We Have Authority—It’s time to start using it!
I mentioned in a recent post about God’s power in us that I’ve been working on writing some posts about spiritual warfare and encountering Satan and evil spiritual and supernatural forces. Some of the most important things we need to know when engaging in spiritual warfare is that we have power and authority from God. Therefore, this post is primarily going to be focusing on instruction on the authority that God gives us and encouragement to start using that authority.
It’s so important that we discuss authority because if we don’t know we have it, we won’t use it. This is like a $100 bill in your pocket that you don’t know is there! If you don’t use it, it won’t do you any good. It reminds me of the time when I had sold my college textbooks back to the bookstore at the end of the semester and pocketed my refund. I packed that pair of pants away and forgot that the money was in my pocket. Several months went by when that money would have come in really handy. I had the money the whole time. I just wasn’t aware of it and didn’t use it. That is, until one day when I wore those pants again and stuck my hand in my pocket. That was a great day!
What IS authority and why is it important?
Authority is delegated power. It’s a power granted to one person by someone else who is IN authority. Authority is being in charge, in control, or in command. The person in authority is the one legally giving the orders, and the ones to whom those orders are given MUST comply.
As a Christian, we have authority over the enemy, given to us by God (more about this throughout the post).
This is important because if God gave us authority over the enemy, that then means WE are the ones in charge and the enemy must comply. Or as a child might put it, the devil is “not the boss of us” or our situations and circumstances. Therefore, we need to stop acting like he is and stop acting like we’re powerless.
There needs to be authority for things to be in place. Satan always wants to stop it. However, the devil and his forces HAVE to recognize our influence as believers.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)
Where does authority come from?
If authority is delegated power, then where does it come from? All authority comes from God.
“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 (NLT)
The value of authority rests in the power behind it. God is the power behind our influence. When we use our God-given authority, HIS power backs us up.
Even Jesus was under God’s authority. He was not out doing his own works in his own name. Jesus does what God does or God’s will.
“So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19 (NLT)
“I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” John 5:30 (NLT)
We are also under God’s authority. James 4:7 says that we should submit ourselves to God, then resist the devil and he will flee. To “submit” here indicates that to get our power and influence we have to obey and follow the one who gives it to us. Subordinates not obeying or submitting their upper authority will get their own power revoked. This means that we have to FIRST be submitted to God under HIS authority (to his teaching and his Word), just as Jesus was. We must follow and obey God and his Word. This submission to a higher authority then gives us our authority within which we operate and have power, God’s power working with and through us.
