In World War II, the U.S. Marines captured an island called Iwo Jima. We’ve probably all seen the image of the Marines hoisting the flag on that island. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. Many lives were lost. Some could not understand why it was worth so much loss to just capture a small island in the Pacific.

But those with vision understood that this place was strategic. Holding a forward air base would give the United States a position to launch successful missions against the enemy forces. The firepower that was launched to end the war was came from Iwo Jima.

God has given us strategic places as believers that we must capture and operate from in order to win and advance His plans on earth despite resistance from the devil and his forces.

Take your place in Christ

God has given us salvation as a free gift. He has given us a place in Christ and an inheritance with Christ. These things are not automatic just because God gave them. They must be received by faith. God gave them to all the world, but they are only activated in the life of one who receives them by faith.

Unbeliever, you can believe and receive salvation and all God has for you by simply believing in Jesus Christ and submitting to Him!

Believer, you have received, but now you must be awakened to what He has given you, to who He has made you to be! If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! In Christ you have become a new person. Your identity changed!

You have to ask God to introduce you to your new self. You didn’t go from being a lost worm to being a saved worm. You are now a child of God! You have become kings and priests. You are now more than a conqueror.

A metamorphosis has taken place! Caterpillar to a butterfly!

One of the attributes of your new identity in Christ is that you now have authority over the devil and his works. In Luke 10:19 Jesus says behold I give you authority…over all the power of the Devil. This is a place that the believer must capture and operate from.

See here’s the thing, if you don’t know you have this authority, then you won’t use it. You can’t use something you don’t know you have. Lets say you need money and don’t realize that you have a $100 bill hidden in a book in your house. Its not inaccurate to say you have $100.

But if you don’t know you have the $100, then it is exactly as if you didn’t have it. Because you can’t use what you don’t know you have.

This is the significance of good new testament teaching on who we are and what we have in Christ. The illumination of our hearts to these things is a key battleground that must be won. Jesus did His part and gave it, but the devil fights to keep christians from finding out about all we are and what we now have in Christ.

Seated with Christ in heavenly places

According to Ephesians 2 we have been given the same new life that raised Christ from the dead. We have been raised up together and seated together with Christ in heavenly places. This puts us far above all the power of the devil. You need to know that you have this position so you can start using this authority you now have. Authority must be exercised, it doesn’t just “happen”.

Someone might say: “well I don’t feel like I am seated with Christ. I don’t feel like I have this authority.” Its not true because you feel it, it’s true because He said it!

Accept your authority and begin to use it

So, as a believer, accept this position He gives you and accept the responsibility that comes with it. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. He said I give you the keys of the kingdom. There is responsibility to having keys. Whatever you bind (forbid) on earth will be forbidden by heaven. Whatever you loose (allow) on earth will be allowed by heaven.

This is the responsibility of having authority. Jesus gave you the keys, so begin to use them.

Jason Haskell is the pastor of New Creation Church in Craig.