We began a series last week, entitled Authority Intelligence, studying the authority of the believer. If you declare Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead, then you are a believer and you have God-given authority. The word “intelligence” is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skill. It is the collection of information that is of military or political value. Intelligence is used to find out how the enemy works. Authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
In Mark 13:34, Jesus gives an example, making it clear that he is going to take a far journey after his death, burial and resurrection, going back to the Father in heaven, but leaving the Holy Spirit as a helper and comforter. In this example, he says he’s giving his servants authority. We’re talking about the authority of the believer here.
Understanding my authority changed my life and I believe that it will change your life too. We can no longer “play church”. We have got to understand the battle we are in, gathering intelligence and exposing the enemy and his schemes. There are many battles that we fight for health, relationships, and daily living, but God wants you to know that he has given you authority. Get knowledge on this subject so you can stand up and do something. God has already won the victory for you. You are a winner. Don’t be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Know the truth and the truth will set you free.
In Genesis, when God created the world and spoke it into existence, he said “Let there be”, and there was. God, with authoritative words, just spoke the world, and then Adam and Eve, into existence. Tempted by the devil, the human race was then thrust into darkness and sin and unbelief. But in God's mercy, he began to work with the human race.
Jesus demonstrated how you can rule and reign in life. I want you to know that you do not have to be dominated by your circumstances. You do not have to play the part of the victim. You are a victor. Get knowledge about who you are in Christ, and what you have in Christ, your position in Christ, and the power and privileges you have as a believer. I’m telling you, when Jesus died on the cross, he paid too high of a price just for you to get to heaven.
It is time that we get an understanding. Get radical and fanatical. Jesus demonstrated what a man could do in a human body when he wants to take authority. Jesus spoke to a fish and it gave gold coins from its mouth for taxes. Jesus spoke to the fig tree and it died. Jesus commanded demons to come out of people and they obeyed. Jesus took authority and rebuked sickness in people and their bodies were healed. The centurion who came to Jesus understood authority. He knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed. Have you ever learned to say anything to your circumstances, to your sickness or those powers that have come against you? You don’t need to pray against demons, but to cast them out. You have authority.
The authority is in the name of Jesus and you bear the name of Jesus as a Christ follower. That name is the one that gives you victory. “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13 NLT). The word “ask” is the same as “demand”. You can demand things God gave us authority over including sickness and the enemy. Demand the enemy take his hand off your finances and your family. He essentially said “whatever you demand in my name, I will back you up and I will see that it’s done.”
I want to see you grow in intelligence and the spirit of revelation and knowledge, to know what Jesus has done for you, what he did to the devil and what he did when he went back to heaven. I want you to understand what he gave you when he said “I give you authority” (Ephesians 1:19-22). God has given Jesus authority over all and put all things under his feet. If Christ is the head of the body, and the church is his body, then the devil has been placed under our feet.
You can say you’ve been praying about getting this devil off your back, but God has already done everything he can do. He destroyed the devil and his power, and he overcame him and gave you victory. Now it’s up to you. “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die” (Revelation 12:11 NLT). What are you testifying? You are a person of authority and God already sees you as victorious. Rise up and do something, acting as men and women of authority.
In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a life-long cripple in the name of Jesus. In Acts 16, Paul said “I command you” to a demon possessing a girl. These are some words we need to learn, “I command you in the name of Jesus!”
Take authority over your mind and your thoughts in the name of Jesus. Your mind is a battlefield. What are you allowing yourself to think about? What are you watching and what are you listening to? The devil will come and lie to your mind. You’ve got to take authority over your mind and renew it with the word of God. It’s your head. You take control of it. Most of our sins start with our mind as do most of our failures. Take authority over your thoughts and resist the devil.
We have to take authority over our emotions. It is sad when someone loses a loved one and it is OK to be sad, but it’s not OK to stay sad. Rebuke that spirit of sorrow and take authority over your emotions. Take authority over anger. Who will you listen to - the devil, or God?
Take authority over sexual or gluttoness urges. Just because your body wants to do something doesn’t mean you’ve got to do it. You can help it. Take charge over yourself. If you don’t, you will reap destruction in your life.
You have got to take authority over your body… Over your family… Over your words… Over your circumstances… And over the devil and all his demons. You are not a victim. You are victorious in Christ. Know your rights and privileges. Get understanding and revelation on what the Bible teaches about these things. Learn the Word of God and take a stand in the name of Jesus.
