THE AUTHORITY OF the believer is unveiled more fully in the Book of Ephesians than in any other epistle written to the churches.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We need to realize that although we wrestle against Satan and demons, we have authority over them through Christ.
Some Christians think only ministers or mighty saints of God have this authority, but it is the possession of every child of God. Authority belongs to us whether we realize it or not. But we can’t take advantage of something we don’t know about.
On the other hand, we can know about this authority but not act upon it. Knowledge isn’t enough. Its knowledge acted upon that brings results.
The devil doesn’t want Christians to find out what belongs to them, so he obscures the knowledge of truth. He knows that the child of God who knows their authority in Christ will enjoy victory over him and no longer be dominated by him.
The devil doesn’t want Christians to find out what belongs to them.
POWER VS. AUTHORITY
Luke 10:19 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.” The word power is used in this verse twice. But there are two different Greek words in the verse that are translated as power.
Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power.” The Greek word translated power here means “authority.” We could liken this authority to what a police officer uses when directing traffic. The officer doesn’t have the “power,” or strength, to hold back the cars. But he has the authority to command someone to stop. Drivers recognize and honor that authority.
Likewise, when Christians use their authority in Christ, the devil recognizes it. And he has no choice—he must obey that authority.
The value of authority depends on the force behind it. Police officers have all the authority of the law behind them. What about Christians and the authority they have in Christ? God Himself is the force behind our authority. Believers who are fully conscious of the divine power behind them can face the enemy without fear or hesitancy.
OVERCOMING THROUGH CHRIST
First John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” The “them” this verse is talking about is demons and evil spirits. (See 1 John 4:1–3.)
Notice this verse doesn’t say we are going to overcome the devil. It says we have overcome him, “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, dwells in us through the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus overcame the devil at the cross, we overcome him through Jesus’ authority.
But again, we must exercise that authority to benefit from it. It’s through the authority of Jesus Christ that we will reign in this life by Him (Rom. 5:17).
SEATED WITH CHRIST
Jesus’ authority has to be activated through the Body of Christ on earth. And to tell you the real truth about it, the only authority Jesus has on the earth is through His Body. He is the head, and we are His Body.
Ephesians 1:22 says that God “hath put all things under [Jesus’] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” Some folks think all things are under Jesus’ feet. They’re thinking about Jesus, the man. But notice that Paul said “he gave him to be the head.” Do you have any feet in your head? No. He was talking about the Body of Christ, and Jesus is head over all things to the Church, His Body.
Although we are on the earth, scripture says we were raised up with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 says that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” That is not something God is going to do. He has already done it.
Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, the place of authority, and we are seated with Him. This fact is overlooked by many churches and Christians. In the mind of God, when Jesus was raised from the dead, we were also raised from the dead.
Ephesians 2:6 talks about the conferring of Christ’s authority. Notice that the head and the body are naturally raised together. Christ is the Head and the Church is the Body. You see, it’s not just the head that is seated at the right hand of God. The body is seated there, too, because the head and the body are one.
When we think of a person, we think of their head and their body. We never think of the head apart from the body. We think of the whole person.
If we as a church ever get the revelation that we are the Body of Christ, we will rise up and do the works of Jesus. When we realize the same authority that belongs to Christ belongs to each individual member of the Body of Christ, our lives will be revolutionized.
First Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We are one with Christ, and we are seated at the right hand of majesty on high. And all things have been put under our feet.
Author
Kenneth E. Hagin
Share this Post