Authority in the Kingdom
Reading Time: 10 Minutes
The Kingdom of God
Jesus came to earth announcing the soon arrival of His Kingdom. (Mark 1:15) His teachings explained how the Kingdom of God worked. Jesus gave His disciples authority and power to perform supernatural acts even as they were learning about the Kingdom. These teachings, signs, wonders, healings and miracles were not only for that day. Jesus prepared His disciples for the start-up of His Kingdom that would continue to grow for generations until the end of time!
To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:5-6 NET
Since Jesus’ death and resurrection, He has rescued those who have said yes to following Him. Jesus brings us out of Satan’s kingdom and escorts us into the Kingdom of God. We are seated with God spiritually (Ephesians 2:6). Therefore, we are able to live victoriously because of the authority given to us by our King (Mark 16:14-19)! Jesus is the authority, so His Name, His Blood, His Word, etc. carry His authority through the Holy Spirit.
Many of us have not understood the ways of the Kingdom so we have to catch up! When we read God’s Word from a Kingdom perspective we can better understand the authority He has given us. The Spirit’s love compels us to use this authority to bless others for God’s glory.
Kingdom Authority
Jesus sent 72 of His followers out two-by-two to heal the sick, drive out demons and tell people that the Kingdom of God was near. When they returned they were so happy because they saw healing and deliverance flowing through them to others– just as Jesus had said.
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20 NIV
God, the Father, gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. In the end, Jesus will give the Kingdom back to the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) But for now, Jesus is King and has given each one of us tasks to accomplish. We can only carry out His mandates to the fullest if we revere Him as King and use the authority He has given us to carry out His orders.
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
Authority For the Sake of Others
In 2018 the Holy Spirit showed me in a dream that I did not understand the authority He had given me to help set people free from demonic captivity. Jesus was urging me to build my faith in His gift of authority for the sake of those bound by the enemy. In the process of building my faith, I found that my own life was suffering because I didn’t “feel qualified” to exercise the authority Jesus had given me.
We are not qualified by our own abilities, good looks or good works, but through our faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus alone has qualified us to receive and exercise authority over the power of the enemy.
King Jesus provides what we need to accomplish His will. That includes healing, deliverance, safety, provision, love, joy, peace and on and on… not only for ourselves but to give away. We will be persecuted if we obey Him. But even in those battles we will experience mighty miracles and precious souls will come to Jesus.
Authority For Our Own Well-Being
For many years, I didn’t understand that the authority Jesus had given to His disciples was also for us today. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) He took every work of the devil upon Himself as He suffered on the way to the cross and as He died on the cross. Jesus came to set us free from the devil– not to condemn us. (John 3:16-17) He came to draw us into His Kingdom and has given us His authority to fulfill His purpose for our lives in His Kingdom. Trials will come, not to leave us defeated, but for us to grow stronger and more dangerous against the kingdom of darkness. We’re in a battle with our enemy. We can choose to live a defeated life or to accept the call of Jesus to fight the good fight of faith. He will back us up with His authority and power.
When I finally determined to grow my faith in the area of authority, the battle became fierce. This was a very important truth the enemy didn’t want me to investigate! The kingdom of darkness tries to intimidate. But we have the authority and power over those intimidating spirits. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can command those evil spirits to leave.
I have been able to live in greater victory over the devil since I have chosen to increase my faith and use the authority Jesus has given us. It is my desire to grow even more in this area of faith, not only for my own well-being but for the well-being of others.
Humility & Agape Love
Remaining humble is very important as we step into the authority Jesus has given us. Pride leads to a fall. When it comes to the way we treat others, we are either exercising the authority and power of Jesus or the power of Satan. We cannot serve two different kingdoms. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up so that we are serving only Jesus in His Kingdom.
Our motivation to do anything must come from God’s Agape love. If our motivation to want to share the Gospel, heal the sick, drive out demons, etc. is fear that we’re not doing enough for God, we have a works-based mindset. The Holy Spirit is not in it. If our motivation is to get recognition or affirmation from other people, the Holy Spirit is not in it and we must repent. (James 4:4-10)
If God’s supernatural gifts are flowing through you but His love and righteousness are not flowing, beware! (1 Corinthians 13) The enemy is trying to pull you into darkness again. Don’t let him. Humble yourself and yield to the Spirit. God wants to use you mightily and He doesn’t want you to fall in the process. The authority Jesus has given us is for His glory alone. We can do nothing without Him. In fact, we can’t even love without Him!
Fasting & Authority
Biblical fasting is powerful in defeating the enemy’s grip in our lives. Do not neglect prayer, praying in tongues, the Word, church, etc. But if you lack the evidence of Christ’s authority over the devil, add to your worship– fasting food. Begin small, for instance, by skipping one out of three meals or not eating junk food for a certain number of days. Denying the “flesh” in this way can break bondages by opening your eyes to the heavenly realms where you are seated with God. Fasting coupled with prayer in the secret place draws us closer to our Father’s compassionate heart. It increases our ability to exercise authority from the heavenly realms by not allowing the natural realm to rule over us. Instead, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to develop self-control in us– a fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 17:14-21)
Commissioned to Share the Gospel
Jesus commissioned us to share the Good News of His Kingdom with His authority and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a living Badge of authority we wear. He must be reverenced as God because He is God.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 NKJV
This authority and power is for the sake of God’s Kingdom– specifically for bringing those who don’t know God into the Kingdom. No wonder the enemy doesn’t want us to have faith in our authority in Christ! If the devil can get us to believe we are powerless, we will never be able to rescue others from the kingdom of darkness.
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 NLT
Jesus told people about the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, drove out demons, raised the dead and did many miracles and wonders. He commissioned His disciples to do the same– and that includes us. If we can believe we have authority against our enemy we will be one step closer to accomplishing God’s will for our lives. If we are going to follow the Spirit as Jesus asked us to do we must believe He has given us the authority to do whatever He asks of us. As we grow in that faith His power will be on our obedience.
Authority Over the spirit of Shame
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:10 NASB
By sharing Jesus with others, one child of God may “plant a seed” of faith. Another may “water” what was previously sown. Someone else may reap the harvest. But together, with God’s authority and power we can help set people free for the glory of God. We have authority over every spirit of shame, intimidation or fear that tries to keep us from sharing Jesus!
Ready For Battle
The Lord provides us with His armor so we can be protected from the kingdom of darkness. (Ephesians 6:10-18) We have spiritual defensive and offensive armor we must use to advance the Kingdom of God.
Our weapons are not against people but against demons. Sometimes people are being used by demons. But we should always desire that they meet Jesus or know Him in a more intimate way. In our private prayer time we can do warfare on their behalf. The apostle Paul was one such individual. Steven prayed God would forgive Paul (Saul) and others as they were stoning him to death. Paul later became a powerful vessel of the Holy Spirit for the Kingdom of God. Love never fails!
Closer to God Through Authority
As God’s royal children we can love people into the Kingdom of God by opposing the kingdom of darkness. Yes, we can ask God to do it and He loves our requests and works powerfully through genuine prayer. But there is more that He asks of us.
Jesus has sent us in His authority and power to represent Him and the Father. In the name of Jesus, by His Blood and His Word we can resist the devil and he will flee. The Holy Spirit can flow through submissive children to touch many lives for the glory of the Father. Embracing the authority Jesus has given us against the enemy is embracing Jesus Himself! I hope you will grow closer to God as you gratefully accept this amazing gift of authority. Rejoice! Together in Christ we are victorious!
