Jn. 17:3 π Eph. 5:11-13 π Col. 1:9 π Heb. 5:14 π 1 Jn. 1:7
The degree of authority over evil spirits, then, depends not only upon personal victory, but also upon knowledge, and the believer who desires to know how to lay hold of the fullest authority over evil spirits for the sake of the deliverance of others, must set himself to understand their workings, as well as to be VICTORIOUS IN ALL, AND OVER ALL HE PASSES THROUGH. Let him note how much is said in the Scriptures about knowledge and understanding. The Apostle wrote to the Colossians about their being filled with "the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual understanding" ( Col. 1:9 ), and the Lord said "This is life eternal, to know Thee..." ( Jn. 17:3 ); "If we walk in the light...fellowship." ( 1 Jn. 1:7 ) To walk in the light is to know God, and knowing God, we in relative degree know the powers of darkness; for light makes manifest the works of darkness. (see Eph. 5:11-13 ) Those of full age in the spiritual life, have by reason of use, their "senses exercised to discern both good and evil." ( Heb. 5:14 , A.V.; top)
The believer must be willing for the price of the knowledge necessary for discernment, for he cannot take an attitude of resistance to a thing he believes is of God, or is good, or towards which he is neutral. He must KNOW whether a thing is of God or no, therefore the degree of knowledge he has about the workings of the spirits of evil determines the degree of his
1) discernment,
2) resistance, and
3) authority over them in wielding the Name of Christ,
whether exercised in "casting out," commanding to leave a person, or dispersing them by the light of truth. The believer must know their wiles, schemes, methods and accusations, weights on the spirit and their causes, and when hindrances and obstacles are brought about by the enemy, so as to be able to discern all these things, and resist them.
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