Luke 9:1 NKJV
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
Beloved,
To effectively govern, you need authority and power. You need authority and power to carry out your dominion mandate.
The devil knows his work well that is why he does what he does, you must also know how to respond to his wiles and schemes.
Authority is the force that comes from the position you take over a matter. It is a measure of your competence and strength, Luke 4:32. It derives from your knowledge of who you represent and who backs you up. Authority is not self-appointed; it is given, Matthew 21:23. Every creature must respond to an authorized officer of the kingdom as they would to the higher authority backing that office.
The devil has power but lacks authority. He needs to get authority from man for him to exert his power, Matthew 28:18. This makes his activities to be illegal on earth. The authority Satan has over you is the you permitted him to have.
Authority and power go hand in hand. Authority must be backed by power for it to be effective. You need power to enforce your kingdom authority. You need power to punish every disobedience, 2 Corinthians 10:6.
There are different levels of authority. There is the general authority given to man at creation, Genesis 1:26. Then, there is believer’s authority which is available to only the redeemed, Luke 9:1. As a believer, your authority in the kingdom is based on:
- Your assignment, Luke 9:1
- Your faithfulness, Luke 19:17
- Your relationship with God, Mark 3:14
Authority comes with an office or jurisdiction. You must identify your assignment for you to know your authority. Know your office in the kingdom and know when you are operating in your office. Knowledge, faith, and sacrifice will give you the strength of authority.
Beloved, it is a noble thing to desire an increase in authority. If you want your authority to increase, increase your faithfulness. You must also master your identity as a believer:
- You are a son, Romans 8:16, 1 John 3:1.
- You are seated with Christ, Ephesians 2:6.
- You are in union with him, 1 Corinthians 6:17.
These identities must power your prayer life. You must command, rebuke and decree how it must be.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
