What Authority Have I Been Given?
I’ve been told many times, that, as a Christian, I have authority. But over what? What authority do I have? I’ve been quoted scriptures from pastors telling me if I have enough faith, I can move a mountain (Matthew 17:20) – but I’ve never seen a mountain be moved. Famous healers say that if God isn’t healing, the problem is me – not him (that does make sense). And I say none of this to be discouraging, but to ask the sincere question, what authority do I have?
If we start at the beginning, we learn that when God created humans, he gave them authority. That we are to rule over the fish, birds, and all creatures, and when Adam sinned, humanity gave up that authority and gave it over to the spirit of disobedience – the demonic.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB)
2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
But when Jesus came, did he restore that authority? And if so, how?
Psalm 115:16 (CSB)
The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given to the human race.
The Kingdom Of God
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God on many occasions. He even tells us in Luke that Jesus was sent from Heaven to proclaim the kingdom of God. So what is this kingdom mission that was so important to Jesus… and should it be necessary to me in recognizing my authority?
Luke 4:43 (CSB)
But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.”
We should recognize that when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, he considers it a real kingdom. A kingdom has a King. The domain has boundaries. And a kingdom has subjects. God is the king of his kingdom and has given his subjects reign on earth. We rejected this authority when we turned toward satan. And then, thousands of years later, God’s son – King Jesus – comes and reclaims this authority and gives it back.
Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The government of the world will be on the shoulders of Jesus. And when he came and conquered death, he brought with him a new reign.
A Royal & Chosen Race
At his death and our baptism, something is happening. We are dying to our old citizenship, being slaves to death, and rebirthing into new citizenship where we become co-heirs with Jesus.
Romans 8:17 (CSB)
17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
And due to this transformation, being heirs of God – the KING of the Kingdom of God- we become royalty.
1 Peter 2:9 (CSB)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
What would happen if we believed that? What would happen if we acted like we believed that? When Jesus came to earth, he didn’t leave his residence of heaven; he brought heaven with Him and began to expand the territory. And with this territory expansion, we – if choose to follow Him – become foreigners (2 Peter 2:11) of the earth we once knew and were born into new citizenship reigning with Christ because Christ is in us.
Die & Then Live In Authority
If you die and Christ comes and fills your body, you will do the things Christ does because He is living in you (Galatians 5:24-25). When you stop living a new life, try to resurrect the old body, and turn towards the law, death, and sin, you forget that you are alive from the dead. Live as if you were alive from the dead and experience freedom from sin – that is what Jesus has promised as royalty in his Kingdom.
Romans 6:10-13 (CSB)
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
