Kingdom Authority

As we begin to practice the presence of God and become more sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, we will begin to notice a greater spiritual authority that comes out of our growing relationship with God.

In Genesis 1:26, “God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth.” God created us to have authority over the earth, but through Adam and Eve’s disobedience we forfeited our authority. Jesus, the second Adam, came to restore that authority for us through His death and resurrection.

When Jesus walked on the earth, He spoke with authority and took authority over demons and every kind of sickness and death. Even nature had to bow before His authority. Jesus promised us in John 14:12-14, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” He goes on to say the reason you will be able to do these things is because, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. (John 14:16)

In Luke 9:1-2, “Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Jesus gave the disciples, those who had committed themselves to follow Him, authority for a specific task: to preach the kingdom, cast out demons and cure diseases.

Jesus gives those of us who choose to allow Him into our daily lives the same authority for a specific purpose: to extend the kingdom by transforming lives. This authority is not limited for apostles, pastors, prophets, evangelists and teachers, but for every believer who has the courage to follow Him in submission and obedience. Ephesians 2:4-7 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, … has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 1:21 explains that this position we have in Christ is the seat of spiritual authority “far above all principality and power and might and dominion.” God wants to invest His authority in you to transform the lives of those around you, so that they can come to understand the “exceeding riches of His grace.” As you yield yourself to the Spirit’s control of your life, it will allow Him to demonstrate His power through you for His glory.

Andy Clark