This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (TS@godspeak.org)

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                         Authority
                        
Your enemy, the devil, is a defeated foe. I won the victory over him 
when I died on Calvary and rose from the dead.  Before I rose I 
descended into hell and I took from the devil the keys of power and 
authority that he had long ago stolen.  He was powerless to stop Me 
then, and He is powerless to stop Me now.  

I have given you, My Church, this authority that I won over the devil 
in My death and resurrection.  This authority cannot fail you because 
it is not dependent on you -- it is dependent solely on what I have 
already accomplished when I laid down My own will to obey the Father's 
will.

Nonetheless, this authority only prevails when you use it to 
accomplish My purposes.  If you do not use it, it will not prevail for 
you.  If you use it awry, it will not prevail for you.  But when you use 
it in accordance with My will and to accomplish My Father's purposes, 
you walk in the same authority that I walked in.  You have been given 
power to defeat the devil, to foil his plans, even to command demons.
You have been given My authority to break the power of torment, of 
sickness and disease, of oppression and poverty that the demonic realm 
would unleash on people.  I have given you My authority to set captives 
free and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  

Little one, are you using the authority that I have given to you?  Are
you watching Me to see what I am doing, that you may do it with Me? Are
you listening to My voice and obeying My command?  Are you doing what My
Father is doing to advance His kingdom and to set people free from the
oppression of the enemy?  

Or are you cowering in a corner, afraid of the one who I have already
defeated?  Even though he is a defeated foe, he is still a foe and he 
can still be dangerous.  His greatest offensive weapons are lies and 
deception.  He will try to convince you that he has greater power than 
you do.  And if you do not exercise the authority that I have already 
given you, then his power is effectively greater than yours -- for he 
is using his against you and you are not using yours. 

Child, I did not give you spiritual armor to polish and brag about and 
to leave in your closet.  I gave it to you to use, that you would have a 
defense against the fiery darts of the enemy, that his lies and 
deception and attempts to cause fear would have no power over you.  
The armor of God are your defensive weapons, and I fully expect you to 
use them once I have given them to you.

Likewise, I did not give you My authority so that you could bury it 
under a bush to keep it safe.  I gave it to you to use.  It is not 
intended to be solely for your own protection, should the enemy devise
plans against you.  No, I have given you defensive armor for that.  The 
authority that I have given you is intended as an offensive weapon to 
accomplish My purposes.  It is intended for you to go forth into battle 
at My command to set the oppressed free and to advance My kingdom.  It 
is intended for you to break the power of sickness and death and 
addiction and bondage off of the lives of the lost, so that they may 
understand the good news and turn to Me.  My authority is intended to 
enable you to be My witnesses and to make the devil powerless to stop 
you as you do what you see Me doing.

I have given you My authority and I have made you unstoppable. I have
given you all that you need to be My witness and advance My kingdom.
I have placed My Spirit in you to show you My will, so that you can
see and do what My Father is doing in this earth.  I have given you
authority over all the power of the devil and I have placed My 
anointing in your hand.  Now listen to My voice, hear what I command 
you and obey Me.  Rise up and fear no more, for I will make you a 
victorious and overcoming one.  

Now go forth.  Use the authority that I have given you to accomplish 
My purposes.