We are continuing our series on AI: Authority Intelligence. Pastor Dave and Pastor TJ brought great introductory messages our first week and Dr. Dave took us deeper last week. Today, we want to look again into the case for authority.
Luke 10:17-20 tells us, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Jesus was using strong words like “ALL” and “NOTHING” . He didn’t shy away from definite language. You have authority over ALL and NOTHING shall hurt you. He spoke about this with confidence.
He’s also emphatic, “Do not rejoice that the spirits listen to you”. He’s saying, “This is baby stuff., kindergarten level. This is small compared to what the Father has in store for you. BUT, rejoice because your name is written in heaven.” You should be more excited about this than being impressed than you are about a loser (Satan) losing.
Why is having your name written in heaven more important than having power over devils? Ephesians 1:15-23 says it well, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” This scripture changed my life when I was taught to personalize it by decreeing, “I have wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God and his word.” There is nothing more powerful than God's words spoken by faith. Hold on to the promise of receiving the Spirit of wisdom and revelation just as Paul prayed in this passage.
In verse 18, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling” refers to the joyful expectation of the invitation. You are invited to the party of the Who’s Who. Have you ever tried to get into an invitation-only gathering when you weren’t on the list? If you are in Christ, your name is on THE invitation list!
Paul prays that we may know the exceeding greatness of his power to those who believe. The greatest display of God's power was when he raised Jesus from the dead, not when he created the worlds or when he flooded the earth or delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh. God’s masterpiece was the work he did when he raised Christ from the dead. He then seated Jesus at his own right hand, the position of authority. It’s a done deal. It’s already past, already happened. This is not wishing. The work is complete.
When Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, he was seated far above principalities and authorities and every name in that age and the age to come. He is above every depression, every oppression, every disease, every demon and evil spirit, and far above the devil himself…not only in this world but in the world to come. He’s above whatever name you’ve been introduced to this week. Have you gotten a diagnosis? Does it have a name? Have you claimed anxiety or cancer this week? All things by any name are under his feet.
Jesus is head over all things of the church, which is his body. He is the fullness of God who fills all in all. He is Champion of champions. He is Lord of all. He is Master of the universe. Do you know him as Victor? He’s only ever known victory or ever will in the ages to come. He is undefeated and undisputed, now in 2024, in the first year of Jesus Christ our Lord, and in all eternity. Hell has no answer for Jesus and his authority and his power.
Do you believe this? Do you believe he is far above ALL? Do you believe he is higher above any power or might? Over sickness? Disease? Alcoholism? Depression? Christ is above all these. If you answered yes, that you believe he is above all these things, above all these names, then say “I’ve been set up.” Because, you’ve been set up.
In Ephesians 1:22, it says Christ is head over all things to the church, which is His body. The church is the body of Christ. Think about this. In your body, the head is not separate from the body. The head can’t sit without the body. It can’t walk. If the head is severed, death comes, life ceases. The head and the body are one together.
Continuing in Ephesians 2:1-7, “and you, he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins. You were by nature, a child of wrath. You were born a sinner.” Then, verse 4, “But God”. Everything changes right there. You may be going through hell right now BUT GOD. When you were dead, he made you alive in fellowship and in union with Christ.
That’s why you need to be born again so you can be made the righteousness of God in Christ. He made us who believe to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6). You can be above the hell you are going through. When you are born again you join Christ far above ALL.
Revisit the declarations from the understanding that we are the body of Christ seated in heavenly places. Disease? You are above that. Poverty? You are above that. You are given this authority because you’re seated above. You have authority to dictate the outcome of your life. You are seated in the very place of victory. You are a victor if you are in Christ.
Heb 2:14 explains that we, through Christ, can boldly approach the throne. You’re his child. Prayer is God's access into your life. Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference. Decree what God said about your life (God’s word). Loose what is loosed in heaven. Bind what is bound in heaven. God is good!
Hear the word keys of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 16:19 (Ampc), “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.” You don’t have to ask permission. In heaven there is no thought of disease, pain, poverty, lack or defeat. Remember, Jesus taught us to pray “As it is in heaven”. Declare what God has declared. Agree with what is lawful in heaven - health, joy, peace, wealth beyond imagination! Take authority over your family, over your city, over your state.
Sometimes, we’re just missing a simple key. Take a computer for example. Everything available to you in the computer is waiting to be accessed. But without the password or the program key, you will not be able to see what’s there. You are seated in heavenly places. Stop waiting on something to be manifested in your life that’s already there. You just need the key. Get the word from God. You can’t do it all by yourself. You lack nothing (Eph 1:3).
Is Jesus inside you? If so, you are seated in heavenly places. You are a champion. You have His authority inside you. If any man is in Christ they are a new creation. Employ your voice today and declare the Word of God over your life and your circumstances.
