Matthew 8:23-34
²³Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
²⁶He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
²⁷The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
²⁸When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
³⁰Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
³²He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

1. Jesus expected his disciples to use his authority to take care of problems.
   Vs. 26 You of little faith, why are you so afraid?
2. We must recognize when the power of darkness are trying to attack our lives.
   1. Feeling: God is unhappy with me all the time.  1John1:9
   2. Feeling: Hopeless negative thoughts. The enemy wants us to focus on what's wrong with people in our lives.
      (See Acts 4:23-31 this is a wonderful example of prayer)
   3. Feeling: Dark expectation that something bad will happen very soon...Proverbs 15:15
    
3. How Can I start taking Authority in Jesus’ name?
   1. By Speaking the Word of God rather than talking about our bad situation over and over again.
   2. By choosing to speak the Word of God instead of saying what we think or feel.
      
   2Corinthians 4:16
   Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
4. Walk in Authority - See yourself as who you are in Christ.
   2Corinthians 5:17
   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link