Most people, even Christians, blame God for Satan's work. They do not realize that it is only through the intervention of the body of Christ in the affairs of earth that God is able to bless humanity. The Bible says, "We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19 AMP).

All the authority and dominion the church does not actively enforce is under the sway and power of Satan, not because it is God's will, but because man originally gave Satan dominion over him. Even though Jesus has taken that dominion away from Satan, man still has to enforce his authority in the earth.

Because of our enemy, this authority does not operate passively. It will not work automatically, but it must be enforced. In ignorance of God's Word, the church has allowed Satan to steal her authority and, for the most part, to control the earth.

Jesus conquered Satan in his own domain: "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15).

The Amplified Bible says, "[God] disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them."

Weymouth's New Testament in Modern Speech says, "And the hostile princes and rulers He stripped off from Himself, and boldly displayed them as His conquests." Weymouth says in a footnote that princes and rulers were literally translated authorities and powers.

Jesus took by conquest all of the authority that Adam had given Satan in the Fall. Jesus, the Son of God, stripped Himself, became like man and was born a human being so that He could conquer Satan as a man. In doing this, Jesus could take back from Satan all the authority that belonged to Adam.

Jesus incapacitated and paralyzed Satan. Satan has been disarmed—he has no weapons—where the church is concerned. All the power and authority Satan uses in the earth now belong to the church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave the power of attorney to the church before He ascended and sat down at the right hand of the Father. He said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore" (Matt. 28:18-19).
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(Mark 16: 17-18)
Jesus said, "All power—ability to do or act—has been given to Me. Therefore, you go in My name and these signs shall follow you." He authorized the church to use His name with all its vast authority. The word "authorize" means "to give official approval or legal power to; to give right to act; to empower."

In the Great Commission, Jesus proved that in His name believers were not limited by the natural laws that had governed the earth since Satan began to rule.

They Shall Cast Out Devils
In the name of Jesus—because that name has invested in it all authority in heaven and in earth—the believer has the power to cast out devils (Man did not have authority over Satan under the Old Covenant. Only under the protection of the law could they enjoy any kind of freedom from distress. They did not deal with Satan directly.)

They Shall Speak With New Tongues
The natural limitations of speech were removed. Now the believer can talk in the spirit with the Lord. No longer limited by his lack of understanding, the new man in Christ, filled with His Spirit, can speak mysteries unto his God (1 Cor. 14:2).

They Shall Take Up Serpents; And If They Drink Any Deadly Thing, It Shall Not Hurt Them
If a believer accidentally drinks poison or gets a snake bite, the name of Jesus spoken in faith will stop the deadly effects, even though natural law says these are fatal.

You see record of this in Paul's ministry when the deadly spider viper attached itself to his hand and the natives of Malta waited for him to die (Acts 28:1-6). Natural law had no power over him because he was operating under the jurisdiction of the name of Jesus. Death did not have the power to overcome this authority!

They Shall Lay Hands On The Sick, And They Shall Recover
Not all the sick in the world shall recover, but those on whom the believer lays hands in the name of Jesus. The law of sickness and disease that has worked practically unhindered since the fall of man must cease to operate at the command of a believer in the name of Jesus!

Just as in the days of old, it is still true today that the curse is a powerful force, and only a power greater than the evil can stop the effect of that curse.

The name of Jesus is greater than the curse. The Word of God is greater than the curse. The Holy Spirit is greater than the curse.

These three weapons make the believer greater and more powerful than the curse of sin, sickness, fear and poverty!

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka:  Kenneth Copeland Ministries