Be Restored in Your Spiritual Authority- Part II

From part I of this discussion, spiritual authority is the legal ground to exercise spiritual power.  We learnt that spiritual authority is inherent in our restored relationship with the Father through Christ, since all who believe are made Sons of God (John 1:12).  Righteousness is key in exercising spiritual authority and this is attained only in Christ, as believers surrender their lives to life long sanctification.

Also noteworthy from the previous discussion is that Christ commissioned us and gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19; 28:18-20), to open doors for the blind to see, the lame to walk, the oppressed to be liberated and the sick to be healed.  The exercise of authority requires a believer to live by faith, firstly through seeking to know God through the revelation of His Word; moment-by-moment focusing on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; and spending time in the secret place of prayer.

A pertinent example in exercise of spiritual authority is the police man who standing on the road side, is able to flag down cars and the driver stops to listen to authority.  The police man may be the ordinary man in your neighbourhood, perhaps with a physically weaker stature than many people in his hood.  However, whenever he puts on his police uniform and walks out of his house, he is able to exercise the authority conferred to him by his enlisting authority.  Similarly, believers are commanded to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).  This instruction is given in the context of living in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Believers are to always be dressed for duty, with the full the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  We are to sleep in the Armour, and go on vacation in the Armour, and to the mall in the Armour, and for work trips in the Armour.  Like the policeman, we are to exercise our authority wherever and whenever God leads us to, in order to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, and to build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10).

Soldiers are trained never to put down or put off their Armour while in the battle field.  My mother, a retired police officer, went for a promotion of rank course in the mid 90s and always came home with exciting and memorable stories.  One of the unforgettable stories that she told me is that when out in the jungle, they used to sleep in their uniform, boots, backpack positioned on their shoulders and each soldier holding on to his/her ammunition.  The body would be so fatigued that all joints and muscles ached, but they were trained not to give in to the lure of comfortable sleep.

On one of those nights when my mum and her fellow soldiers were out in the jungle, the trainers stage managed an attack where they began to fire at the tents where the trainees were sleeping.  Each soldier, as trained, quickly took cover and begun to crawl to his/her designated ditch to take their counter-attack position.  Fire exchanged for a while until they heard the voice of their Commander shouting out for ceasefire.  Each soldier was instructed to stay at their position for inspection and the trainers came by, ditch by ditch, evaluating each soldier.

Sadly, one of the most experienced soldiers in the troop was found to be bare footed.  He had removed his boots at night to take a comfortable nap and when the attack was suddenly staged, he moved out of the tent in haste, not having time to put on his boots.   As harsh as the discipline might seem, the soldier was immediately dismissed from the promotion of rank course.  He was not ready for higher responsibility!

Similarly, believers are in a a 24-7 battle field and we must discipline ourselves to be always clad with the full Armour of God!  Anyone who does otherwise is not fit for exercise of spiritual authority.  Irrespective of number of years in salvation, the principles of God's Word never change.  The command remains: put on the Armour of God!  Like the uniformed traffic policeman on the roadside or the armored soldier on patrol, is your spiritual authority being felt by your family, colleagues, neighbours, and the society at large?

It is without doubt that a soldier's mandate comes with authority.  This authority gives him/her the legal ground to exercise power.  A well trained soldier knows when to exercise certain powers because his/her objective is to accomplish the work entrusted to him/her by the master.   A traffic policeman by the roadside may need a pistol and handcuffs to enforce the law whenever need arises.  A soldier in a banditry stricken land needs more than a pistol to enforce the law in his/her area of jurisdiction; he may need an AK or G3 type of rifle and more sophisticated tools.  Simply, the authority of a soldier is complemented by weapons of power, as circumstances demand.

Spiritual power is endowment of divine strength and ability to a believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Great Commission.  The Gospels are very clear on this Commission, it is not something to be imagined or speculated on, it is expressly articulated in scripture.

Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16-15-18, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 

Luke 24:45-49, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John 20:21, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 

Following the conferment of authority to the disciples for fulfillment of the Great Commission, Jesus further promised the gift of the Father, the Blessed Holy Spirit.  He sternly instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for divine empowerment (Acts 1:5).  The disciples now fully Commissioned waited in Jerusalem for dunamis (greek word for power used about 120 times in the New Testament).  On the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), the disciples received divine strength and ability to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ!

Men who had been shy, doubtful and uneducated became dynamites for Jesus!  God's Dunamis was at work in them and through them for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  The Book of Acts provides a great historical record of the early church moving in spiritual authority and power.  It was not a "fake it till you make it" gimmick.  No!  The ability to perform signs, wonders and miracles was inherent in them by reason of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  God's power was evident in their daily lives.

The apostles in Acts 5, for example, discerned that Ananias and Sapphira had lied to God in bringing in an incomplete offering.  The discernment of spirits is a gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Consequently, they exercised their spiritual authority to pronounce judgement on the couple's disobedience.  In Iconium, Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas were speaking effectively, in the authority of Christ, and many believed.  However, a circumstance arose.  Some Jews incited women and men of influence in the city against the two apostles.  For the advancement of God's work amidst the opposition, God confirmed Paul and Barnabas message through miraculous signs and wonders.   Miraculous power is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:10).

On another dramatic occurrence, Paul was preaching late in the night at Troas, and a man listening to Paul by the name of Eutychus fell from a window on third storey and died. Paul went to where he was lying, threw himself on the dead young man and wrapped his arms around him.  The young man was resurrected and many comforted by God's doing (Acts 20:7-12).  The power that raised Christ from the dead was at work through Paul's life to raise the dead! 

The apostles had certainly received the Gift of the Father (the Holy Spirit)!  Not earned but given freely!  Theirs had only been to tarry in Jerusalem in obedience to Jesus' instruction and wait with expectation for the infilling of the Spirit.  Consequently, the apostles not only lived and ministered in spiritual authority but they were also empowered by the Holy Spirit and operated in gifts of the Spirit.  Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit?  If not, what are you waiting for?  The blue print to receiving the Holy Spirit is in Scripture: desire; ask; wait in expectation; and receive the gift of the Father.

"Authority comes in the Commission.  Power comes in the encounter," by Bill Johnson

However, I need to caution that believers are called to pursue God and not power.  In God, are inexhaustible blessings and gifts (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11).  Our heart's cry needs to be like that of Paul in Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death."  As we eagerly desire spiritual gifts, we are to pursue a deeper relationship with God, for in so doing we follow the way of love as commanded in 1 Corinthians 14:1.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe in teaching about spiritual authority and power, highlights that they are three symbols of a Kingdom: crown, sensor and sceptor.  Crown represents power; sensor represents influence/ glory and sceptor represents authority.  Psalms 45:6 states, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Additionally, David prophesied about the Anointed One in Psalms 110:2 and said, "The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies."

He who has the sceptor (authority) has the other two, crown (power) and sensor (influence).  However, it is possible to have power but no influence or authority.  In Genesis 49, Jacob is recorded blessing His sons.  Regarding Judah, Jacob prophesied, "The scepter will not depart from Judah".  David and Solomon, descendants of Judah, had the scepter to rule over Israel.  In addition, their power and influence is demonstrated in the accounts of scripture.  For example, other kings would temporarily leave their kingdoms to sit at the feet of Solomon and gain wisdom.  This was great influence!   However, it would be misleading to focus on Solomon's power and influence independent of his authority.  When Solomon allowed worldly affairs, including marrying foreign women and allowing worship of their gods, his authority begun to wane.

The late Dr. Myles notes, it is possible to be anointed but not legal. Simply put, some believers who received the gifts of the Spirit during their earlier days in salvation, have allowed their hearts to be corrupted and to grow cold to God and they have thus walked away from the way of righteousness.  Sadly, they continue to minister in the gifts of the Spirit since the gifts and call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).  However, they have little impact in advancing the Kingdom of God because the devil is not afraid of a believer's power but authority (reflect on the story of the ten plagues by Moses).

The more you meditate on scriptures regarding the matter under discussion, the more you realize that often when we live defeated Christian lives and are ineffective in ministry, it is not because of inadequate power but that our legal ground to exercise power is compromised.    For some believers, sin has compromised their legal ground to exercise power.  For others, unbelief while for others, complacency in seeking God in the secret place.  It is no wonder that on the Day of the Lord, some will be crying out to the Lord saying, "Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?  Did we not cast out demons in your name? Did we not perform many miracles?"  Matthew 7:23 states that Jesus will painly say to them, "I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers." 

Are you born again? Are you a Son of God?  You were created to exercise spiritual authority in Christ Jesus for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.   In your service to the Lord, God has provided divine strength and ability through the Spirit's power, and we see the manifestation of this power through various spiritual gifts.  This blessedness is yours in Christ Jesus!  May God help you and I to be restored to a life of spiritual authority and power. Amen.

Be Restored in Your Spiritual Authority- Part I

Until recently, I have always considered spiritual authority and power to be inseparable.  I never imagined that a believer could have spiritual power and yet not be living in spiritual authority.  I have taken a bit of time to write this article because I felt that God's teaching needed to work in me first before I could teach others.  Even as I share this message, God continues to work in me both to will and to do for His pleasure.  I keep learning, from Him, Gentle and Humble Teacher.

In the following discussion, I aim to explain the meaning and practice of spiritual authority.  This will provide a good foundation for me to further the discussions in the next phase by helping us see the relationship between spiritual authority and power, and what God's master plan for every believer is as regards the exercise of spiritual authority and power.  My prayer is that as we learn the Truth of His Word, we will be made strong in the Lord and in the power of His might to advance the Kingdom of God as well as wreck havoc to the kingdom of darkness, destroying principalities, powers, rulers of this present darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12).

The spiritual authority of a believer is their legal ground to exercise power.  Believers have a legal ground to exercise power because of what Christ accomplished on the cross: He paid the penalty of sin and restored us to a relationship with the Father.  Those who receive Him, become children of God (John 1:12).  In Christ Jesus, they become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).  A believer can only live in spiritual authority when he/she is rightly positioned in righteousness.  This requires that we surrender our lives to Christ for life long sanctification.

The early church demonstrated tremendous spiritual authority.  Peter, preached with authority in Acts 2 and this resulted to conversation of three thousand (3,000) people.  In Acts 3, Peter and John commanded a crippled man to walk, and immediately his feet were strengthened and he begun to walk and jump. Notable, is that they did not compromise with sin.  In fact, great fear befell the people such that those who were double minded on following Christ dared not join the disciples (Acts 5:11).  Ananias and Sapphira is a great example of how sin could not be accommodated nor concealed among the disciples.  In accordance to 2 Corinthians 10:6, the early church punished every act of disobedience because their obedience was complete.

Many believers today want to walk in spiritual authority and yet they still want to entertain the works of the flesh in their lives.  Sadly, some have turned to false spirits to deceptively display a form of spiritual authority.  A believer who is living in sin has no legal ground to exercise power.  And the devil knows this very well. Ask the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20)!

Exercised spiritual authority by a believer ought to yield submission and obedience.  In several incidences, Jesus demonstrated in His ministry that nature, demons, sicknesses, death, among others, were under His authority and had to bow down and conform to instructions/ orders issued in that authority.  For example, when a furious storm raged against a boat in which Jesus was with His disciples, the situation seemed out of hand and caused a frantic panic among the disciples.  However, when Jesus awoke from sleep, He rebuked the winds and the waves, and the waters immediately became completely calm (Matthew 8:23-27).

Upon arriving at Gadarenes (following the storm incidence), Jesus met two demon possessed men coming from the tombs.  He ordered the demons out of the men by simply saying "Go".  With only one word from Jesus, the demons obeyed the order to leave the two men (Matthew 8:32).  In another account, Jesus arriving at His home town met a paralytic and ordered "Get up and walk" (Matthew 9:5-7).  The man immediately got up and went home.  In yet another notable event, Jesus healed Jairus' daughter demonstrating His authority over death.  He spoke, "Talitha Koum" meaning "Little girl, I say to you get up!"  And so it was.  The girl arose from the dead (Matthew 8:18-26; Mark 5:21-43).  These are just a few examples of numerous demonstrations of Christ's authority in the gospels.

Noteworthy is that when Jesus first sent out the twelve (Matthew 10:1), he gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  In verse 7-8, Jesus further expounds the mandate to the twelve by commanding as follows: "preach this message: the Kingdom of heaven is near.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."  Also, prior to ascending to heaven, The Risen Messiah gives instructions to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, ...." (Matthew 28:18-19).  Is it a mere coincidence that the first time the disciples were sent out by Christ, they were given authority and similarly, the last instruction from Christ to His disciples was the bestowing of His authority on them?

 A believer's spiritual authority comes from his commission (Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21)

Christ knew something often overlooked by believers today.  There cannot be fruitful ministry without a believer exercising spiritual authority!  May be we will have better understanding if we revisit "the fall of man" story.  God mandated man (Adam and Eve) to subdue the earth and to rule over every living creature.  Man was able to perfectly exercise his God-given authority.  At this point in time, Satan had no chance of dominion on earth because man was in the fullness of God's glory, and was ruling the earth.  This must have been a great incentive for Satan to scheme the fall of man.  When man fell into sin, he fell short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Consequently, Satan took over as the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Satan thought he had eternally thwarted the plans of God for man to be fruitful, to subdue and to rule the earth.  However, he was utterly surprised when his actions of crucifying Jesus on the cross provided the way for restoration of man to his place of spiritual authority.  Colossians 2:14-15 states, "having cancelled the written code, with its regulations [the charge of our legal indebtedness], that was against us and that stood opposed to us, he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

By Christ paying the penalty for our sin, He provided for man's restoration of spiritual authority!  When we receive the Lord Jesus into our lives, our spiritual position changes from "subdued" to "rulers".  Hallelujah!  Ephesians 2:6 states, "And God raise us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  In this position of spiritual authority, believers are able to effectively fulfill what they have been called to: "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works ..." (Ephesians 2:10).

The good works we have been called to do were modeled out by Christ in His ministry.  Acts 10:38 states that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went about doing good: healing those who were under the power of the devil.  Luke 4:18-19 also highlights these good works in Jesus' ministry: preaching the good news to the poor; proclaiming freedom for prisoners; recovery of sight for the blind; release of the oppressed; and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favour.  All that a believer does whether at home, in the market place, in church gatherings or in the mission fields should result to impacting people with good works of the gospel for the salvation of their souls.  Undoubtedly, believers have been called to do good works and this is possible, firstly if we are rightly positioned in Christ.

Please note that the twelve disciples were novices when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10 (account also in Luke 9).  Notwithstanding, their mission report was outstanding: "preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere" (Luke 9:6).  How is it that this bunch of uneducated Jews, mainly of low social status, effectively fulfilled Christ's mandate?

In Luke 10, another group of seventy two was sent out by Jesus to go and preach the gospel.  When they returned, they reported, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."  Christ's response was, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19). Jesus' response is as if saying, "Why are you surprised?  Don't you understand that I gave you authority before I sent you out?"

While in the Luke 9 report, healings of people everywhere were recorded, in the Luke 10 account, casting out of demons is recorded as the sign that accompanied the disciples as they preached the gospel.  What did these disciples do that the Church of Jesus Christ is not doing today?

Christ joyously exclaims following the mission report by the seventy two: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." It is clear that it was not the disciples' human wisdom or education that earned them success in ministry.  Instead, it was their pliable and babe spirits, fully surrendered and dependent on God, that made the difference.

One of the distinctive characteristics of the disciples was their child-like faith.  Jesus said it and they believed it!  They took Jesus at His word!  They were fully persuaded that Jesus had given them authority and so they went out and exercised that authority, in the name of Jesus.  Before Christ ascended to heaven, He left you with a command to go into the world in His authority, anchored on the premise that all authority had been given to Him.  Colossians 2:10 states, "and you have been given fulness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority."  Do you believe it?  I ask again, Do you believe that Christ has bestowed His authority on you by reason of what He accomplished through His death and resurrection?

Matthew gives an account of Jesus walking on water, which is a spectacular demonstration of authority over the laws of nature.  Peter, seeing Jesus walking on the water towards the boat in which the disciples were in, requested Jesus to bid him come.  Upon Jesus' invitation, Peter responded by faith and stepped on the water and begun to walk towards the Messiah.  However, when Peter saw the wind, human reason revealed the possibilities of him being swept away or drowning, and this yielded doubt that resulted to his sinking.  Jesus reached out and held Peter by the hand, asking him "why did you doubt?"  The moment Peter doubted, his ability to exercise spiritual authority over nature was immediately incapacitated (Matthew 14:22-36).

Doubt incapacitates a believer's ability to exercise spiritual authority.  

Jesus did walk on water, despite having fully taken the form of man, because He had faith in God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  He not only believed that God was able, but He did also step out onto the waters, this being evidence of His faith. 

The spiritual authority given to us, is not by a mere ruler of a city or nation.  It is given to us by the Son of the Living God!  When Jesus asked His disciples who He was, Peter through the revelation of the Spirit replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16).  This revelation is paramount for any believer who desires to live in spiritual authority.  The One who gives believers authority is the Anointed One; the Ruler of the Kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5); the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)!

Spiritual authority is "keys of the kingdom of heaven".  It opens doors.  The keys need to be utilized.  It is not enough to have a key; the key is useful when it is used to open doors.  The kingdom of God is at hand when believers exercise spiritual authority!  This is an inheritance of the children of God: "whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).  By reason of the authority given to believers in Christ Jesus, they can uproot and tear down; they can destroy and overthrow; and they can build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10).

What is required of believers is faith as small as a mustard seed and they will say to a mountain, "move from here to there" and it shall obey (Matthew 17:20).  What a great promise given to believers, that nothing will be impossible for those who have faith as little as a mustard seed.  Many of us suffer from unbelief.  It has actually been one of my greatest obstacles in ministry; making God too small in my eyes.  Indeed, unbelief grieves God (Hebrews 11:6).  Oh Lord, help our unbelief!

What does God require that I do to deal with the fox of unbelief that spoils my vineyard?  I am to immerse my self in hearing, reading, studying, memorize and meditating the Word of God.  This is because faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.  Secondly, I must learn to set my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).  As long as Peter looked onto Jesus, he walked on water.  When his focus shifted to the winds, he begun to sink.  O Lord, give us stubborn faith that acknowledges the facts of our circumstances and yet dares to believe the God of impossibilities!

Thirdly, the language of faith is prayer, thus believers who desire to live by faith must spend time in the secret place of prayer.  When the disciples were confronted by a case of a demon possessed boy who needed deliverance, they were unable to heal him (Matthew 17:14-21).  Were these not the same disciples who had healed the sick in Matthew 10 and cast out demons in Luke 10?  In this particular case where they were unable to heal the demon possessed boy.  Jesus pointing to their little faith indicated, "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

It is without doubt, that prayer was at the center of Jesus' ministry.  At every available opportunity, Jesus prioritized prayer.  He was intentional about seeking God in prayer.  He understood that as fuel is to an engine, so is prayer to ministry.   There are over twenty five records of Jesus praying in the New Testament.  For example, we see Him sending the crowds away and retreating to pray until evening (Matthew 14:23).   In Mark 6:46, He left His disciples and went to the mountains to pray.  In Luke 6:12, He spent the whole night in prayer.  In Mark 1:35, he left the house early in the morning, to a secluded place to pray.  Luke 5:16 states that Jesus would often slip to the wilderness to pray.

Also, when believers walk in their spiritual authority, they disrupt the works of the "god of this world".  The devil knows this well and so he is also at work trying to prevent the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  He does not sit pretty and wait for believers to invade and take over his grounds.  He wages war instead.  Believers are in a 24-7 spiritual battle, whether they realize it or not.  Vigilance is essential.  Putting on the spiritual armour of God is mandatory.  The call of God upon our lives requires that we be always on guard.  Our assignment requires that we pray in the Spirit at all times (Ephesians 6:10-18).


It is sad to report that prayer for many believers today is not in their top three list of priorities.  Many of us are busy doing ministry and yet we are not willing to spend time with the Lord of the Harvest in prayer.  How can we effectively work when we hardly spend time to commune with our Lord, and receive grace and mercy to help in our time of need?  How can we trust (have faith in) the Lord, yet we hardly know Him?

"The priority of Jesus was not ministry to men.  It was spending time with His Father." Dr. Myles Munroe

Prayer nurtures your intimacy with God.  The more you know Him, the more you will know His character and gain insight to His heart.  In so doing, your faith is built up on God's power and not on mere head knowledge and human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5).

In exercising spiritual authority, a believer is required to speak (speaking both the written Word of God- logos and Rhema word).  Believers who spend time in the secret place speak many words to the Father thus while doing ministry, they need only speak a few words to men, demons and situations and they obey.  God does not want believers to be passive.  He is calling you and I to build the wall and stand in the gap on behalf of the land (Ezekiel 22:30).  He is calling us to continually call on Him day and night, until He establishes our land and makes it a praise among the nations (Isaiah 62:7)!

I wish to conclude by reiterating that any believer who desires to live in spiritual authority must live by faith and know the joy of the secret place of prayer (and fasting).  Bill Johnson provokes us to this kind of life by the following quote:

In private cry for more.  In public take risks.