Global Prayer And Fasting Day 1 by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Power Over Serpents and Scorpions

Luke 10:19 — Jesus said to His disciples, "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." When Jesus used the words "serpents" and "scorpions," His listeners understood exactly what He meant, because they were familiar with the language of the prophets. In Ezekiel 2:6, God tells the prophet not to be afraid of the words of a rebellious house, comparing wicked people to briers, thorns, and scorpions. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, "You are of your father the devil" — so when He says He gives us power to tread on serpents and scorpions, He means power over wicked people and over the devil himself.

The first "power" in that verse is the Greek exousia — authority. The second is dunamis — ability, capability, all that the enemy can do. Jesus gave us authority over all the ability of Satan, and added: nothing shall by any means hurt you. He has deprived the enemy of the ability to harm you.

He Has Already Overcome

John 16:33 — "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." The Amplified rendering adds: "I have deprived it of power to harm you, and have conquered it for you." He did it for us. The world we deal with every day is a world already conquered by Jesus — that's why we live and speak in His name.

1 John 5:4 — whatever is born of God is victorious over the world. Not hoping to be victorious, not merely promised victory — is victorious. "This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" does not mean the amount of faith we can personally work up; it refers to the faith, the way of life in Christ, that He has given us — the one common Christian faith we've all been given.

Speaking as Sons of God

All the world belongs to Jesus, and He gave it to us for an inheritance — the nations were given to us. We live above fear and doubt because we are children of the Most High, and we speak as sons of God. Job 22:28 — thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee.

Life Is Spiritual, Whether or Not You Believe It

Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Those are not the words of a politician, a professor, or a businessman — that kind of statement only comes from someone who genuinely perceives the spiritual realm behind events. The Bible says the fool says in his heart there is no God, and the very first verse of Genesis tells us God existed before the beginning — the spiritual pre-existed the physical. Don't interpret life only by what you see on the outside, or by what the news media tells you. Life is spiritual, and the wisest thing anyone can do is learn what God's word says about it, because Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge.

Standing on the Word Against What Opposes the Gospel

There is no room to negotiate certain matters — we take sides according to the scriptures, not according to who we personally like or dislike. Where laws have been framed in ways that would restrict the church's freedom to preach the gospel and to help people freely choose and share their faith, that is a matter we take directly to God rather than arguing about endlessly with those who disagree.