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Our Spiritual Authority
by
Mark Baker
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
The subject of authority can sometimes be confusing, so let’s start by
defining it. Strong’s Concordance says; privilege, delegated influence:
W.E. Vines says this… "power of authority," the right to exercise power.
I have heard one definition of authority that says authority is
delegated power, and I think that is a very good description. Authority
in itself is not power, but the bestowed right to use and yield that
power.
If you look at Jesus statement in Mt. 28 you will see that the authority
He was walking in was given to Him. As He Himself said, all authority
has been given to Me.
My question is Who gave Jesus the right to walk in this authority and do
we as Christians have the right to walk in Godly authority? The truth is
most Christians recognize the authority that Jesus walked in. The
Pharisees who were the religious leaders of His day asked Jesus this
very question, although they weren’t seeking understanding, they were
trying to trap Him.
Matthew 21:23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and
the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said,
"By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this
authority?''
Jesus would not tell them, but we know He received His authority from
the Father.
I would also like to point out that walking in Authority and being under
submission go hand in hand. Some people say that Jesus was the Son of
God and because of that, He could do what ever He wanted; however, if
you study the Scriptures you will see that is not an accurate way of
looking at it. Jesus was and is the Son of God, but He made Himself of
no reputation and took on the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:6 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 servant, and coming in the likeness of men.
The Living Bible says it like this…
Philippians 2:7 but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the
disguise of a slave and becoming like men. Christ humbled himself
Jesus very clearly said that He did not speak of His own authority but
the authority of the Father.
John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father
in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
In an earlier chapter… John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent
Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
Jesus was an obedient Son who did the works He was sent to do. He
glorified the Father by being an obedient Son and fulfilling His
Heavenly Fathers will, as we have already read in Phil:2:8. As an
obedient Son He completed the mission He was sent to do. Jesus made this
choice to be obedient. You might say what do you mean. Obedience if not
by choice is not obedience at all. Jesus chose to be a servant. He chose
to be obedient. Jesus said in John’s Gospel…
John 10:18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I
have received from My Father.''
Jesus had the choice yet He chose obedience.
Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.''
He was obedient unto the death of the cross. Obedience brings God’s
anointing and blessing.
The Prophet Isaiah said … Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
This is not only just the act of obedience, but an attitude as well. I
am a firm believer in tithing but I know that God’s Word says we should
not give grudgingly or of necessity, God loves a cheerful giver. This
isn’t saying not to give, it’s saying to give with the right motives, it
is the willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the land. Not
just the willing or just the obedient, I hope you take my point in this.
God looks at both our motives as well as our obedience. I said all of
this to point out that there is balance in the things of God. You can be
a servant and have a bad attitude about what you are doing can’t you?
You can be a giver and yet not be a cheerful giver. God loves a cheerful
giver!!! I would like to look at someone in the Word of God who
understood the principle of walking in and under authority.
Matthew 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to
Him, pleading with Him,
6. saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully
tormented.''
7. And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him.''
8. The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You
should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be
healed.
9. "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I
say to this one, `Go,' and he goes; and to another, `Come,' and he
comes; and to my servant, `Do this,' and he does it.''
10. When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed,
"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in
Israel!
11. "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit
down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12. "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.''
13. Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have
believed, so let it be done for you.''
So much is said here but I would like to look at a few key things. The
Centurion said
I also am a man under authority. He recognized the authority that Jesus
walked in. This soldier also was a man under authority given to him by
the Roman State to exercise power. Without the authority granted him by
the Roman State, he would have no power at all would he? Any soldier
knows and recognizes authority. It is one of the basic principles taught
to them from the time they enter the military isn’t it? Without the
chain of command, there would be chaos. Orders come from the top and
work their way down through the entire chain of command. Their purpose
is to bring about the will of the ones who have the ultimate decision
making responsibility. Following orders is what will bring about the
will of the ones who have the ultimate responsibility. I hope you see
where I am going with this. This principle we are looking at in the
natural has spiritual applications that I believe a great number of
Christians have never understood. Learning to walk in authority in this
natural way is very similar to learning to walk in authority in the
spiritual. When you are obedient and follow orders you are walking in
the plan God has ordained to bring success. I have learned this is where
God’s grace is and this is where the anointing is. I have seen it over
and over. This doesn’t mean that we always have to agree with things,
but whether we agree or not there is a God ordained chain of command
that He expects His children to walk in.
This Centurion had soldiers under him and he expected them to follow his
orders just as he followed the orders of the ones above him. This is
just the way it works. Everyone doesn’t just get to do their own thing.
I see so many Christians gripping because they don’t get to do their own
thing. This may sound hard but we have the choice to do our thing, or
God’s thing. Be respectful to the ones in authority even if you do not
agree with them. Pray and intercede for them, not criticize and
complain.
In my own Christian walk I have seen God open many doors and
opportunities of ministry that simply would not have happened if I had
copped an attitude and said, well I’m too good for this. If you are
faithful in the little things, more will be given. This is Gods
principle and it would do us good to learn to walk in it. It is also a
sign of maturity.
When we have learned to submit to authority, we can then be given a
place of authority over others, just like this Roman Centurion. He
submitted to higher authority and others under him had to submit to his
authority. Authority is tied in with submission and faith is tied in
with authority, this is just the way it works.
Jesus walked in this kind of authority and when He spoke to sickness, it
had to go. When He spoke to death, it had to go. When He spoke to
demons, they had to leave. Recognizing this earthly principle, the Roman
Centurion simply said; But only speak a word, and my servant will be
healed. Jesus marveled at this mans faith. He said, Assuredly, I say to
you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Even the
children of the Covenant didn’t know and understand this, what an
incredible statement. This man had gotten a hold of something that the
Covenant children of God had not gotten a hold of. WOW! Do you see the
importance of this? His servant received healing because of it, and
Jesus declared He had not seen greater faith in Israel. This soldier
knew what authority meant and what the inevitable outcome would be. His
servant was healed just like Jesus said, and it happened because an
ordinary soldier recognized the authority Jesus walked in. There is a
great truth here if we will receive it. This is just the beginning of
leaning to walk in our authority but it is an important first step that
every believer should learn to take.
When we learn to walk in the authority that has been given to us by the
Lord Jesus Christ, we will no longer have circumstances dictate our
every move, but we will dictate to the circumstances. The Lord Jesus
Christ has given us this authority; we have to make the choice to walk
in it. He will assist us but we have to exercise our authority even as
the Centurion did. Amen.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint
heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word
says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
(Jn.6:37),
So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for
it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also
said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He
was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as
my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to
righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the
righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),
And I am saved! Thank You, Lord!
I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God!
Glory to God!!!! Amen.
About the Author:
Article by Mark Baker.
Mark is the webmaster of The Olive Branch
http://www.olivebranchministries.us a site dedicated to
helping all that are seeking to come into a deeper understanding of what
God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Please visit his site for more
free studies and resources to help you in your search.
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