Authority

Luke 10:19 TPT Now you understand that I have given to you my authority to trample over Satan’s kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority.

What if the enemy of our soul could take one of the most powerful principles in all of scripture and turn it into something hated and despised? Making it the source of abuse, public revolt, conflict, and personal wounds. A strategy that would cause us to reject one of Christ’s greatest gifts, disable our faith, and weaken the lives of all that follow Christ. Understanding the spiritual authority given to us by a resurrected Savior may be the single most important principle of living a victorious Christian life.

Even the Pharisees understood the power of authority. They had seen or heard of Jesus exercising authority over the wind and the waves, the fish of the sea, demonic spirits, the fruitless fig tree, the temple money changers, and even proclaiming authority to cast a mountain into the sea (Mark 11:23). Then, “the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him and asked, By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you authority to do this?” (Mark 11: 27-28). They understood that only someone under a higher authority could exercise dominion in all these areas. What they did not understand is that true spiritual authority is never taken but is gained through submission. Jesus’ complete submission to the Father was the source of authority. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

In Matthew 8, a Roman centurion had a young servant (some translations refer to him as his son) whom he greatly loved, but the servant had become very ill. The centurion came to Jesus, asking him to heal his servant. Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under submission to my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth; I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!” (Matthew 8:8-10). Once again, his submission resulted in authority. Faith and exercising authority are one and the same.

Paul understood this when he prayed for the church at Ephesus, “I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler, authority, power, leader, or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church” (Ephesians 1:19-22).

Spiritual authority refers to the power and influence that God has given to his followers to carry out His purposes and our God-given calling on earth. Spiritual authority is the fuel for our faith engine. Jesus stated, “You will overcome every power Satan possesses and absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority.” How would you live differently, believing that nothing Satan throws at you will succeed and nothing can harm you when you walk in this spiritual authority? Ask God to reveal His authority to you today. It will change the way you pray. It will change the way you live.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Daniel 7:14 AMP And to Him, the Messiah, was given dominion and supreme authority, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language should serve and worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Hebrews 2:8 TPT For you have placed everything under his authority. This means that God has left nothing outside the control of his Son, even if presently we have yet to see this accomplished.

Matthew 7:28-29 TPT By the time Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were awestruck by his teaching, because his words carried such great authority, quite unlike the religious scholars.

Matthew 9:4-8 AMP But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and the power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home, healed and forgiven. When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God and praised Him, who had given such authority and power to men.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 1:23-27 NLT Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”

John 1:12 AMP But to as many as receive and welcome Him, He gave the right, the authority, and the privilege, to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in, trust in, and rely on His name.

John 10:17-18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

Romans 9:21-23 NLT When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have the right and authority to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right and authority to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.

Proverbs 29:2 NLT When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.