This message emphasizes the significance of the believer's authority and the power of prayer. We can derive strength and guidance from Him by following God's teachings and maintaining a dedicated prayer life, which will disarm the principalities and fulfill God’s plan for his church.
Dear readers, I want to discuss the power of authority as believers with you. Let me begin with an illustration. Imagine a police officer standing in the middle of the road to stop traffic because of a situation.
The policeman is small compared to the 2,000-pound automobile headed his way. Although the vehicle could quickly run over the man and keep going, the car's driver knows that the police officer represents the law.
The policeman is a civil servant and protector of the public in his jurisdiction. He has the badge, giving him the authority to get help to control the situation. Let's say the trained policeman sees a crime being committed, calls the mayor at 3 am, and asks him what to do.
How long do you think he would keep his job? What if he calls his police chief and asks him what to do? The police officer has been trained to handle any situation, but if he does not use the authority he is delegated, he will be held accountable for his actions.
The officer has the authority to secure the situation and arrest the perpetrator committing the crime, and if he does not exercise that authority, what will his superiors do? He will either be fired or sent back for more training. When an individual is caught doing something wrong, the police officer can let them go or arrest them.
Who gave the Police Chief the power? The power or authority to arrest a perpetrator was given to him by his Police Chief in the Head Office of the Police Department.
The President and the Constitution of the United States provide the Police Chief the power to arrest, issue a ticket, or give a warning to the lawbreaker.
Look at the manager who has just hired and spent weeks training an employee. The employee has the delegated authority to do the job he has been hired to do. Let’s say the position calls for him to make some tough decisions.
The manager been specifically trained to make those decisions that could affect the company's future, but instead of making those decisions, the employee calls up his supervisor and asks him what to do.
The new employee might get by with this a few times, but soon, his supervisor will start wondering if he hired the right person for the job and plan to fill that position with someone who will use the authority delegated.
A manager has delegated authority while he holds the management position. If a manager resigns, he loses his right to govern and has no more authority.
Similarly, a duly sworn-in police officer in uniform has authority while employed by the city government. Still, when he is no longer used as an officer of the law, he forfeits or loses his delegated authority.
Let me expound on this valuable illustration to make it more transparent. Do you agree that you possess keys that allow access to your home? These keys represent your power, authority, and freedom to enter and exit your home whenever you want.
Using the key to unlock the door allows you to enter your home without any hassle. Even if your wife sleeps in another room, you can still enter the house with the key without waking her up. This is because the key reflects your authority and proves you can come and go as you please.
Additionally, the keys can be used to lock the door and keep unwanted visitors out. By doing this, you can ensure the safety and security of your home and your loved ones.
The keys give you the power to control who gets access to your home, essential for maintaining a safe and secure living environment.
Therefore, it is essential always to keep your keys close and secure. By doing so, you can ensure that you have the power to enter and exit your home whenever you need to and also guarantee that your home remains secure at all times.
Jesus is the doorway to God, and Jesus has already defeated Satan, stripping him of the keys (authority) of death, hell, and the grave.
Beloved, it is essential to understand that God's church has been given the same authority as that delegated to Jesus.
This authority is found in Luke twenty-two, and having and exercising spiritual authority in our lives is crucial. It is not enough to have head knowledge of the Word of God and the authority of Christ; we also need heart knowledge.
As the church of Jesus Christ, we are under the delegated authority of Jesus, the head of the body. When we surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are no longer under Satan's authority.
We are no longer in bondage or controlled by superstitions, curses, or charms. Although Satan may be the God of this world, we are now under new rule, recognized by God. In the name of Jesus, we can break Satan's hold over us.
As adopted sons and daughters into the family of God, we are no longer in bondage. We are under new management and leadership, the Government and Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has already defeated Satan.
As the church of God, we share the same authority as Jesus and follow His lead as the body of Christ on earth.
The first chapter of Ephesians states that God has given Jesus to head all things to the church, His body. God desires us to have authority from Him and use that authority as the Holy Spirit leads us.
It is important to note that this authority is given based on our relationship with Jesus, declaring Him our Lord and Master.
Delegated authority is derived from our relationship and right standing with Almighty God. We accept His free pardon for our sins and trust His amazing love and grace to help us become all He intended to be in Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.
As adopted sons and daughters of God, we are called to make Christ's body on this earth. We cannot go in one direction while the head goes in another.
Understanding that the church of God is not defeated or powerless is essential. We have been given authority to carry out God's will on earth.
Who gave Jesus this authority?
(John 14:10) “I do not speak of my own authority, but the words that I speak are from the Father who dwells inside me.”
Christ's authority was not something he claimed for himself, but rather, it was delegated to him by God the Father. This authority is evident in the life of Jesus, as everything that he did and said was by the rule that God gave him, which is found in Luke chapter twenty-two.
Jesus declared that his words and works came from God the Father. Furthermore, the authority given to Jesus was not temporary; rather, it was granted for all eternity.
It is important to note that God bestowed upon him a name above all other names, and it is the only name that God will recognize for the forgiveness of sins.
As stated in the book of Ephesians, God made Jesus the head over all things in the church, which is his body. This means that Jesus has absolute authority over the church and its members. Moreover, the Bible tells us that God has made him both Lord and Christ, meaning he is the ruler of all creation.
Luke chapter twenty-two instructs us that the same authority given to Jesus has been delegated to us, his followers.
This means that we have the same authority as Christ, and we are responsible for using this authority to further God's kingdom on earth. Christ desires that we share in his glory and sit with him on his throne, which is why he has given us this authority.
Did you know that we have been seated in heavenly places with Christ? This means that we have been given the authority to judge all things as we are seated in places of judgment.
We can exercise this authority by accepting and utilizing the power given to us as children of God. We must understand how this delegated authority applies to our Christian life and use it to bring about positive change in the world.
This divinely delegated authority grants us power over all unclean spirits, sickness, and disease. We can receive this authority by being intimate with and having fellowship with God our Father.
Only by cultivating a close relationship with God can we fully understand and utilize the authority that has been delegated to us.
In (Philippians 3:10), Paul expresses his desire to know God in the power of his resurrection. This relationship with the Father is obtained through accepting the blood covenant of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself to satisfy God's wrath against sin.
Beloved, we can establish this relationship through consecrated prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, making the Father and the Son real to us.
As the Body of Christ on Earth, we carry His authority everywhere we go, with Jesus as the Head of the Body.
While Jesus is not physically present on Earth, His Spirit works through us to continue His mission. In (John 16:7), Jesus said He must go away for the Comforter to come.
When Jesus walked on Earth, people had to be in His presence to receive blessings from Him. However, now that He has ascended to Heaven, we can access His authority and power anywhere.
Dear readers, it is a fact that God is omnipresent and can be found everywhere, with His throne in Heaven and His wrath fueling the flames of Hell.
Satan may have thought that killing Jesus would eliminate the Son of God, but Jesus proved him wrong by defeating Satan on the cross and taking back the keys to death, Hell, and the grave. Furthermore, Jesus placed Satan under His feet and entrusted us with His authority to carry out His will on Earth. This is not just a belief but a truth we can confidently proclaim.
In (Colossians 2:15), it is written that Jesus disarmed the principalities and powers, making a public example of them and triumphing over them on the cross. God came to set us free from the fear and bondage of the devil.
As the body of Christ, instead of dealing with one man who casts out devils, Satan must deal with the church.
All of creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The gospel of the Kingdom should be preached throughout the world before the end comes. Therefore, it is time to move beyond the cross and into sonship with God.
In the past, an invading army would take the strong into captivity and enslave them, leaving the weak behind. The land would be salted to prevent the weak from growing crops and becoming strong again.
Dear readers, all believers who represent the body of Christ on earth, we are the salt that prevents Satan's kingdom from regrouping and becoming strong again.
Although the Lord has won the victory through the atonement, it is up to us to claim that victory and keep Satan under our feet.
When trouble comes, we can be still and know that God is with us, and He will be exalted when we lift and exalt His name. We need to develop a prayer-filled life to plan for spiritual growth and press forward to be faithful to the end.
We are more than overcomers through Christ; those who endure will be saved. Even when we cannot see our way out of a scary situation, we can take comfort that God is our rock and refuge from the storm. He said He would never leave or forsake us but go with us to the world's end.
(Psalms 34:19) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Dear readers, as we journey through life, we face many challenges and difficulties. However, we have a promise from the one above all - the one who knows everything. He has assured us that he will be with us in every trial we face.
There is no need to fear or worry because we are not braving these storms alone. In his presence, we find hope, peace, and strength to endure every hardship that comes our way. So, let us stand tall and walk with confidence, knowing that we are equipped to face every challenge that comes our way.
As followers of Christ, we carry a powerful authority that can shape the world around us. Our faith gives us the strength to inspire change and make a difference in the lives of those around us. Let us embrace this power with humility and use it to spread love and compassion.
Beloved, through our actions activated by our faith, we can truly make a positive impact on the world.
Let us never underestimate the power of our authority which we have in Christ to put the devil under our feet and keep him there, and let us be like Moses who made the statement that he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king, but endured as seeing him who is invisible.
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