it home and in the painting? Did it get misplaced? I'm searching, searching, searching, didn't find the record book. And I panicked because my whole four years of studies, one subject if I don't make it. So in a long story short, it was not in my house. Then I went to my college, the locker and searching, searching, searching. My friend also helped me. Together we searched. Some other friends also helped me. And it's not there. It's not there in my locker. So I just, I think it was almost close to the day that I had to go and submit a book. I prayed. I said, Lord, you are a creator. You can create from nowhere. It's not in my house for sure. It's not in my locker for sure because multiple people have helped me search it. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'm going to go today and I'm going to open the locker and I want my record book there with all the signatures. And you will not believe it. I believe it because it has happened to me. I went and I opened my locker and the record book was on top. I've been searching. My friend has been searching and it was just exact. I prayed and I said, Lord, I want that book. I want it. I don't know what you're going to do. I want that book. I've done my work. I want that book. It's right on top of my record book. I just went, picked it up. I went in, submitted it, you know, and obviously, you know, I finished my, my final year and all. But whenever I think of it, it's so supernatural for me because I knew that it didn't exist. But then it existed after my prayer. So I'm just saying there is a realm that we can walk in the way Jesus said to Mary, Martha. Yeah, I think Mary, I don't know. He said, if you believe, you will see the glory of God. So when we are stuck in situations and sometimes you need the supernatural to take place, we have to believe and say, God, it's not normal. I know, but I also know that you can do it. So believe, believe. God does the impossible sometimes and it's hard to explain also how it is possible. Okay. So just encouraging us. Now, the flip side of this is that you don't see, you know, Jesus, because he could multiply bread and fish, you don't see him starting a restaurant. Like every day, oh, supernatural food, supernatural breakfast, lunch, all of you, whatever, you know, 30 rupees a plate. He could have done that, isn't it? Because part of God is flowing. You can do it. But you don't see Jesus going against the natural. So he did respect the natural. Yes, as a one-off thing, when there was a need, food was multiplied. You don't see Jesus using only, you know, walk on water transport. Okay, Peter, I'll see you and he's walking on the water all the time. No, you don't see that. As a one-off thing, you notice that, okay, Jesus worked on water. Regularly, what do you find? He was taking the boat or he was walking with his descent. So there are certain natural laws that have been given to us. Coin, it was in the fish's mouth. But I'm expected to work hard, isn't it? And earn my money. So respect the natural. But if it comes to a situation where you need God to move on your behalf. You just don't know how it's going to happen. But Lord, you do the impossible. Believe because he can do it. So that's how we take our authority. Just take your authority, even if there are natural elements, right? Working against us and we will see God's glory. So that's about the realms where we have authority. I'll just pause for a moment to see if there's any points of discussion that you all want to bring up. We will move ahead after that. So again, I think it's quite plain for us to understand these things. But just want to open it up. Has anyone used your authority to see the supernatural in your circumstance? If you would like to share that, the class? I'll share one story. Not very big but very minor. I think it was in 2012 or so. My brother had got a laptop and so the switch to turn on the laptop was not in the usual place. So I asked him. He said, no, you will find out. I looked everywhere and couldn't find out. Then that night I prayed and slept. Then at night, for the surprise, I saw the image of the laptop exactly where the button is. It was quite behind the lid, which we cannot see at all. So it's manufactured like that. And at night, I found out the switch and I told my brother the switch and how did he find out? I said, I prayed. That's what he said. Praise God. Thank you for sharing, John. That's incredible that you got the answer through prayer. Praise God. Yeah, let's go ahead and do this in any... Prayer is also another way for us to begin releasing our authority. So we find ourselves in any situation. You can just pray and say, Lord, help me, show me the way out and God will minister to us. So one more person, Azali, do you have any stories of yours? Well, I just want to share a little bit. While I was going to Cambodia to attend making machinery, in my bank account, I don't have even a penny, but I just said, God, I'm trusting you. I'm depending on you and I'm stepping out by faith. And surprisingly, by the grace of God, the people whom I don't know in person, they are the one depositing into my account and blessing me. And I was able to go forward and minister in Cambodia for two years. So it's amazing how God provides and God answers our prayer. It's just mind-blowing. I mean, like, it's just amazing. Yeah, God's supernaturally provided my needs. Praise God for that. Wow. Thank you. Thank you, Azali. Thank you for sharing. It really stirs up faith in us how God provides supernaturally for us children. Praise God. Anyone else, you want to share your story? Hello. Hello. Hi, Paul. Yeah, I also have a story. Yes, please go ahead. Yeah, in 2013, there was a church project and they wanted people to contribute. They wanted $100. But in my country, we don't use dollars. We use shillings. So in my life, I'd never handle even a dollar. But they say by phrase, you come and take the envelope, whoever is ready to contribute. So I was wondering where I would get the $100, but I took face, I went and got the envelope. Then I went to a place of work after one week because they had given us two weeks. Somebody came and asked me to give her some assistance. And he said, this assistance which are going to give me, I'm going to give you $200. I said, for the first time I'm handling a dollar, so I was able to get the dollar. I took the $100 to church, then the $100 remained for me. So that is what God did, supernaturally. Thank you. Wow. Thank you, Paul. So encouraging. You know, you can't, the timing is incredible, no? Just when you needed it. So, praise God. Thank you so much for sharing those stories and I encourage you to continue to believe. I've heard stories from certain ministries about how they went to give gifts to children. And they had very few gifts in a bag. And they started giving the gifts. But the number of children were more. So the person who was giving the gifts, she just prayed and said, Lord, you know, let there be enough gifts for all the children. And then similar to Jesus breaking the bread, she goes ahead and she's just giving and giving and giving and giving and giving. The bag never really becomes empty. So, and especially as each one of you stepping out in ministry, you can believe. Do the normal hard work and planning and calculation, budgeting. Do all that. We are not saying don't do it because that's also God teaching us to be wise. But in addition to that, our faith in God and where required, use your authority. Maybe they're traveling and I've done this, God had missions to a particular place and they started the rainy and I went with one of our girls. So I said, come on, let's pray, stop the rain and Jesus name and all that. We were able to take the bus back home. So certain natural things. You can exercise your authority over it and see God's power manifest. Okay, so let's go ahead and take a break class. We'll come back and then we will move into our next chapter here, which is about the strategies of a defeated enemy. So let's go for a break. Thank you.