In His Authority

The prayer that Jesus revealed in Matthew 6 was never meant to be simply quoted or made into a formula for prayer. His Words carry such a great revelation, that the Holy Spirit desires to make all of it known to all believers. In the prayer, Jesus says, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) This was not some, "oh well, hopefully, God's Will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven," but a reality, it is exactly what Jesus meant. Not only did He mean this literally, but in fact, He came to earth in human form to prove it to be true and that God's will can manifest on earth as it is in heaven through anyone who can believe. However, we must come to understand and walk in the authority that all believers have through Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) So, think about these words. Did Jesus need to be given "All authority?" He was God. He already had all authority. So why would He say "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." The Apostle Paul describes the church as "the Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27) and also by revelation of the Holy Spirit he tells us, "And He (The Father) put all things under His (Jesus') feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23) When Christ ascended to heaven, He transferred His authority to the Church. He is the Head of the Church, and believers make up the Body. Christ's authority continues to fill His Body, the church, today, as it did in the early church. His authority has been given to His Body, His church, all believers! 

The translators of the King James Version translated many words consistently, but in some cases, they did not use the correct definition of the Greek words for power and authority. For example, in the King James Version, Jesus says, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19) Although the word power is used twice in this verse, two different words are found in the original Greek. What Jesus actually said was, "I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." In speaking about serpents and scorpions, Jesus is talking about the power of the devil, demons, evil spirits, and all the powers of darkness. Believers need to realize that we have authority over them all.

Now honestly, does the church need any less authority today than it had in the early church? Of course not and it would be foolish to think so, wouldn't it? The value of our authority rests on the power that is behind that authority. Jesus Christ Himself is the power behind our authority. The devil and his forces are obliged to recognize our authority in the same way they recognize God's authority. The Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, (devil, demons, evil spirits, and all the powers of darkness) because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) The believer who thoroughly understands that the power of God is backing him can exercise his authority and face the enemy fearlessly.

Authority is defined as, the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience; the right to control, command, or determine. God's authority has been vested in every believer through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells us to, "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."  (Ephesians 6:10). That means that believers can step out in the authority of Christ and stop the devil, demons, evil spirits, and all the powers of darkness from manifesting their evil schemes at all times. Look what Paul tells us concerning the resurrection of Jesus, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:19-21) 

Notice the nineteenth verse. This is telling us that there was such an overwhelming display of God's power in raising Jesus from the dead, that it was the mightiest work that God had performed. Satan as well as all demons, evil spirits, and all the powers of darkness were defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ, who arose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is now seated at the right of the Father, far above them. Paul tells us concerning the resurrection, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them." (Colossians 2:15) These are the same demonic powers we deal with today, but, thanks be to God, Jesus has completely defeated them and stripped them of their authority and power. God wants every believer to come to know what happened in the death, burial, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ. He wants us to know that He has seated Christ "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:21) 

Believers will never understand their authority if they rely on their intellect. Understanding and walking in authority comes by revelation through the Holy Spirit and by the believer receiving it by faith. Some believers do exercise more authority over the powers of darkness than others, simply because they have received a greater revelation, spiritual comprehension, but keep in mind, God wants all believers to have spiritual comprehension. 

John Alexander Dowie, a man of God who ministered at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, received great revelation from the Holy Spirit concerning healing. Many times in his ministry he had to cross an ocean. Oft times he encountered storms, but said every time a storm came up, he did what Jesus did, He rebuked the storm and it always ceased. We should not be amazed by this. Jesus tells us, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) Jesus  did not say that only a select few would do these works. He said those who believe on Him would do the same works and even greater. 

As believers study and meditate on what the Word of God teaches, it will produce faith (Romans 10:17) and educate our recreated spirits concerning our authority in Christ. In doing this, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us our position in Christ, which is, "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." As this revelation grows in us, I believe we will see exactly what Jesus said, "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven." PTL