Power and Authority

I have an interesting story for you....

Driving to Qld, on the second day of our drive, it started to rain. That's fine. No one minds the rain, but it got heavier and heavier and I decided; you know what? This is a seven-hour drive. It can rain behind me. I want a dry run.

So, I decreed "shalom" which means a lot of things; one being from ancient Hebrew, meaning anarchy and chaos leave, peace come. 

"Rain cease. Peace. Be still."

I heard the devil say; "Who do you think you are (to command the rain to stop)?"

I replied; "I know who I am and so do you."

The devil left, the rain stopped and it was dry the rest of the trip.

Have you ever asked God to tell you your identity? You can ask Him and He will reply.

When I asked, God told me; l am a tenacious woman, a woman of a gentle and quiet spirit. I can agree with that.

However, that's not what I told the devil. When he asked who do I think I am, I told him; “I am a pillar in the temple of the Lord, a righteous child of the Most-High God, a King and Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. Greater things will I do, for He has gone to the Father. He (Jesus) gave me ALL authority and you (satan) have no legal standing (for I have nothing in him).”

So, the rain stopped (because it's true - greater is He that's in me) and then we picked up dirty fuel and I knew the devil was trying a different tactic.

We think we picked up some dirty fuel as the ute began to miss and chug after filling the tank. It was chewing through the juice too. We had to fuel up a second time a few hours later, we'd gone through so much fuel and when we did, everything returned to normal. Dirty fuel was all we could think of but my thoughts at the time were on the devil's tactics.

There's a bible verse I quote when this kind of thing happens. Job 5:22 “I laugh at disaster and famine and I will not fear the beasts of the field...” (after all, isn't the devil just another beast?) I was quoting this verse, and at the same time, speaking in tongues while endeavouring to remain calm in a trying situation. At the end of the day, no calamity struck.

You see, we can all walk in power because it's a gift from God. We can pray for healing, pray for provision and pray for favour. The power of God works in us. We can't all cast out demons, however, or stop their attacks. That's a higher level of warfare and it takes greater authority to do so.

Authority is a different matter to power. If you want authority, the kind of authority that casts out demons, that only comes through relationship with God; through fasting and prayer, and just good old, plain old, conversations with God - sitting and chatting with Him.

It's powerful stuff.

And a little additional information here...

Adam and Eve lost their authority after eating the forbidden fruit and satan gained the authority they lost. Jesus won it back.

Satan lost that authority when Jesus went to hell and took that authority back from satan. He then gave us that authority and we can walk in it, it's my understanding, if we spend time with God.

The bible speaks of the seven sons of Sceva who were stripped and scratched and thrown to the ground. Satan said; "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?" The demon then turned on them viciously.

Acts 19:13-16 ...Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The demon-possessed man jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

The seven sons didn't have a relationship with Jesus. They were trying to emulate Him but without knowing Him personally, they failed miserably.

So, keep doing what's right, staying in right standing with Jesus. Spend time with God and we shall overcome the enemy in every area of our life.

Rainbows and Justice.

I saw 5 rainbows yesterday and 2 today. What could be the biblical significance of that? I asked AI.

Seeing multiple rainbows can be a powerful biblical symbol of God’s covenant, grace, and renewal. In Genesis 9:13-17, God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise to Noah — a reminder that He would never again destroy the earth by flood.

Possible Biblical Significance of Multiple Rainbows;

1. God’s Faithfulness – Rainbows symbolize God’s enduring promises and His presence in creation.

2. Renewal & Hope – Seeing multiple rainbows could be a reminder of new beginnings, much like how Noah’s family stepped into a renewed world after the flood.

3. Divine Assurance – Some interpretations suggest that double or multiple rainbows emphasize God’s mercy and judgment, showing both His justice and His grace. (I did ask for justice in my prayers the night before questioning this vision.)

4. Spiritual Awakening – Many believe that witnessing multiple rainbows can signify a deepening of faith or a call to reflect on God’s presence in one’s life.

The rainbow appears in both Ezekiel’s vision and Revelation’s throne scene, symbolizing God’s glory, covenant, and mercy.

Ezekiel’s Vision (Ezekiel 1:28);

- Ezekiel saw God’s throne surrounded by brightness, comparing it to a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day.

- This radiance represented God’s glory, as well as His mercy, reminding Ezekiel of God’s covenant with Noah.

- The rainbow assured Ezekiel that even in judgment, God’s faithfulness remains.

Revelation’s Throne Scene (Revelation 4:3);

- John saw a rainbow encircling God’s throne, appearing like an emerald.

- This imagery connects to God’s promise in Genesis, showing that His rule is both just and merciful.

- The rainbow around the throne signifies God’s enduring covenant and His sovereignty over creation.

Revelation 10:1 – The Mighty Angel;

- John later saw a mighty angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow over his head.

- This suggests that God’s judgment is tempered with mercy, reinforcing His faithfulness to His people.

The rainbow in these passages is a powerful symbol of God’s presence, covenant, and mercy, reminding believers that even in times of judgment, His promises remain.

This also connects to biblical themes of justice and reconciliation. Justice and reconciliation are deeply intertwined in biblical theology, reflecting God's righteousness, mercy, and restoration.

Biblical Justice;

- Justice in the Bible is not just legal fairness but a reflection of God’s character (Psalm 89:14).

- It involves defending the oppressed, ensuring fairness, and restoring what is broken (Micah 6:8, Isaiah 1:17).

- Jesus embodied justice by challenging corruption and uplifting the marginalized (Luke 4:18-19).

Biblical Reconciliation;

- Reconciliation is the restoration of broken relationships, both between humanity and God and among people (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

- Jesus’ sacrifice bridged the gap between God and humanity, offering forgiveness and unity (Colossians 1:19-20).

- True reconciliation requires repentance, forgiveness, and transformation, leading to peace and unity (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Justice and reconciliation work hand in hand — justice ensures fairness, while reconciliation heals divisions.

I also found it interesting that this snippet links to the previous blog post which also discusses justice, although written a good few weeks apart.