YOU WILL TRAMPLE THE GREAT LION AND THE SERPENT

IN THE DAYS OF HIS POWER SERIES.

TOPIC: YOU WILL TRAMPLE THE GREAT LION AND THE SERPENT

SERMON BY-:
Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Peace-Udochukwu President Living Fountain Ministries Int’l LIFOM

“You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.’
Psalm 91:13

The word “tread” or “trample” means to press down or crush. God gives us the authority to tread on our enemies, even the so-called lions and snakes and serpents in our lives. When Jesus sent His twelve disciples to preach the Gospel and heal the sick, He “gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1) Through God’s Spirit, we followers of Him are given the same authority, the same power that allows us to tread upon any problem or evil we may face.

Serpents, like imaginary dragons or sea monsters, represent unfounded phantom fears which can be as deadly as real fears. They may include fear of the unknown, fear of facing the future alone or fear of loss. Such fears keep us living in the past, keep us from experiencing life today and perhaps keep us running away from certain people or situations.

Whenever we face foes, whether visible, emotional or imagined, we need to pray against them and then use our God-given authority to trample them. Jesus often prayed at night, but during the day He took authority over sickness, disease, demons and death. We need to follow His example.

Thou shalt tread upon them, not ACCIDENTALLY, as a man treads upon an adder or a serpent in the way; but his meaning is, thou shalt INTENTIONALLY tread upon them like a conqueror, thou shalt tread upon them to testify the dominion over them, so when the Lord Jesus gave that promise (Lu 10:19) to His disciples, that they should do great things, He saith, “You shall tread upon serpents”, that is, you shall have power to overcome whatsoever may annoy you: serpentine power is all hurtful power, whether literal or mystical. As the Apostle assures all believers (Rom 16:20), “God shall tread down Satan (that old serpent) under your feet shortly.”

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. Over force and fraud shalt thou march victoriously; bold opponents and treacherous adversaries shall alike be trodden down. When our shoes are iron and brass lions and adders are easily enough crushed beneath our heel. The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. The strongest foe in power, and the most mysterious in cunning, shall be conquered by the man of God. Not only from stones in the way, but from serpents also, shall we be safe. To men who dwell in God the most evil forces become harmless, they wear a charmed life, and defy the deadliest ills. Their feet come into contact with the worst of foes, even Satan himself nibbles at their heel, but in Christ Jesus they have the assured hope of bruising Satan under their feet shortly. The people of God are the real “George and the dragon, “the true lion kings and serpent tamers. Their dominion over the powers of darkness makes them cry, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy word.”

OPERATING WITH CHRIST’S AUTHORITY

The translators of the King James Version translated many words consistently, but not the Greek words for “power” and “authority”. For example, in the King James Version, Jesus says in Luke 10:19,
“Behold, I give unto you POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the POWER of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Although the word “power” is used twice in this verse, two different words are found in the original Greek. What Jesus actually said was, “I have given you AUTHORITY to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the POWER of the enemy….”

AUTHORITY DEFINED
Authority is defined as delegated power; the power to give orders or make decisions: the power or right to direct or control someone or something.
The value of our authority rests on the power that is behind that authority. God Himself is the power behind our authority!
It means one has the ability to issue decrees as we see in Job 22:28
“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”
Also see Matthew 18:18
“Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS”
In speaking about “serpents and scorpions,” Jesus was talking about the power of the devil—demons, evil spirits, and all his cohorts. We need to realize that we’ve got authority over them!
The devil and his forces are obliged to recognize our authority because of the power behind our authority!
The believer who thoroughly understands that the power of God is backing him can exercise his authority and face the enemy fearlessly.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe.…”
— Mark 16:17

Moments before Jesus ascended to the Father, He told the disciples, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”
(Mark 16:17,18).

According to Jesus, these supernatural signs are supposed to follow those who believe. Since you and I believe, that means these signs are supposed to follow you and me!

So let’s look carefully at this supernatural list to see precisely what Jesus said to us.
First of all, the word “signs” comes from the Greek word semeion, which described the official written notice that announced the final verdict of a court. It also described the signature or seal applied to a document to guarantee its authenticity and a sign that marked key locations in a city.

The specific signs that Jesus mentioned are as follows:
They will cast out devils.
They will speak with new tongues.
They will take up serpents.
If they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and the sick will recover.

But if this is true, why don’t we see more of these signs following Christians? The answer to this question is found in Jesus’ words in Mark 16:17. He said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe.…”

I want to draw your attention to the word “believe.” Because of the tense used with this Greek word, this verse would be better translated, “These signs shall follow them that are constantly believing.…” In other words, these signs don’t come automatically just because a person once walked the aisle and gave his heart to Jesus. These signs follow those who are constantly believing for them to occur. If a Christian isn’t believing for these signs to be manifested or expecting them to follow him, they probably won’t. Like everything else in the Kingdom of God, signs and wonders are activated by faith.

Through the years of my ministry, I have observed that people who regularly experience the miraculous are those who regularly expect to see it. Rather than being passive, they are very aggressive about pushing forward in the Spirit to see the miraculous manifested in their lives or ministries.

Those who press forward and release their faith to see the supernatural are the ones who see more of it than anyone else. Because they are believing for signs and wonders, they often see them manifested in their lives.
The number of signs and wonders that follow you will be determined by how intensely you are constantly believing for them to be in manifestation. As noted above, everything in the Kingdom of God is activated by faith. If you’re not releasing faith for the miraculous to occur, very little of the miraculous will be in manifestation in your life. If you want signs and wonders to faithfully follow you, you must be constantly believing for them to happen!
So when you preach and share the Gospel, expect things to happen!
When you pray for the sick, expect them to be healed.
When you confront someone who is demonized, expect that person to be set free.
When you are in a situation that requires the miraculous, expect the miraculous to occur.
When you need protection, expect God’s hand of protection to be upon you.

If you haven’t been experiencing the supernatural in your life, it may be a signal that you haven’t been releasing your faith to see signs and wonders follow you. Remember, these signs always follow wherever the Gospel is preached and believers are believing for them to occur. This was Jesus’ promise! He guaranteed that God’s supernatural signature would be on anyone who preaches the Gospel and who opens the way for the supernatural to come to pass by believing.

My Prayer for Today
Lord, I prayerfully admit that I haven’t been expecting signs and wonders to follow me as I ought to be expecting them. From this moment onward, I release my faith for the miraculous to follow me when I preach or share the Gospel with unbelievers. Holy Spirit, let the power of God flow and confirm the message! Let God’s signature be all over the Gospel that I preach. Because I am constantly releasing my faith for the miraculous to follow me wherever I go, I expect to see people healed, blind eyes opened, and captives set free by the power of God!
I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today
I confess that signs and wonders follow me! I am intensely hungry to see the miraculous, and I am constantly believing for it to be in manifestation. Since everything in the Kingdom of God is activated by faith, I release my faith right now for supernatural signs to be manifested in my life! I am among those who are constantly believing for the miraculous to happen. When I preach the Gospel, I expect signs and wonders to follow that authenticate the message and supernaturally meet the needs of those who are listening to me!
I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

SHALOM!

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