Discovering Your Authority

This past weekend we were part of a “Freedom Weekend” at Life Fellowship Church in McKinney, Texas.  Freedom Weekend is an all-day Saturday activation of principles in spiritual warfare learned through an eight-week course called Free Indeed.  It is designed to help each participant encounter Jesus in a way that brings healing to past hurts and sets them free from any demonic oppression in their lives.  That Saturday activation includes a great deal of deliverance.

On Sunday morning, everyone gathered to share their experiences and break-throughs from the eight-weeks class and the activation on Saturday.  Over and over, they shared how Jesus had healed them and from which spirits they had gained freedom.  Over and over, they shared their main takeaway which was the discovery of the authority they had in Christ as children of God because when they commanded the enemy withdrew.  I would say, however, most believers in America, have very little concept of their authority over the enemy and how to wield that authority.  And yet authority is a central theme in the New Testament.

As believers, we live under God’s grace, but the remainder of creation operates under law.  Law is based on authority. That is why the authority of Christ is highlighted over and over in scripture.  In fact, “The Great Commission” to go into all the world to preach the gospel is fueled by Christ’s authority. Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt. 28:18-19, emphasis added).

To the church at Philippi, Paul declared,” Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

To the church at Ephesus, Paul also declared “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Eph. 1:19-22).

In the Book of Revelation, concerning Jesus, John wrote,” On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). 

All these passages and more speak of the authority of Jesus.  And although we often look to Matthew 28:18-19 as “the Great Commission,” there is another commission to which we should pay attention.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (Jn.14:12).  In this text, Jesus commissions all those who believe in him to continue to do what he had been doing and to do even greater things after he ascended to the Father.  For his followers to do what he had been doing, they would have to share in the power and authority Jesus received from his Father.  Notice that he did not commission a select few, but all who believe…and he placed no shelf-life on the commission.

Isaiah 61 foretold what works the Messiah would be displaying.  He would preach good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and set captive and prisoners free. What that looked like in the gospels was preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, cleansing lepers and raising the dead.   When he sent out the twelve (Lk. 9) and the seventy-two (Lk.10), he gave them power and authority to do just that.  The pattern of New Testament evangelism was to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and then demonstrate it through expressions of authority over illness, infirmity, demons and even death. That authority was also expressed through spiritual gifts such as the gifts of healing, miraculous power, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, words of knowledge, and so forth (1 Cor. 12:8-11).

The authority of Christ has been given to the children of God to continue the mission of expanding the Kingdom so that God’s will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.  In Ephesians 2, we are told, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6, emphasis added).  To “be seated” is to sit in a position of authority. God sits on his throne.  Jesus sits at his right hand.  We are seated with Christ.

If we know who we are in Christ – children of God, saints, the temple of the Holy Spirit, servants of the Most High God, ambassadors of Christ, more than conquerors, anointed followers, etc. then we should know that Christ has given us authority over the enemy.  When he comes against us, we should not feel powerless but should face him with the certainty that when we resist him, he will flee (Ja. 4:7).

I have counseled many, many Christians in my years of ministry that felt as if their faith was a powerless faith because they could not overcome destructive issues in their lives and the “church” seemed to have no solutions other than pray more.  Prayer is essential and powerful, but there are times when we must confront the enemy directly.  In Luke, Jesus told his followers he had given them authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Lk. 10:18-19). 

Jesus did not say, “When you face a demon, ask me to come and handle it.”  He said, “You cast our demons, you heal the sick, etc.  We keep asking Jesus to do what he has appointed us to do…because he has given us authority. When Israel entered Canaan to possess the promises and blessings of God, they had to put on their armor and fight.  God went before them, but they had to stand against the enemy and wield their swords. Spiritual warfare is the same.

The church that does not understand authority and spiritual warfare, will have no answers for any of their members who are being tormented and oppressed by spiritual forces. Remember, Paul told us our real struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers (Eph. 6:12).  Let me encourage you to press into God asking him to show you who you are and your authority in Christ. Read books on the subject (Transformed by Tom Vermillion would be a good start). Find good teachings on authority and your identity in Christ from reliable pastors or teachers.  Being certain of who you are and your authority in Christ will change your life and the lives of those around you. Blessings in Him.