In James 4:7, we are called to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (NIV). In Jude 1:9, we are told of a confrontation between the archangel Michael and the devil.

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Jude 1:9 (NIV)

In Zechariah 3, we are told about Satan accusing Joshua before the Lord.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

Zechariah 3:1 (NIV)

We are also told the response of the Lord.

The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

Zechariah 3:2 (NIV)

In none of these cases, or elsewhere in the Bible, are we told that we (Christians) have the authority to rebuke Satan. Yes, we have victory over Satan through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, but any power to condemn comes not from us but from God. However, as James 4:7 says, we are to submit to God and resist the devil.

In fact, on our own, we have no authority. The Gospel of Mark gives us this promise:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (emphasis added).

Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)

Even Jesus, when telling us of those who would be turned away from entering Heaven, had this to say:

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ (emphasis added)

Matthew 7:22 (NIV)

Therefore, the authority and power come not from us but from Jesus, so Christians don’t have the authority to rebuke the devil.

Advertisement