THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER

Today we begin our series on “THE AUTHOURITY OF THE BELIEVER.” “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

This is referring to demonic powers. There’s an authority structure in the demonic realm, and this Scripture is listing these different levels. 

But notice that it says you are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Much of what goes on in your life is not just natural, but spiritual. And to win in this war, you must know who you are and the authority you have as a believer. 

Of a truth, many Born-Again believers do not realize the spiritual implication of what is going on in their lives. They think that most of the things they encounter on a daily basis is either physical or natural.

They attribute much of what is happening to circumstances and therefore, passively accept what comes their way. When you do that, you’re ignoring the intense battle that is being waged for your soul every single day.

The truth is, there is a battle raging every single moment in the unseen world (spiritual realm) for your soul.  

As a church, we have authority on the earth that we’ve never yet realized. As believer's in Christ, God has given unto us tremendous amount of authority.

Our combat with the devil should always be with the consciousness of the fact that we have authority over him because he is a defeated foe – the Lord Jesus Christ defeated him for us (Col. 2:15).

As we are made new creatures in Christ Jesus, we inherit the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we can use it in prayer against the enemy. But the devil doesn’t want you to learn about the authority of the believer. This is because if you don’t know what you have in Christ, you can’t use it. 

This is why he will do everything he can to keep Christians from learning the truth about their authority as believers. The devil knows that when we know the authority we have in Christ, we will dominate him, enjoying the authority that is rightfully ours.

It is a tragedy for Christians to go through life without finding out what belongs to them. God gave us His Word to tell us what belongs to us. Therefore, we need to know what belongs to us.

In Luke 10:19 Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power (Greek: AUTHORITY) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

In speaking about “serpents and scorpions,” Jesus is talking about the power of the devil – demons, evil spirits, and all his cohorts. Remember that the church has authority over them all.

The value of our authority rests on the power that is behind that authority. The believer who thoroughly understands that the power of God is backing him can confidently exercise his authority and face the enemy fearlessly.

What then is Authority?

Authority is delegated power. Authority is the grace (right) to command as if you were God.

For instance, Policemen who direct traffic during the rush hour just raise their hands and the cars stop. These men do not have the physical power to stop the vehicles if the drivers choose not to stop. But they don’t use their own strength to stop traffic; they are strong in the authority that is vested on them by the government they serve. 

People recognize that authority and stop their cars.

There is authority that is vested on the believers by the Lord, Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul told the believers to be strong in the Lord (and not in themselves), and in His mighty power (Eph. 6:10).

That means that you can step in front of the devil, hold up your hand and command him not to come any closer.

1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he (the devil) that is in the world.”

The power that is in you is greater than the power that is in the world, because the power that backs your authority as a Born-Again believer is greater than that backing our enemies. The Bible has an eight-fold description of this divine power that backs up the authority given to us: 

1. This power is GREAT (Acts 4:33). When you say that something is great you mean that that thing is bigger than others (more important than others of the same kind). The early apostles were conscious of the greatness of this power and they exercised it for the advancement of the Kingdom of God and for the good of mankind. 

2. This power is MIGHTY (Eph. 1:19). When you say that something is mighty you mean that that thing is strong and powerful.

3. This power is EXCEEDING GREAT (Eph. 1:19). This power is not only great, but it excels over and above any other power in heaven, on earth, and even beneath the earth. 

4. This power is EXCELLENT (2. Cor. 4:7). When you say that something is excellent you mean that that thing is of a very high quality or standard. 

5. This power is ETERNAL (Rom. 1:20). This is not a power that fades with time. It is permanent! It is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Heb. 13:8; Mal. 3:6). The miracles it did in the past, it can do today, and even in the timeless future. 

6. This power is GLORIOUS (Col. 1:11).

7. This power is DIVINE (2 Pet. 1:3). This power is not natural, but supernatural. 

8. This power is UNLIMITED (Matt. 19:26). This unlimited power can do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ever ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).

Therefore, as a child of God, you have every right to use this power to enforce your authority over the kingdom of darkness. This power positions you to be spiritually violent against every assault and opposition of the devil.

In Mark 16:17-18 Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that BELIEVE; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Peter and John realized the presence of this power within them as New Creations and they quickly used it to enforce their authority over the spirit of infirmity in a man that was a cripple from birth (Acts 3).

Therefore, as a child of God, you have every right to use this power to enforce your authority over the kingdom of darkness. 

 

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.

Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG) 09.01.2022