Once you come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that his sacrifice on the cross paid for the sins of mankind, you are left with a decision to make. You either reject the information or you accept it and call upon Jesus for salvation and forgiveness of your sin, by believing that He is the Lord and Savior who has paid for your sin on the cross. You then start living a lifestyle that is referred to as being a Christian. Out of excitement for your new-found faith you sense this refreshing that all will be better in life and you feel life is easier. While these feelings are genuine and things are better, it is not too long before you notice some things have not changed just because you are saved, and in some cases, it seems things are more difficult. It seems as though the more you try to do better in life, the harder it becomes to accomplish even daily tasks. The more you learn through attending church services and having personal Bible study, the more you come to understand you have much to do before you become like Jesus, which is the meaning of Christian, being Christ-like.
As you continue growing in your relationship with Jesus, you start having more problems with people and circumstances that you thought being saved would take care of. You find some people are not so eager to share in your excitement. If you become so bold as to start sharing with anyone the joy you have over being saved, some may even fight against you saying anything to discourage the growing faith that you enjoy so much.
The more you learn in the Bible and through teachings at church you start to understand some of the things happening to you are actually attacks from the devil and demonic powers. The harder you do the right things the more these workers of darkness tear down your progression.
Where is there a balance in all of this? You thought being saved would help life to be more enjoyable and have less stress or conflict. What about those who are so successful as Christians? How do they live in their Christian lifestyle and remain so happy and triumphant all the time? You may have thought by being saved you would have greater abilities to accomplish your goals; do better in school or at work; even have greater favor with God and man. Surely these are the things that are taught at church and you have always heard Christians talk about?
One of the answers to all these things is our authority as a believer. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for your sin so that once you have been saved you remain under a constant struggle with no way to overcome the difficulties in life. Jesus did say, "In the world you will have tribulations". But he did not leave it there, he went on to say, ". .but be of good cheer I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He also said, "I come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He has provided certain spiritual laws and safeguards to ensure we are capable of having a rich, full life of prosperity, that is filled with joy and happiness. Understanding the authority that has been given to you as a believer and maintaining that authority will give you victory in life.
Where the Authority Comes From
Authority is only as strong as the one or thing by which that authority is empowered by.
Governments have authority over their citizens and population because of the power they hold over them through cooperation or by forces. Without some force, a government's authority is powerless. You break the law that is established by your government and you will be answerable because of the authority your government has over you. At the same time, the population subject to a government can enjoy freedom and posterity because of the authority that exists from the power the government maintains. In order for a Christian to enjoy the prosperity and freedom that comes from being saved we must understand where our authority comes from to walk in the Christian life-style.
In Matthew Chapter 4 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he endured many temptations by the devil. After this time of temptations and victory over the devil, Jesus started his open ministry by calling some of the disciples. In verse 23 the Bibles says, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom. . ." The foundation of that preaching was the following Chapters 5-7. When Jesus had finished preaching Matthew 7:28-29 records they were astonished at his teachings, "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
The reason he could speak with such authority is because Jesus is the prince (the son) of the king from which he was preaching about. This is why he could share "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:11) and say, "the kingdom of heaven is like" (Matthew 13:24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47) in the Kingdom Parables; and why he could speak with authority when he said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). In John 14:24 Jesus declared ". . the words which you hear is not mine but the Father who sent me"; which signifies that Jesus was sent from God the Father, who gave him full authority.
As he was about to ascend to the Father and take his rightful place beside the King, it is recorded in Matthew 28:18 that he said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." He then in verses 19 and 20 passed that authority on to his church, the body of Christ. This is also seen in Ephesians 1:17-23:
17 The Father of glory, may give to you…revelation in the knowledge of Him… 18 that you may know… 19 The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe… 20 which He [the Father] worked in Christ when He raised Him…and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places… 22 He put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him…who fills all in all.
Jesus is the head of the church which is the Body of Christ, and he has placed his power in us through the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 3:16-20
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. . .
And now we who believe and have been baptized in his spirit are able to use His might and strength, that has been placed in us, to do all that we ask or think according to this power (His Power) that works in us. This is the authority of Jesus Christ working through us to do all that we can ask or think.
This is where we got our authority, now let's look at the kingdom that Jesus preached about concerning His authority.
The Kingdom of God
The authority of Jesus Christ comes from the following facts:
1. There is a kingdom. . . it is the Kingdom of God.
The king is the Almighty God, creator of the universe, He is the only king(Psalm 103:19; 115:1-15; Rev 15:3).
He is the only true and living god, there are none others (Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5-6, 14; John 17:3).
In any kingdom all authority lies in the king. God takes authority and is not required of by anyone (Job 40:2; Ezekiel 20:1-3).
2. The King's Children.
In any kingdom the next in line of authority is the King's Children.
The king's children are his succession of authority.
The children demand their authority by means of their birthright.
Jesus is the firstborn of all who believe (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18; Revelation 1:5).
He is the Prince in the kingdom of God (John 5:24-30).
Other than the king (God), Jesus is the authority over the Kingdom of God.
We who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ are the other children to the king (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:16-17; 1John 3:1-2). We are made kings and priests by Christ Jesus (Revelation 1:5-6).
Whatever we bind or loose on earth God will do the same in heaven; and what we agree upon will be done by our Father, the King in Heaven (Matthew 18:18-19).
The king delegates his authority to his children and all of the kingdom is subject to this succession of authority.
3. The nobility: the dukes, barons, knights; those of station.
These children of the king are higher in authority and power than the subjects.
Genesis 1:28 God gives dominion (authority) to the human race, His other children.
Adam was given dominion over all of God's creation but because of sin he lost the ability to use his authority in power as it was first given to him.
Through Adam all people have lost their station (Romans 5:12-19).
Man is still in control and creation is subject under man's authority. (Hebrews 2:6-8).
These would be those who have not come to salvation yet.
Called sons of disobedience, which came to be through Adam, not adopted back in yet (Colossians 3:6; Eph 5:6).
4. Last is the Subjects of the kingdom.
These are the servants in the kingdom, the Angels.
The Angels are the subjects under God's authority. (Hebrews 1:14)(Psalm 103:20-21; 1Peter 3:22) to minister for those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14)(Psalm 34:7; 91:11-12) (Matthew 18:10; 24:31).
They ministered to Jesus after he went through temptations in the wilderness by the devil (Mat 4:11; Mark 1:13).
Angels look at what we have in Christ in wonderment (Hebrews 2:5-9)(Psalm 8:4-8) (1Peter 1:12.
God uses Angels as reapers and servants of carry out his justice (Matthew 13:39,41,49; 16:27).
Angels are held to do God's word (Psalms 103:20-21).
Some angels chose to rebel against God and were banished from the kingdom (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezk 27:3-9; 1Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6).
5. Enemies of the kingdom.
Satan and demons are fallen - banished. . . enemies to the kingdom
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Satan is no longer the ruler of this world, now Jesus the Son of God, the Christ is (John 16:11). Satan only remains the "god of this age" (2Cor 3:4) for those who are blinded by his deception and swayed by his stolen power over them, the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2). But for us who believe and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can know the truth: that Satan is no more than a bully that thugs over people who know no better, and tries to cast fear over us who believe. Jesus Christ is now the Prince of this world (Acts 3:15; 5:31) because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). We overcome Satan's powers of darkness simply by resisting him (1Peter 5:9) and exposing his disobedience and trickery (Ephesians 5:11; 2Corinthians 10:4-5).
The devil, Satan, and demons can only influence the mortal or flesh.
Satan and his demons are fallen angels resulting in being banished from the kingdom they once had authority over. Now they are the enemies of the kingdom of God; killing, stealing, and destroying all they can (John 10:10), and taking people captive at his (Satan's) will (2Timothy 2:26).
Attacks from the Enemy
What does the enemy attack?. . .the kingdom
Our enemy is not flesh and blood. . . 2Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 6:12.
Satan exists as a spirit, but is able to take on human form, which is the material realm (Eph 2:2-3).
He and his armies are able to wage war through ways that are not limited to just what is able to be seen. Demonic moves in a spiritual realm but they are capable of taking on physical forms (Matt 8:30-32).
The enemy takes prisoners (captives) at his will (2Timothly 2:26) because he was the ruler of this world (John 14:30; 16:11) and he was banished from the kingdom and the authority. Out of retaliation Satan attacks and takes prisoners. As he continued to taking prisoners he also works to take nations, governments, and religion.
As any king would do, He sends out forces to resist those attacking his kingdom.
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." [Mat 11:12 NKJV]
We do not ask God to resist the devil for us, we are commanded to resist him ourselves. . .
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (Jas. 4:7)
We should never think the attacks of the devil are within God's sovereignty. . .
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." (1 Pet. 5:8-9)
Why Didn't God Just Destroy Satan?
The obvious question is, Why didn't God just destroy Satan the and demons that rebelled?
You would think it would have been easy for God to destroy them and all this would have never taken place.
The answer is: God did make a plan and that plan is moving toward their destruction.
God first sent Jesus to destroy the works of Satan (Hebrews 2;14), then God is planning on using us.
If an enemy is to be punished for their crimes, is it better to kill them so they go out of existence or is it more harmful to the enemy to strip them of all there authority and power and subject them to an extend time of being under the authority of something less inferior? Since they were stripped of their power by Jesus Christ the devil and all demonic beings are subject to the authority we have been given in Christ Jesus, until the day God does destroy them all in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10, 13).
God's Plan
God's Plan is to work out His authority and power through mankind, who is weaker and more frail than Satan and the powers of darkness. God's plan was to use Man to overcome and overthrow the banished angels.
The Holy Trinity separated himself and God sent the Prince of the kingdom to take back what was being stolen.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." [Gal 4:4-5 NKJV]
As the Prince of the Kingdom, come to the earth, Jesus proclaimed his authority in Luke 4:18-19.
As he taught from Isaiah 61 He declared what he was going to do to regain control over His Father's kingdom:
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations." [Isa 61:1-4 NKJV]
Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan (John 12:31; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14; 1John 3:8).
His death on the cross and resurrection made Jesus triumphant over the devil, disarming all principalities and powers and making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15).
When the prince of the kingdom started using His power in the kingdom the banished regent (Satan) did not like having his authority over the material realm taken from him. Satan and all his workers of darkness retaliate by killing, stealing, and destroying all they can (John 10:10), and taking people captive at his (Satan's) will (2Timothy 2:26). The Ruler of this world was cast out (John 12:31; Matthew 8:12) and Satan is no longer the prince and the power of the air. When Jesus called Satan the ruler of this world in John 12:31, Jesus had not risen from the grave yet. Jesus took this from Satan when he became victorious over death and hell.
Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be encouraged, I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33). Because Jesus overcame the world we can too.
Jesus said, the works he did we will do and greater works you will do. John 14:12.
It is possible for us to do the works of Jesus and do greater works? Mark 16:17-18.
Your Personal Authority in God's Plan
A king will place specific authority in the hands of each one of their children. They all have required jobs to do in order to maintain the kingdom. Some are used to carry out judicial responsibilities; others are appointed to command the armies; some are used to manage the construction of buildings and overseeing the lands. All of these specific responsibilities the king will only give to his children, otherwise he loses control of his kingdom.
As Christians our specific responsibilities are defined in our giftings, callings, and anointings.
[1Pe 4:10-11 NKJV] 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, [let him speak] as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, [let him do it] as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Just as the king provides tools for each person to carry out their purpose for the kingdom, so does our king provide us with tools to carry out our purpose in the Kingdom of God.
Our tools are:
Fruit of the Spirit. . . Galatians 5:22 (So you can improve yourself to be holy):
Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
Gifts of the Spirit. . .1Corinthians 12:1-10 (So you can help others):
Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophesy, Discerning Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues.
Armor of God. . .Ephesians 6:10-18 (So you can defeat anything that comes against you):
Truth, Righteousness, Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation, Word of the Spirit, Praying in the Spirit.
The answer to spiritual warfare is using the spiritual tools which have been provided to us for defending the kingdom. . .2Corinthians 10:3-5.
Taking Authority is God's Plan
Jesus said, "These works you shall do, but greater works you will do". . . John 14:12.
What were the works of Jesus?
Luke 7:22. . . Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gave us authority as the church, the Body of Christ.
We are to take charge and do the works of Jesus.
Those who will, will do even greater works.
The things that Jesus did we consider to be miracles.
A miracle is the sign of your authority working through the Spirit of God in you. . . Hebrews 2:4
When John the Baptist wanted to know if Jesus was the Christ, his signs of being the Christ were his works. Our signs of taking authority and doing what Jesus has appointed us to do is the works that comes out of us.
There are two words used in the Greek New Testament for miracle:
σημειον (sā-my'-on), which means a sign, mark, or token:
That by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known.
A sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature.
Signs of remarkable events soon to happen.
Miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the person is sent by him, or by which the person proves that the cause they are pleading is from God.
δύναμις (dü'-nä-mĭs), which means strength, power, abilitity:
inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
power for performing miracles
moral power and excellence of soul
the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
power and resources arising from numbers
power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1411&t=KJV
Miracle is the same Greek word used as Sign:
Matthew 24:3 . . .Tell us. . .what will be the sign of your coming. . . σημειον (sā-my'-on).
John 2:11. . . This beginnings of miracles did Jesus. . . σημειον (sā-my'-on)
When Jesus was performing miracles he was showing forth his authority as the Son of God, the Prince of the Kingdom of God. When you do the works of Jesus you are taking authority over the things Jesus appointed you to.
Levels of Faith for a Miracle
You see a miracle taking place. . .John 4:48
You experience a miracle taking place. . .Acts 5:12
You perform the miracle. . . sign that the Spirit is working in you. . .Acts 14:3
You teach others to perform miracles. . .signs that the Spirit is working in them. . .2Cor 12:12
Faith to Believe Gives You Authority
[Mark 11:22-24 NKJV] So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
It is God's will for His power to work out of you. . . . not you work his power.
God's power will always abide by His Word, it will always be within His will.
Faith to believe is you trusting God enough so the power of God in you can work out and through you!!!!
God will not work against his own will, nor will he work his power against His own will. When spiritual manifestation is working from what you are saying or doing it is because you have faith enough that God will work His power through you to accomplish His will.
Manifestation will happen when God's power is activated by what we say and do as it lines up with God's will and the His Word. When your words and deeds line up with God's will and the Word of God the power of God will work in you, (James 4:3).
So your prayer should not be to do this or that, it should be that God works His will out through the power of God that is in you.
This is why you speak the Word to something and it takes place.
This is why you command a thing to be done, by the leadership of the Spirit, and it is done.
This is how God will give us the desires of our heart, because those desires line up with His will and His Word.
Our will becomes conformed to His will and the desires of our heart becomes reality.
Faith to believe is not believing that the mountain will move because you command it (Mark 11:23).
The mountain will move because you have faith to believe the power of God in you will move the mountain because you commanded it, and His power in you is activated.
We have been given authority over the material realm which is physical, mental, medical, biological, chemical. . . .
You can go into an atom and generate anything necessary to active the power of God in you to bring healing.
You can go into the atmosphere and activate the power of God in you to diminish a hurricane by speaking against the storm.
You can go inside a sickness and command it to die, or go to the exact cells that are causing the deformity or imbalance and activate the power of God that is in you to renew the cell and bring live into a diseased body, (Rom 8:11).
Because we have been given all authority over the earth and the material realm, when you need something and you do not have the ability to get what you need through hard work or money, make it appear. Jesus made the food appear (Matthew 14:15). He made the fish appear (Luke 5:4-7). He made the wine appear (John 2:9. He made the coin appear for taxes (Matthew 17:27).
In Ezekiel 37 the prophet was told by God to prophesy to a field of dry bones. As Ezekiel began to speak the Word of God to those bones he literally watched the bones coming together and forming skeletons. On those skeletons formed tendons, organs, blood vessels, eye balls, skin and hair. Then as the prophet continued to prophesy the Word of God to this now field of human bodies, their breath was returned to them and they stood up, alive and ready for battle as a great army in full battle gear. Ezekiel watched as the power of God that was on him did according to God's will and formed a field of dry bones into a living army. Everything that formed was material, and physical. These dead, dry bones became living, breathing bodies with full battle gear, and none of it was there before Ezekiel spoke as God commanded him to. The prophet's words activated God's power to manifest something that was very real.
The Bible tells is in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
Here are literal translations of this verse:
"I am all things for him who energizes me."
"I am all things for him who gives me strength, might, or power."
We are able to be anything that God needs us to be so He can work through us.
Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."
The power of God that works in us is God working in us, not ourselves working out God in us.
It is God doing the work and we are being the agent, the instrument.
When Peter and John were entering the temple in Acts 3, as Peter spoke the words, "rise up and walk", that command energized the power of God in him through the Holy Spirit and the man was healed.
What gives us this power of God is first being saved, and second being baptized in the Spirit. Many do not want to accept the teaching of Baptism in the Holy Spirit because of their religious traditions, but it is the will of God that you be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18), which is being baptized in His Spirit (Acts 2:4,38; 8:17-18; 10:44-46; 19:6). This is how the Gifts of the Spirit (1Corinthians 1-10) are made manifest through the power of God in us, which you get through being baptized into His Spirit (1Corinthians 12:13).
Once you have salvation and the Holy Spirit in you, now God is able to work his power in you.
We are not just computers that only respond when the buttons on a spiritual keyboard are pushed, we do have the ability to speak out or command by our own will. As you move and have your being in the Lord Jesus Christ, our words and deeds activate the power of God in us.
We speak, and God's power does what we say, when it lines up with the Word of God and His will.
So when Jesus said, ". . .whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:24), we can move the mountain or do anything by the power of God that is working in us. What makes the difference between a supernatural activation or not is letting God work through you.
We walk in the Spirit to sense and know what God wants us to do in His will. Then as we speak by the guiding of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, we are allowing God to carry out His will through His power in us.
In this way, whatever you need to be for Jesus in the Kingdom of God, you have full power and authority to do so. It is given to you by the Prince, the Son of God.
Nothing is keeping you back! Use your authority!