18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. — Matthew 28:18-20
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 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 10:17-19
Jesus after His resurrection appeared to His disciples and declared that all authority was given to Him in heaven and upon earth. He immediately delegated that authority on earth to the church. Christ does not operate His authority on earth He wields it to the church through the Holy Spirit. Christ operates His authority from the third heaven and sends the church forth to enforce His authority on earth. Even while on earth before His death, burial and resurrection Christ declared that He had given His disciples authority over all the power of the enemy.
What is Authority?
Authority is a legal right or privilege based upon position or relationship. Authority always has levels. For example the mayor has greater authority than the chief of police and the chief of police has the authority over the police department. The police enforce the authority of the police department on the streets. The mayor operates on a different level of authority than the chief of police. The chief operates on a different level than his officers. The officers operate on a higher level of authority than an average citizens. Each member of police force has authority based upon their position and relationship the city’s government.
Our Position in Christ – Seated with Christ
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: — Ephesians 2:4-6
We are seated together with Christ in heavenly places. We have been given third heaven authority. Authority will not work for believers who try operate unlawfully. The authority of the believer is spiritual authority. It is operated in the spirit realm and then effects the natural realm. The authority of the believer is conducted in a spiritual order. Authority has to be used lawfully for it to be legal and recognized. To exercise spiritual authority effectively it must be done according to spiritual laws.
Our Relationship to Christ – Joint Heirs with Christ
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. — Romans 8:17
Our authority as believers is not based upon our position in Christ is actually based more upon our relationship to Him. As the children of God we have been make heirs of God. We are born again as royal heirs of God. Relationship is a important element of authority. The greater the relationship with Christ greater will be the authority we can walk in.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. — John 15:5-7
Keys of the Kingdom
16 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. — Matthew 16:16-19
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. — Revelation 1:18
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; — Revelation 3:7
Each believer receives two keys at the new birth.
- The key of the Kingdom of heaven
- The key of David
These keys are the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The first key of the Kingdom of Heaven authorizes believers to bind and loose on earth with the backing heaven. That is why Jesus says whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. As believers we have the authority bind evil and loose good. Bind evil spirits and loose those oppressed.
The second Key of David which is the authority to open and shut. Opening of that that cannot be shut and shutting of that which cannot not be opened. This key is related to this age of darkness. It is in this age that we need some things need to be open where no man can shut, and some things need to shut and no man open. These are things that relate to earth and hell. This authority is given to believers to walk through doors that only Christ can open and shut doors that need to be shut. This key is the authority over the power of darkness.
Three things necessary to exercise the authority of the believer
- Faith
- Intimacy with the Lord
- Abiding in the commandments of the Lord
Faith and the authority of the believer
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. — Mark 16:15-18
The first thing you must have to release or exercise authority is faith. These sign will follow them that believe. In the name of Jesus they shall cast out demons. Notice the signs follow them that believer. Without faith these signs would not follow. Faith is the only way to influence the spirit world. An example of this was when Jesus came down from the mountain of transfiguration He saw a crowd with His disciples. In the midst of the crowd was a man who had brought his son to the disciples to delivered of demon possession, but they could not deliver him. Jesus cast the demon out and the disciples asked him why they could not cast the demon out, The answer He gave them was because of their unbelief. He then told them about the power of faith.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. — Matthew 17:18-20
It is through faith only that spiritual authority can be exercised or released. The authority that Jesus gives is spiritual and of the spirit. By faith things obey the believer.
6 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. — Luke 17:6
Intimacy with the Lord and the authority of the believer
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. — John 15:4-5,7
Intimacy with the Lord is essential to having authority in the spirit realm. It is intimacy with the Lord that inspires the faith and love from God. The faith that God gives works by love. As Galatians 5:6 says “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love’. The faith that comes from God is energized by love that also comes from God. Spending time with the Lord through prayer and studying of His word increases our spiritual potential and authority.
Abiding in the commandments of the Lord and the authority of the believer
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. — 1 John 3:20-24
It is the heart that God looks at and deals with. A condemned heart cannot operate in divine authority. An un-condemned heart has confidence toward God. What causes the heart to be condemned? Not guarding the word of the Lord in the heart. Not doing what the word commands causes the heart to be condemned. As it is written “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). When we keep His commands and do those things that are pleasing in His sight whatsoever we ask we receive. And His commandments are to believe and love. Believe in the Son and love the brethren. So what are the keys to walking great authority? Love, Faith and Intimacy with the Lord.