Today we begin a new series on ‘The Dynamics of Authority’, delving into the Scriptures to understand our position as believers and how this position empowers us to exercise and enforce our authority in Christ daily. Life often presents tough situations that challenge our authority, but as believers, we are urged to ‘be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might’ (Ephesians 6:10). It is God’s power that sustains us, and so we must continue to draw strength from Him to face the persecutions that arise for the Word’s sake. In John 16:33, the Lord Jesus reassures us, “… In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Focusing on God shifts our perspective, giving us peace and reassurance in times of trouble: we begin to see Him as bigger and greater, and our problems seem trivial in comparison. This perspective comes from dying to self and living a life rooted in Christ. This understanding is why Apostle Paul declares, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). Living by the faith of Jesus Christ, a feature resident in our spirit (Galatians 5:22; Romans 12:3), is essential to exercising our authority in Him. Unfortunately, most Christians attempt to grasp spiritual truths using their natural senses – this approach is futile, and leads to disappointment and frustration.
Exercising our authority effectively also requires us to accept that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Galatians 2:21 urges us not to ‘frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.’ Church, righteousness is a gift; we cannot earn it through our efforts – we must simply accept it – and this is where our boldness to stand against the enemy comes from. Ephesians 6:11 further instructs us, ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’ Isaiah 59:16-17 shows us how even our Lord Jesus wore the full armor: ‘… His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.’ When we wear God’s armor, there is no distinction between us and Him ‘because as He is, so are we in this world’ (1 John 4:17). Not only do we need to wear this armor, but we must be vigilant and proactive in our spiritual walk. We cannot afford to be passive Christians, resigning ourselves to the happenings of this world and falsely comforting ourselves by saying ‘it was God’s will’, or ‘God allowed it’. No! Stand and fight, child of God! Use your authority – speak what you want into existence and rebuke the things that are contrary to the Word of God.
Having established the foundation of our righteousness in Christ and the necessity of wearing God’s armor in enforcing our authority, we now turn to Ephesians 6:12, which reminds us of the spiritual nature of our battles: ‘we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’ Don’t fight people – fight the spirit behind their actions; recognize and address the spirit influencing them. Understand your real opponent and know his methods of attack, so you can use your authority effectively to resist him. Therefore, let us continue to stand strong in the Lord, equipped with the full armor of God, and boldly exercise the authority we have in Christ. This is how we live out the life of Jesus Christ practically, empowered by His might and guided by His Word.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the authority You have given us in Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your Word, which not only teaches us how to exercise this authority wisely and effectively, but also equips us to enforce it in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
