Understanding Authority Pt. 2

As we learnt last week, we have authority as believers, and it is in understanding authority that we get to access and walk in what God has prepared for us. Let's pick up from where we left off, with our main text:

John 14:10-14 (AMP)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the ( His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power). 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father's name convince you.] 12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM].

Jesus has mandated us to operate in the same authority as He had, and even do greater things than what He did. Many believers continue to chicken out in their lives, not understanding we have authority. Instead of telling God about the devil, tell the devil about God, speak to him directly and command your surroundings, for it to align to what you want to see.

God has completed His part, and put His signature in the Bible. What remains is for us to command our surrounding to align to what God has already done. When we know the truth, it shall set us free (John 8:32).

When you open your spiritual eyes, you understand that when you start operating in the authority that is rightfully yours, you cannot go back. Authority given by men is temporary; authority given by God is permanent and long-lasting. God does not give authority and take it back; we are mandated to be maintaining the authority that is bestowed upon us. when you are at authority, even when you die your authority remains:

2 Kings 13:21

So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Worldly authority does not last, such as presidency, authority in schools etc. Earthly authority is short-lived; heavenly authority is long-lasting, as we have seen in Elisha’s instance. The authority is the power of God, and is anointing, that cannot be challenged even by death itself. No one can challenge the authority that comes from God, whether it’s your CEO, school principal etc. You can command things from wherever you are, as authority is not even limited by distance. You can change things from wherever you are, just by speaking what you want to see, according to the word of God.

Matthew 27:51-54

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, ⁵² and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Jesus was crushed and dead and even given guards at the tomb door to keep Him in there. Before He got there, right when He died, the thick curtain that separated men from the Holies of Holies was torn, as the authority in Jesus broke the barrier. Now we have a connection with our Daddy, because of the authority that was in Jesus, giving us the ability to enter to where God is, on His throne. The same authority caused the graves that were around the area. He was to open up and release the dead that were in them. It was at Jesus’ death that all these happened. The Centurion had to declare that truly He was the Son of God. If all these happened when He was dead, how about now that He has resurrected, and has given us the same authority He has while He is in heaven? When we understand that authority that we have, things will start shaking up all around us.

Having known this, what will make us as believers to continually remain in authority?

1.      Faith

Matthew 17:14-21

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, ¹⁵ "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ "So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." ¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." ¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. ¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" ²⁰ So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹ "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

Jesus didn’t mean that we fast to deal with specific demons that could not come out through prayer and fasting. Jesus meant that, that kind of unbelief is what comes out through prayer and fasting. What is it that has remained a mountain before you? Jesus spoke and said that once we deal with the unbelief, we will speak to that mountain to be removed, and it will move. You will speak to the poverty, shortage and lack in your house, and it will flee back to the sea. Faith will keep you exercising authority. It is not faith in your mother, or in your money, but faith in the living God.

Where is your faith? A child has faith in his father, not knowing any better. How about you, where is your faith in? Joseph received a dream, at 17, that he will be a ruler and have his brothers and father bowing to him. There is nowhere where it is recorded that Joseph doubted the dream, and it surely came to happen. Faith in a big and great God will put you in places of earthly authority.

If the earth and its fullness belongs to our Father, who owns everything (Psalm 24:1), and so it does not matter who owns what is yours, we just lift our eyes to where our help comes from, and receive that which is ours (Ps. 121:1). Fix your eyes on the beginning and finisher of your faith, Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:2).

If you have faith, you will exercise authority over all kinds of mountains.

2.      Knowledge

Knowledge will make you to be at a place of unquestionable authority. What you do not know will destroy you. Doctors, professors, mechanics and so on are respected because of the knowledge they have, thus giving them command in their areas. When you have knowledge, you will have authority in every area of your life, and have command in the same. Where is your authority? do you have authority in the things of God? Pick the word of God, interact with it, and know your authority.

When people speak to you regarding worldly authority, get knowledge on your heavenly authority and exercise your authority. People perish for lack of knowledge

(Hosea 4:6), and not demons. It’s authority that people lack, to put the devil where he belongs, under their feet, as they exercise their authority. Knowledge of our God will help us remain maintained in our authority.

Daniel 11:32b

…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

When everyone else is shaking, you having knowledge of your God will remain strong.

Luke 2:49

And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

Jesus was not rude; He knew His authority and where He was from. We’re not saying we be rude to our parents, bosses, children, neighbors etc. We’re only saying we identify our position and authority, and function in it.

When Jesus entered the temple, the rich men with gold and silver all stood and watched as Jesus overthrew the tables, asking them if they did not understand that this was His Father’s territory. Do not allow devils to operate in your home; take your authority and overturn the enemy; let him know it is your Father’s territory. When you do not have knowledge of your authority, every demon will challenge you.

Have knowledge of your authority. Children understand their authority, and defend what belongs to their father’s. Understand who your Father is, what is His, pick your authority and claim and defend what is His and belongs to you.  

When you go to those offices, do not go with an intimidated look and mind, asking for favors from men command the situation and speak what you want to see. Do not go for anything lesser.

Ephesians 2:4-6

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

When you wake up frail, go to such verses as these above, understand your position and authority, and walk in it.

3.      Relationships

When you develop and keep strong and healthy relationships with God and those people who God has brought your way, you will forever walk in authority. Notice, it is with those people who God brings your way, not with those that you brought your way.

John 14:10

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the ( His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power).

Jesus understood the relationship He had with God, and thus understood authority. He was close with His Father, and thus enjoyed this authority.

1 Samuel 18, 20 (Study)

The relationship that David and Jonathan shared caused David to be elevated to an earthly authority and position. Prior knowledge of this is what caused Jonathan to be good to him, and defend him before his father. Because of this relationship, David was protected by Jonathan at some point. Discern the people around you, as they will expose you to the killer and strip you of your authority, while others will help you guard and walk in your authority. Who surrounds you?

Just like Samson in Judges 16, be careful that you do not hang around and entertain Delilahs who will derail you and make you lose your authority, or fail to use it. The ungodly relationship stripped Samson off His authority. The more you maintain a close relationship with God, spending much time with Him in prayer and in the word, the more you understand your authority. Spending time in the word will help you pray effective and bold prayers, according to the word, and get results.

4.      Repentance

Repentance accords men authority. turn away from wickedness, repent, and walk in your authority. when you have repented, the devil cannot even accuse you of anything. When you have repented, your heart cannot condemn you, and you can stand boldly before your Father and also before the devil, and exercise your authority.

Romans 6:12-14

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Repent, turn around, and start pleasing your Father.

John 4 describes this woman who had had 5 husbands, and the 6^th one was not hers. She had no authority to tell anyone to do anything, out of shame of what people knew about her. When she repented, she was made a woman of authority, and could go and evangelise, calling people to see Jesus, and they heard her. Before she couldn’t, having lost her dignity. Repentance accorded her dignity and authority.

When Adam sinned, he lost the position of authority. Instead of continuing to fellowship with God in the evening and commanding animals despite his nakedness, he shied off and hid himself with leaves. If you want to walk in confidence and authority, choose to walk in righteousness and holiness.

5.      Obedience

1 Samuel 15:17-28 (study)

Saul lost his authority because he disobeyed God. David took over because Saul lost it. by the obedience that Moses showed God, he became a man of authority, and became the one to rescue the children of Israel. Esther’s obedience to Mordecai gave her authority to go to the king, and rescue the whole of Israel. Which area is the Lord telling you to be obedient in? Do you want to operate in authority all through your life? Is the Lord telling you to pray and fast, or to tithe, in order walk in abundance? Is He telling you to give away something, or go visit someone? Obey Him.

6.      Humility

Philippians 2:6-11
⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Due to obedience, Jesus was exalted to a position of authority, above all men and things.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

If you want to remain in a position of authority and walk in authority especially in the physical realm and in this world today, humility is a must. Even when we walk in authority and command situations around us, and things turn around for our favour so much so that people notice and start saying good things about us, humility is a must.

1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Psalm 147:6

The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.

Daniel 4:28-33 (study)

Nebuchadnezzar walked in pride, and was stripped off his authority, for 7 years. Pride will hinder you from walking in your authority, over the spiritual realm and also in the physical realm.

7.      Respect Authority

What you sow is what you reap (Gal. 6:7). You will be respected when you walk in authority, if you respect authority.

Therefore, In conclusion, we have been given authority through Jesus Christ and this authority will never be taken away from us, it is permanent. However, It is up to us to ensure that we do not lose it by keeping it in use appropriately as guided by the Word of our Heavenly Father who has given it to us. 

Blessings. 

-- Pastor Mary Mugo 

(13/07/14 Sunday Service Sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry.) 


Pastor Mary is the Senior Pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.