Delegated Authority

For believers to stand in the authority of God and use the delegated authority he or she has been freely given, they must first know and understand these highly important aspects. First, fully comprehend God’s authority and second, believers must know who they are Christ; who Christ is in them and how the Father truly sees them. Why are these so important? Knowing these things and operating in them will eliminate, doubt, fear, unbelief, shame, guilt, condemnation, inferiority and disobedience and in turn manifests in the believer the same attributes that we see in Abraham.

We see recorded in Romans, "Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:20-21) Notice, Abraham was "fully convinced." Like Abraham, believers must come to know God’s will, which is His Word, and by it, exercise the kind of faith that prevents doubt, fear, unbelief, etc., to find place. The Apostle Paul tells us, "do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) and, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) Say this with me; "In the Name of Jesus, I will not give place to the devil, therefore, Satan will not take advantage of me, for I am not ignorant of his schemes."

Next, concerning believer’s authority; it is the delegated power and legal right vested in them by the Holy Spirit to uphold, enforce and further Jesus' ministry when He walked the earth as the Son of Man. Jesus tells us, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) We also see, "Then Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." (Luke 9:1) "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:17-19) and, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)

Believers need to realize that we have been given the authority over Satan, and all his evil forces. However, consider this. Do we honestly believe that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has any less authority today than the disciples had during Jesus' ministry on earth as the Son of Man as revealed in the Gospels? Do we honestly believe that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has any less authority today than the early church had? Do we honestly believe that although Jesus defeat Satan and all his evil forces that somehow they simply packed up and went away? Believers who think this way tend to describe the church and believers as everything other than victorious and triumphant. Simply put, the value of every believer’s authority rests on two things. One, knowing that God himself is the power behind the believer’s authority; Two, applying faith to number one. Believers will never understand their authority with the intellect; it only comes by revelation. You must believe and then act by faith.

In grasping this, believers then understand that the devil and his forces are obliged to recognize our authority. Now we see the truth in Romans 5:17 when it says, believers “reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ." Believer’s who thoroughly understand that it is the power of God backing them, can exercise their authority and face the enemy fearlessly on any and every front. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) Jesus is always with us through the Holy Spirit who was given to us to uphold, enforce and continue the ministry of Jesus. So, let us by faith take the authority that we have by the Holy Spirit through the Name of Jesus and go, setting the captives free.