"Behold, I have given you authority . . . over all the power of the
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which is, to say Yea, yea and Nay, nay. Though believers may have a beautiful life, their mind may still be disturbed by unclean and disobedient thoughts. This is because the evil spirits send these evil thoughts into the believer's mind and try to lodge there. Sometimes they may dull the mind and paralyze it so that the believer will confuse yea and nay. Such spiritual disease can be overcome through prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit. Remember that "if any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man" (James 3.2).
9. Be watchful in dealing with others: "looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal. 6.1). It is comparatively easier to restore a person to righteousness than to restore him from perverse thoughts, words or deeds. Oftentimes in helping others the believer himself may be tempted. Hence a worker needs to be always on the alert to discover the wiles of Satan. There is no day we can say we are completely out of danger.
10. Always acknowledge that the Enemy is under our control: "Behold, I have given you authority . . . over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you" (Luke 10.19). What the Enemy has is "power"; but what we have is "authority." In spite of the fact that our personal "power" is not as great as his, the "authority" we receive from the Lord causes him to be subject to us. We have no need to struggle over power; all we need to do is to command with "authority." Surprising as it may seem, "power" is no match for "authority." Therefore, let us first obtain this authority through union with Christ's death, and then moment by moment let us use this authority by faith to overcome and to subdue all the powers of darkness. Thus shall we have victory over whatever circumstances come our way.
Five—The Limit Placed upon the Tempter
1. Without God's permission, no temptation can come upon the believer: "Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy