Let’s talk about bullies. I am sure you have experienced one in one way or another, even if it was not obvious at the time. Not all bullies look the same, and not all of them wear a face you can easily identify. Some are loud and aggressive, while others are subtle and persistent. But one thing is certain—if you do not confront a bully, you may remain under its control longer than necessary. And many times, fear is the only weapon it truly has. That is why it is crucial to understand your authority in Christ, knowing that you are empowered to stand firm, resist intimidation, and walk in freedom.
Bullies come in different forms, and it is important to recognize this. A bully may not always be a person standing in front of you. It could be a witch in your compound not letting you rest, or a stubborn situation that refuses to change despite your efforts. It might be someone who does not want to see anything good come your way, constantly working against your progress. It could even be a colleague blocking your promotion or a lecturer determined to delay your graduation. Whatever form your bully takes, one thing remains true—if you do not stand up to it, you may never be free from it.
Let me share something from my primary school days that shaped my understanding of this reality. When I was in primary school, I had a friend who drew close to me for one reason—to copy my work during exams. I was brilliant and never failed my exams, and he knew this very well. Instead of studying for himself, he relied on copying from me. He was taller and bigger than me, and to make matters worse, his mother was a teacher in the school. This made many of us afraid of him and unwilling to challenge his actions.
During exams, he would deliberately drag his seat close to mine so he could see my answers. If I refused to let him copy, he would threaten me, beat me, or even forcefully open my exam paper. This continued from primary three into primary four, and for a long time, I tolerated it because of fear. His name was Emmanuel, and in my mind at that time, he seemed untouchable. I believed he had power over me, but in reality, I had simply not confronted him. This taught me an important lesson: don't hand over your responsibility to God—you must act courageously and exercise the authority and responsibility He has given you.
Then came the day everything changed—third term in primary four. As usual, he tried to force his way, attempting to slap me and open my exam sheet. But that day, something shifted inside me. I had had enough. I stood up and fought him. It was not easy because he was bigger and taller, but I gathered all the strength I had and faced him directly. What I did not realize all along was this: he had been using fear to control me. He had size, but no real power.
It did not take long before I defeated him, and that moment changed everything. That was the last day he ever touched my exam paper. He stopped sitting near me and became cautious around me. The fear that once controlled me shifted to him. That experience taught me a lesson I have never forgotten: until you confront a bully, you will never truly know whether it has real power or is simply relying on intimidation. Many times, what appears strong is only sustained by your fear.
However, not all battles today can be confronted physically the way I confronted mine. Life presents situations that require a different kind of response. Some challenges are spiritual, emotional, or systemic, and cannot be solved with physical strength. But that is exactly why Jesus gave us authority. As believers, we have been given the power to stand against anything that is not aligned with God’s will for our lives. We are not helpless, and we are not without options. You have power over demons, and through Christ, you can exercise authority over every spiritual attack that seeks to derail your life.
When something is out of place, you do not have to tolerate it silently. You can rise in faith and take your stand. You can speak with authority and declare, “No. This must change.” And not just speak casually, but believe what you are saying. Faith is what gives weight to your words, and authority is what enforces them. Without faith, words are empty—but with faith, they become powerful.
This is why the words of Jesus in Mark 11:23 are so important: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Mountains respond to authority backed by faith. They do not move because of noise or fear—they move because of conviction and spiritual authority. Ignorance of your authority in Christ can make you live in fear, missing out on the power and freedom God has already given you.
Fear is what keeps bullies alive. It sustains their influence and gives them room to operate. But faith confronts them and strips them of that power. The moment you rise in faith and refuse to be intimidated, you begin to see things shift. What once looked immovable starts to give way. What once controlled you begins to lose its grip.
So now the question is simple, yet deeply personal: will you stand up to your bully today, whatever form it may take? Or will you continue to allow fear to control you and limit your progress? The choice is yours, but remember this—freedom often begins the moment you decide to confront what has been confronting you.
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