Peter spoke by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 10:
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
To be oppressed means to exercise harsh control over one, to use one’s power against one. Why does the devil oppress people? The adversary is attempting to keep the Kingdom of GOD from manifesting on earth. The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 John chapter 3:
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
If Jesus’ power was not superior to that of the god of this world, He would not be able to destroy the works of the devil. We should exalt Our Lord Jesus Christ in all we say and do on a daily basis. Many grow cold in this area and they allow themselves to become subject to the devices of the devil and submit to a life which leads toward death and destruction. Those of us who have an earnest desire to walk as a mature Son or Daughter will not allow the adversary to prevail in our daily walk.
When the adversary used the chief priests and elders to come against the disciples in Acts chapter 4, they were led by THE SPIRIT to pray:
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
We have no power or authority if we act independently of Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit. If we walk according to what we hear from Above, we are able to overcome the god of this world for Our Heavenly Father has already made provision and prepared HIS “devices” to be used in spiritual warfare. HE has anticipated every conceivable scenario that can be used against us. HE is not sitting around wondering what the devil might devise and responding.
The Holy Spirit revealed this reality through Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 10:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Obedience is compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another’s authority. The world submits to the authority of the devil and we submit to the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ who is superior to all other authority on earth. We will either be led by the world and its authority or we will be led by THE SPIRIT Who operates under the supreme authority of Our Heavenly Father.
Only blindness will keep us fully realizing our authority. As we earnestly pray to Our Heavenly Father and walk according to HIS Divine will, purpose, and plan, we will open our eyes and we will be able to fulfill our individual purposes of bringing forth The Kingdom of Heaven to earth.