THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!

TEXT:  MARK 1:21-28

“OF” is a preposition placed in front of a noun or pronoun to show a connection with or to something or someone.  It is defined as to proceed from; composed of; related to.  

To “proceed from” means to carry on or continue an action or process.

• John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.  

To be “composed of” means to make up from elements or parts:  

• 1 Peter 2:5  You as lively stones are built up a spiritual house unto the Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  
• Revelation 21:3  I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

To be “related to” means to be connected by kinship, origin, marriage, etc:  

• Acts 17:26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

This tells us that we as “believers” proceeded from authority; we are composed of authority; and we are related to authority, who is GOD HIMSELF!

WHAT IS AUTHORITY?

Authority defined by Webster is a group or person with power; lawful power or right to enforce obedience.

The Gospel of Mark depicts Jesus as “servant”, and servant He was.  John baptizes Him.  He’s tempted of the devil; calls Peter and other disciples; preaches the gospel of the kingdom; and heals many.  He was able to do these things because He knew who and whose He was and walked in His dominion, authority and power!  

• Mark 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
• Mark 1:22   And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

In this passage of scripture, authority in the Greek is defined as exousi’a, in the sense of ability (possessing the qualities necessary).  The synonyms for authority are power; privilege; skill; competency; capacity; capability; aptitude; talent; know how; what it takes.  

Those who have the Holy Ghost have these “abilities” (or necessary qualities)

• Mark 16:17-18  These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

PRIVILEGE (we have a special advantage):

• John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power (exousi’a) to become the sons of God.  
• Galatians 4:4-7  But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  
• 1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (He has already appeared and is appearing in His people now!  
• 1 John 4:17  As he is, so are we in this world!  Not up beyond the blue, but right here and right now!!

FORCE AND STRENGTH (capacity to exert strength to produce an intended effect):  

• John 14:12  He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.  
• Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

CAPACITY (power to act):

• Acts 1:8  Ye shall receive power (dunamis), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

COMPETENCY (adequately fit with the whole armor of God):  

• Ephesian 6:10-18  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power (krat’os) [vigor – might; energy; efficacy; activity; vitality; health; stamina; spirit; fire; enthusiasm; dominion] of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  ...loins girt about with truth... the breastplate of righteousness...feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked...the helmet of salvation...the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

But now, with these seven pieces of armor that are listed in Ephesians 6, they will not work properly without the other two pieces of armor:  

• Romans 13:12  the armor of light (the knowledge of God)
• 2 Corinthians 6:7  the armor of righteousness (manifesting the very nature or character of God)!

These two pieces of “armor” will cause the other pieces to fit and operate properly against the devil!!  

All the parts of the “armor” mentioned in Ephesians 6 are “defensive” meaning to protect; guard; ward off; shield; preserve; resist; fortify.  The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the only piece of the armor that is “defensive” and “offensive” [assault; affront; aggressive; attack].  

• Hebrews 4:12  For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful [energes’ meaning active; operative; effectual], and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

This is the word “rhema”  in this verse which means “utterance”.  it will arise to whatever the occasion calls for and put the enemy in his place as necessary!!  

• 2 Corinthians 10:4-6  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  
• Matthew 10:19-20  When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak:  for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  
• Exodus 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  
• 2 Chronicles 20:17  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle:  set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem:  fear not, nor be dismayed;  to morrow go out against them:  for the LORD will be with you.

FREEDOM (personal liberty; national independence):

• John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  

Synonyms for “freedom” are permission; immunity; exemption; release.  

• Romans 8:1-2  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
• John 5:24-25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:  and they that hear shall live.  

He’s not talking about those in the “grave yard” but those sitting on many of these church pews that need to come alive with the revelation of Jesus Christ!  

• 1 Corinthians 15:52-55  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (the message of perfection):  for the trumpet shall sound (when the gospel of the kingdom is preached in its fullness, in us now), and the dead (many sitting on church pews) shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory.

This can and is happening NOW, not up in the sky!

MASTERY (power to control; command):  

• Luke 10:19  I give unto you power (exousi’a) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (dunamis) of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

POTENTATE (rulers):

• Revelation 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
• Revelation 5:10  He hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we shall reign on (over) the earth.  

As “kings”, we have the power to rule and reign over the powers of the devil!  And as “priests”, it puts us in the position to intercede for others!

SUPERHUMAN (surpassing ordinary human powers):  

• 1 Kings 17:1  Elijah said to Ahab:  As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.  

It happened at the word of “Elijah”!  He knew his place in God and as God because he was a “God-man”:  “El” meaning mighty one; strong; strength; power; God in Hebrew is defined as “El-o-heem”, and “JAH” means the LORD most vehement.  

• Revelation 19:16): He is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!  

Elijah – “El” & “Jah”.   He was a “God-man”.   “EL-I-JAH”!  Elijah is defined as “God is Jehovah” or “God Himself”!   

• 1 Kings 17:17-22  Elijah stretched himself upon the dead son of the widow woman three times and cried out to the Lord, and he revived.  
• 1 Kings 18  Elijah called down fire on the altar:  he told Ahab in verse 41 that he heard the abundance of rain and to Get thee up, eat and drink.  And Ahab went to eat and drink and Elijah went up to the top of Mt. Carmel.  Verse 46  and the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  
• Acts 8:29-40  Philip baptized the Ethiopian.  Verses 39-40  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more:  and he went on his way rejoicing.  But Philip was found at Azotus:  and passing through he preached in all the cities till he came to Cesarea.  

Philip was transported by the Spirit of God - not by a horse and carriage!

JURISDICTION (domain over which authority extends):  

• 1 Corinthians 6:2-3  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?  and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels?  how much more things that pertain to this life?

LIBERTY (freedom from bondage, captivity; mission granted):  

• Isaiah 10:27  And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.  
• Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  
• Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach  deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
• Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  
• Mark 16:15  Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

RIGHT (conformity with nothing but truth):

• John 8:32  Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  

• Romans 8:16-17  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together:  

IT IS GOD GIVEN:

• Genesis 1:26-27  Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon  the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and

female created he them.

THE SOURCE (cause; origin; fountainhead) OF OUR AUTHORITY:   

Jesus Christ  

• Matthew 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power (exousi’a) against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  
• Luke 10:19  I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  

The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8  Ye shall receive power (dunamis), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

The Gospel:

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power (dunamis) of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (gentile).  

2 Timothy 1:9-10  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  

The Kingdom:  

• Luke 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here!  or, lo there!  for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  
• 1 Corinthians 4:20  The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (dunamis).  

The Word:  

• Matthew 4:4  Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  
• Ephesians 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Last but not least, the “source” of our authority is “the kingdom”!  

• Luke 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here!  or, lo there!  for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  

The “Kingdom” in us is the “power” of God resident within us through Jesus Christ.  He was the “kingdom” of God walking around on two feet!  

• Mark 11:10  When Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on the donkey, the people were saying, Blessed be the “kingdom” of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord:  Hosanna in highest.  

They were looking at Jesus and saying that!  So Jesus is the “Kingdom”, the “power” that dwells within us, that we might have victory over the devil in every area of our lives!!!   

“Kingdom” is defined from a root word basili’a, meaning royalty, a rule, or realm.  It goes to another root word basileus’, meaning, a foundation of power.  

• Luke 10:19  I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  
• 1 Corinthians 4:20  The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.  
• Romans 14:17  The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  
• Acts 1:8  Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.

“Kingdom” houses two words:  “king” and “domain”.  A king rules in His domain.  

• Revelation 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  
• 1 John 4:17  As he is, so are we in this world.  

Not up yonder beyond the blue, but right here and right now!!!  We, the body of Christ, must rule in our “domain” and “on the earth”!  

• Revelation 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  
• Revelation 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we shall reign on (over) the earth.

The difference between “authority” and “power” is this:  authority is the exousi’a or the capacity, liberty, right, and freedom to use the power!  Power is the dunamis (strength; might; a miracle itself), as a result of using the authority!

A police officer can walk out into the middle of the street and raise his or her hand and stop traffic.  It is not that he or she has “so much power”, but it’s the authority he or she has that we respect.  And the officials of that city in which they work will stand behind them when they are operating in accordance with the law.  God has given us, the church, His power and the authority through His Son, Jesus the Christ, and we allow the devil to back us in a corner.  It is time for us the church to stand up in the power of the Almighty God and take our authority and rule and reign in the earth over the powers of the devil!!  TAKE YOUR AUTHORITY!!!

~ Apostle Gracie Perry