I believe that our authority as Christians only comes from Christ and our position in Christ through his death on the Cross and resurrection. When you become a Christian you are given authority in Christ. You don’t have to be a Christian for x years to earn authority – it is a legal thing settled in the spiritual realm. You become adopted children of God, raised up with Christ to sit in heavenly places and given an inheritance in Christ the minute you accept Christ as your saviour. Authority is not a feeling – it is a legal right – settled in the heavenly realms.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1 v 6-7
It is all about what Jesus achieved on the cross for us.
As a Christian you already have authority in prayer and the biggest breakthrough will be achieved in prayer when we understand and act on our authority and position in Christ. I think as Christians that too many times we ask God to do things for us when He has already given us the authority to implement His rule and reign on earth and we just need to exercise that authority in faith in prayer.
Settle it in your spirit and say to yourself “I have been given authority in Christ” Keep saying it in faith. God wants you to exercise the authority which you have in prayer which Christ has given to you.
Jesus said -Mark 16:17 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Luke 10 19-“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
This scripture doesn’t mean rush off and start taking on massive demonic strongholds or go looking for demons to cast out– that would be presumptuous and dangerous. You need to make sure before you take on satanic forces directly that satan has no legal foothold in you, that you are not moving out from the covering of God’s grace, that you are prepared. In my experience, you should only go into battles which God leads you into but:
It does mean that when the Holy Spirit reveals attacks from the enemy or the presence of the enemy we can confidently “submit to God, resist the devil and He will flee from you” James 4:7
We only have authority because of Christ’s finished work at the cross when he took back authority from Satan.
I am sure that you have seen this example before as it is used in many Christian teachings on authority but it is good at getting the point across in a way that we can understand.
1.In Genesis Ch 1 v 26 & 28 God creates man, gives man free will and gives him DOMINION over the earth. i.e. the right and the responsibility of ruling and exercising authority over creation. The right to subdue the earth under him. God GAVE that authority and dominion to man. God’s intention was to work with and through us to oversee His creation.
Imagine the scene – God hands over keys (representing authority) and sceptre (representing rule) on earth to man.
2. Satan who has already been thrown out of heaven for rebellion sees that man has been given dominion over the earth and deceives Eve into disobeying God. She then induces Adam to disobey God. In disobeying God, man (Adam) gives away the authority and rule that he had over the earth to Satan. Satan then legally had a position and the rule over this world and the keys to death & hell as sin brought curses and death. Jesus called him the “prince of this world” John 12:31
Imagine the scene – Adam hands keys to satan.
3. God has already put in place the plan of redemption – Hallelujah. Gen 3:16 he says to satan “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”. This is fulfilled when Jesus the son of God becomes man and dies on the cross to pay the ransom for sin and obtain redemption for us. Jesus said of satan before he went to the cross “ the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:11
Imagine the scene – Jesus leaves the glory of heaven and his position and comes to earth.
4. Satan comes to tempt Jesus in the wilderness and offers him the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said “All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me”. Satan is able to offer Jesus earthly power because Adam had given it to him. As the prince of the world he has a position which he can offer Christ. You’ll notice in scripture that Jesus didn’t rebuke satan for lying.
Imagine the scene – satan offers Jesus conditional rulership – strings attached – but Jesus declines. This was to ensure that when Jesus went to the Cross he was the spotless lamb of God.
“for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me” John 14:13 i.e. satan had nothing on Christ. He had refused all temptation. “ but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
5. At the Cross Jesus defeated satan just when satan thought he had won. Satan didn’t kill Jesus, Jesus gave up his life for us. Colossians 2: 15 says “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. i.e. He stripped satan of authority at the cross and he took the keys back from satan of hell and death (Revelation 1:18)
Imagine the scene -Jesus takes back from satan the keys and the rulership
6. Jesus didn’t keep that authority for himself. Hallelujah. He put it into the hands of his church – us- so that we can in prayer and by the Word of God in daily life enforce the rule and reign of Christ over satan on this earth until He comes back. The inheritance we have in Christ is the Authority and Power (of the Holy Spirit) given to us when Jesus died and rose from the dead. Satan’s power over us has now been broken by Christ’s blood – we no longer fear death.
1 John 3:8 says “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”.
Romans 5:17 “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ”.
Imagine the scene – Jesus puts the keys and rulership into the hands of the Christian – Amen.
There are things to remember with such authority. We do not rule by our own will but by God’s revealed will. Rulership is also not over people – We don’t control people or seek to control them through prayer – that is manipulation and control which is clearly a sin. This authority and rulership is to be exercised over the works of the enemy. The bible is clear that we do not fight flesh and blood but evil forces.
Before the Cross satan’s name had an effect and meant something in the spirit realm. When Christ died on the cross he made a public spectacle of satan. When God raised Jesus up and gave him a name above all names – satan’s name in the spiritual realm was DEMOTED. The name satan means the opponent, the hater, the accuser, adversary, enemy, one who resists, obstructs and hinders whatever is good. He is the hateful enemy opposed to everything of God.
When you come under attack from satan or evil/unclean spirits, as you surely will as a Christian, rebuke them in the name of Jesus, remind them of the blood of Christ and Christ’s victory at the cross.
Revelation 12:11 says that “they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death”.
The battle is not between satan and God – that is no contest. God is Omnipotent (all-powerful) satan is not. God is Omniscient (all-knowing) satan is not. God is Omnipresent (everywhere) satan is not -he can only be in one place at a time.
The present battle is between us (the Church of Christ who satan hates) assisted by God’s angels against satan and his demonic spirits.
Christ gave us the victory at the Cross but it is only Christ’s church at the moment who can through prayer be used of God to bring His kingdom rule and reign to the earth. We know that satan still has influence in this world because he continues to influence the behaviour of people and this is shown clearly in the Word. Christ has not yet come back to rule and reign over the earth and until he does it is our job as Christians to keep praying –Matthew 6:10 May your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Le us pray for humility, to have the mind of Christ & an obedient heart.
Philippians 2: 5-16 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. 17
May we continue to develop JESUS’ Character –
He was humble – “But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant”
He was selfless – “poured out his life an offering for all”
He was obedient – “and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross”. He said to His father “not my will but yours be done”
He was forgiving – “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.
He was compassionate – “When He saw the crowds his heart moved with compassion”
Let us pray for more revelation of Jesus, His victory on the cross & the power of His blood.
An extract from the book: Nothing but the blood
We overcome satan when we testify personally to what the Word of God says the blood of Jesus does for us (Rev 12:11)
Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil (Ephesians 1:7)
Through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9)
Through the blood of Jesus, I am continually being cleansed from all sin (1 John 1:17)
Through the blood of Jesus, I am justified, made righteous, just-as-if-I’d never sinned (Rom 5:9)
Through the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God (Heb 13:12)
Through the blood of Jesus, I have boldness to enter into the presence of God (Heb 10:19)
The blood of Jesus cries out continually to God in heaven on my behalf” (Heb 12:24)Prayer – Is God hearing my prayers?
EagleSight 