With no shortage of chaos in global news, isn’t it wonderful that we can count of God’s word as being unchanging, unmovable and unflinching. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We can use the authority God has given His children. As believers God has given us the name of Jesus and the authority to use that name when it comes to binding Satan and his forces. God is not going to deal with Satan for us. I’m talking about real practical stuff here. You and I must understand this information in order to have the benefits of this godly principle. God will not deal with Satan for us.

Paul himself writes by the Spirit of God in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  We wrestle against these evil spirits.  You speak directly to Satan and his evil spirits with the authority God has given to us.  And in the name of Jesus – you and I cast them out! This is how it works, folks.

If we look closely at scripture, when Paul asked the Lord that his messenger of Satan depart from him, the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you.  For My strength is made perfect in weakness.” “Afterward when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake….” Mark 4:17.

God did not say that this messenger would not depart.  God does not say no in this scripture. Religious tradition may, but not God’s Word. So what does this scripture mean? God was saying to Paul, that when you do not have the ability to humanly overcome, then you are to use His name to stop Satan’s attack.  Jesus is saying, use My power.  And if you do … that power will excel on your behalf.  In other words, My favor is enough.  And notice again, you cast out the devil.

The Greek word dunamis is translated strength in II Corinthians 12:9.  It’s the same word that is translated as power when Jesus said, “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” Acts 1:8. Another translation reads it this way, “My grace suffices for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

The truth of this scripture is just the opposite of the religious teaching that I have heard most of my life in the church. This tradition says that Paul did not have victory over the thorn in the flesh.  Cockamamie. Pardon me, but of course he did. He had met Jesus face to face. Of course he had the power to overcome Satan because it wasn’t Paul’s power anyway. It was the power that comes when using the name of Jesus with authority.

Next Paul said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore, I take pleasure in it for infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  Second Corinthians 12:9-10.  Listen to this also.

The Greek word translated infirmities means “want of strength”.  Infirmities means “weakness, indicating the inability to produce results.”  Paul lists these things that buffeted him as things like prisons or stoning or beatings or shipwrecks and angry mobs. Paul lists them in detail in 2 Corinthians 11: 23 – 28.  And notice this. When he lists all of the things that happened to him that buffeted him, sickness is not mentioned!  Did you read that correctly?  Sickness was not mentioned.

When the mob came after Paul in order to stone him, in himself, Paul did not have the strength.  He did have the power to overcome the situation.  But three times the Lord’s grace provided for Paul. Three times His strength proved sufficient and he escaped out of their hands.

In Lystra they actually stoned Paul.  He was literally stoned and showed such little life in his body, they thought that he was dead.  They took him out of the city.  But God had already said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  As the disciples stood around him, Paul rose up and, on his own power, went his way.  Talk about a miracle!  Paul hadn’t the strength to stop that angry mob.  But when he was humanly helpless, God’s power was displayed mightily and His power brought great deliverance for Paul.  It also was a great encouragement to those believers around him.  Paul was not strong in himself, but he was strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. God’s power will work for you in the same way. His power worked for Paul, yes, but it will work just as mightily in your life too.

Satan’s messenger, the thorn in the flesh, the demonic being that was considered the messenger or angel from the devil, could gain no victory over Paul even through the adverse circumstances because the power of Jesus Christ rested upon him.  “I have learned in any and all circumstances, the secret of facing every situation.”  Philippians 4:12. Paul tells in the next verse the secret.  “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me – I’m ready for anything and equal to anything to him who infuses inner strength and to me.”

When Paul himself was weak – Paul in Jesus Christ was strong.  Of these afflictions and persecutions Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” II Timothy 3: 11.

The Lord delivered him out of all of them. Out of them all!  Paul said that he couldn’t even decide whether to stay here on the earth because the goal is to be with the Lord. But he declared that he needed to stay there for the Church’s sake (for the sake of the believers).  Yet he yearned to be in Heaven with Jesus.  Paul did not leave this world until he and God were ready.  Satan’s angel, the messenger of satan which was the thorn in the flesh that we’ve heard so much about, never did overcome Paul.  Paul had the power of God.

Paul was a man who understood his covenant with God.  He ran his race and he won.  Paul preached God’s Word all around the world.  He wrote most of the New Testament and he caused revival wherever he went.  He teaches us by his example that when human strength ends, the power of God not just begins …it excels.

Let’s not be held back in our daily lives due to misunderstanding of God’s word. In the final analysis Paul’s thorn in the flesh has tragically been greatly affected in our teachings by yet another religious tradition. And sadly Satan has used this religious tradition to steal and kill and destroy believers all over the world. But in your life, that can change starting NOW.

I think it’s good to discuss something else too. Religious tradition also says that God gets glory from sickness because the world sees how marvelous the Christian bears the pain and the agony.  I cannot disagree more with this … because of the Word and because of knowing the God of the Bible. Listen, religious tradition never brings the right answer.  Everyone knows that in this world there’s enough pain and agony to go around for everyone on the planet to have more than enough.  What people want is a way out of sickness, not a way into it.  Suffering has no appeal to people.  But through religious tradition, Satan has sold his propaganda that suffering quietly and courageously as being the will of God.

If you don’t have the seed of the word of God living in you concerning your healing, then you too will be helpless in the face of Satan when disease strikes you.  If you allow the traditions of men to steal the authority God gave you in His word, then you too will continue to be helpless in the face of sickness.  God has designed it in His infinite wisdom, that He will not do hardly anything for you if, like so many others, you make the Word of God of no effect by unbelief.

The word of God is the incorruptible seed.  Satan doesn’t have the power to stop the word of God.  Satan can try to deceive you yes, but he can’t stop you. Disease doesn’t have the power to overcome the Word of God in your life.  Sickness and disease do not have power. Only you and me have the power to stop the Word of God from working in our life.

May I challenge you to put aside whatever religious traditions you have been taught?  If you’re like me, very possibly your heart hasn’t agreed with these traditions anyway.  That’s what happened to me on so many occasions.  Realize now that only Satan can be the source of such powerless and defeated beliefs that are sold to the family of Almighty God.

And then when you study the Word of God concerning healing, when you do your own due diligence, use this incorruptible seed of the Word of God for your benefit.  Use His Word to drive out the doubt and tradition that you’ve been taught.  Then run your race to win.

Remember that to overcome we need to both KNOW and then DO God’s Word. That means we apply His teachings, His instructions into daily living. You remain in our hearts and prayers. Remember also, with God nothing is impossible!
Dale & Paula

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This article is taken from “How God Heals” by Capt. Dale Black, copyright 2015. Save 50% by ordering through the DBM Store now.

Praise Reports:
Dear Capt. Dale, I hope you don’t mind I sometimes tell the inmates that I have a mentor who is a very wise person and he has a heart for the lost, That’s you Mr. I listen/watch all the video’s you send and it is remarkable how the Holy Spirit guides you to minister to my spirit. My wife says this guy has to know you.”  Bless you my Friend, Pastor Ken C