Standing in His Authority
Standing in His Authority: From Conviction to Victory
I wasn’t expecting 1 Corinthians 10 to hit me the way it did.
As I read verses 18-22, I felt a deep conviction—one that left me emotional, raw, and completely exposed before God. It wasn’t just Paul’s warning to the Corinthians anymore; it was God speaking directly to me about my own compromises, my own weak-willed moments, and my own failure to truly grasp what’s happening in the unseen.
"Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" (1 Corinthians 10:22, ESV)
That question cut deep. I had never thought about my sin—especially recurring struggles as provoking God’s jealousy. But in that moment, I saw it clearly: every time I gave in, I wasn’t just giving in to "urges" or "feelings." I was participating in something spiritual—something demonic.
Paul’s words spoke to my heart:
"What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons." (1 Cor. 10:20)
It hit me—I was offering my moments of weakness at the wrong altar.
How could I, in one breath, say I desire intimacy with God, desire a husband, desire to be faithful—yet cheat on God for fleeting pleasure? That realization broke me. And yet, in the midst of that conviction, God didn’t leave me in shame. He opened my eyes to something greater: His authority.
I was reminded that I’m not called to fight temptation in my own strength. In fact, I was never meant to.
Fighting FROM Victory, Not For It
The phrase that stirred my spirit was this: "When you fight temptation, you're standing in His authority, not your own strength."
For so long, I’ve felt like a spiritual baby—too weak to stand, collapsing under the weight of my desires. But God, in His grace, is teaching me that standing isn’t about feeling strong; it’s about leaning on His strength. It’s about knowing that Jesus already won the war, and I’m simply holding ground He’s secured.
Ephesians 6 doesn’t tell us to strive—it tells us to stand.
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might... and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10,13)
God isn’t frustrated with my weakness. He’s not standing at a distance yelling, "Get it together!" Instead, He’s beside me, saying, "Lean on Me. Stand in My authority. You don’t fight alone."
Seeing Temptation for What It Really Is
One of the biggest shifts in my mindset is understanding that temptation isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s spiritual warfare.
It’s not "just an urge."
It’s not "just a bad habit."
It’s a demonic invitation—an enemy strategy to pull me away from God, to cheapen my worship, and to make me offer what belongs to God at a table of darkness.
But now, I see it. And when you expose the enemy’s tactics, his power begins to break.
Learning to Stand
I’m still learning. I still feel weak sometimes. But I know now that standing isn’t about perfection—it’s about allegiance.
Every time I choose to pause, declare truth, and lean on God, I am standing in His authority.
And when I fall? I get back up—not in shame, but in grace.
Because my Father isn’t keeping score—He’s keeping me close.
A Word for Anyone Feeling This Too
If you’ve ever felt too weak to fight… if you’ve ever been stuck in cycles of sin and felt like God was disappointed in you—know this:
God’s not asking you to "be stronger." He’s asking you to stand in HIS strength.
You are not powerless. You are not alone. And you are not defined by your last failure.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Stand, mariposa. Not because you feel strong—but because He is.
And when you stand in His authority, you’re not fighting for victory—you’re fighting from a victory that’s already been won.
Lean in. Stand firm. Offer every moment to God—and watch Him strengthen you beyond what you thought possible.
