7 Authority

Have you or anyone you know quit smoking?  

You quit, and then you pick it up again.  Next time you quit it’s longer.  But you pick it up again. Even using the nicotine helpers, like gum, and that medicine.  

And then finally one day you just quit cold turkey.  You’ve had enough!  And you never ever go back. 

You took authority over it.  And you didn’t let the craving or addiction of tobacco or nicotine turn you into a victim anymore.  

Why did it take so long though? Our fallback is flesh.  And we have to consistently renew ourselves, and find our identity in Him.

2 Corinthians 1:20 

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Prayer:

Father God, we believe You are giving us a deeper revelation of our true identity in You.  As we understand the new creation, righteousness and the Greater One in us, we will become an enforcer of Your will and destroy the works of the enemy in our life, in Jesus’ name!  Amen!

2 Corinthians 5:17, 20-21

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 4:4

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

Our power and authority given to us by Jesus:

Luke 10:19 Jesus sent out his disciples 2x2 and gave them directions

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

Matthew 10:1, 8 (and Mark 6)

And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely ye have received; freely give.

His disciples were told to command, not pray to God.  To use the authority to command.  Which was then given permanently when Jesus took the keys from death after the cross, and left us with Holy Spirit after He ascended to the right hand of God.  He is the head, we are His body.  We work together. 

Ephesians 1:19-23

19 I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used 20  when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side[c] in heaven. 21 There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well. 22  God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. 23 The church is the body of Christ (us) and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything

Ephesians 3:20

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]

We are the sons and daughters of the most high King.  King of Kings, Lord of Lords

John 14:12

I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father.

Matthew 18:18

Truly I say to you, whatever you [q]bind on earth [r]shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you [s]loose on earth [t]shall have been loosed in heaven.

So what exactly is the authority over? The enemy

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:

9 God lives fully in Christ. 10 And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority.

12  And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death

15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

James 4:7

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

Revelation 1:18

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of [j]Hades and of Death.

When did the believers get this authority, after Jesus ascended and sent them Holy Spirit. 

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

However, the authority is not meant to validate a person, or boost their ego, or give them praise or glory.  It is to glorify Jesus and draw people to salvation.  God’s blessings are to reveal Jesus.  

So, how do we take authority, by faith.

1 Peter 1:5

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed

Since God exists eternally, our sitting with Christ is His present time.

This is faith, faith exists in the spirit.  We believe things that are not yet seen.  Key word, YET.  We have faith, we take authority, and results will happen.  

Matthew 6: 10, 13 Lord’s Prayer 

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

How do we exercise authority, by being obedient to God.

Think about a chain of command in an army.  The general gives orders to a major, who gives orders to a captain, sergeant, etc.  Each has authority to command, but only under(by submitting to) the higher authority. 

Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mark 16:15

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

James 4 again :7-10

Humility Cures Worldliness

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

John 14 again

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you [c]ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Closing Prayer:

Thank you Father God for giving us the freedom and authority through the sacrifice of Your Son to trample and tread on snakes, serpents, scorpions, and satan himself! 

I thank You Father God for being with me and giving me strength in every battle and fight against not flesh and blood but the powers and principalities of evil. 

And Father God I thank you for sending us the fire of Holy Spirit who moves with power and authority, love, grace and truth, for we are daughters and sons of the Most High, and we receive Holy Spirit into our lives, and surrender our lives to You.  

In the Mighty Name of Jesus we take authority now over all powers and forces that have come against us seen or unseen, and we rebuke them out of our lives forever! 

We agree, all together, in Your name, that we receive Your healing right now in the Name of Jesus.  We are washed in Your healing blood and baptized in Holy Spirit.  

Thank You for Your gift of forgiveness and salvation.  

Amen and Amen