Dear Believer, do you know the authority you have? In the last few weeks, I’ve been reading a book titled “The Authority of the Believer” by John A Macmillan. Honestly, it’s been interesting to see things I’ve come to know validated and learn new things as well. Slowly, I’ve come to the realization that not all believers understand the authority they have. Let’s change that, shall we?
Firstly, what is power and authority per the dictionary?
Power is the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. (Source: Dictionary.com)
Authority is the power to control or demand obedience from others (Source: Cambridge Dictionary)
In a simpler way of understanding, Authority is delegated power.
Biblical understanding of Authority
Do you remember how in Matthew 28:18, after the Resurrection, Jesus tells His disciples this? “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (NKJV). Consequently, He tells the disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations.
Some books later, Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1 will implicitly tell you and I how Christ has delegated this authority to His Church. Let’s see Ephesians 1:19-23 (ERV);
[19] And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power [20] he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. [21] He put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. He gave him authority over everything that has power in this world or in the next world. [22] God put everything under Christ’s power and made him head over everything for the church. [23] The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.
Let’s break it down:
- The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in the Believer
- God put Christ over every ruler, authority, power, and king
- God gave Christ authority over every power in the world and the world to come.
- Christ is the head of the Church. The Church is the body. In some Bible translations, it says, “His feet.”
- The head and the body function in the same capacity.
As Jesus’ feet, we have the power of God in us and the authority to act in Jesus’ name.
What does this authority mean for you?
Frankly, you can only stand in this authority to the extent that you understand the power of God. This begs the question: How can you understand it?
Firstly, you can rise up and study God’s word. Consequently, spend time in prayer with the Father. Ultimately, fellowship with the brethren aka Jesus’ feet.
Let’s conclude this article with Apostle Paul’s description of Jesus’s power in Colossians 2:14-15 TPT
[14] He cancelled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all , and they can not be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.
[15] Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!
Dear Believer, rise up and stand in the authority Jesus won for you on the cross. You have all the knowledge you need available to you.
Thank you for reading – Funmi
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