The Authority of the Believer

Man's nature and purpose was revealed when God made him: 

God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; 

let them have dominion…over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion… over every living thing that moves on the earth' (Genesis 1:26-28).

Man was created in the image of the Sovereign God to rule. The first words Adam heard were: 'HAVE DOMINION' over all that was upon the earth. This included satan and his demons. Thus man was created to dominate the devil. He was told to tend and keep (guard) the garden (Gen 2:15). He should have used this authority to guard the garden from the enemy. Man in God's image was designed to express dominion just like God - by speaking WORDS of faith and authority (thats how we dominate the devil today - by our WORDS).

However rather than speaking God's word to satan - dominating him and sending him away, Adam submitted to satan's words and came under the curse (the dominion of darkness). Satan became the god of this world after Adam had handed him his authority. (Satan maintains his dominion if he can deceive man into thinking and speaking and speaking his thoughts of hate, bitterness etc).

So Adam lost his dominion over satan, but praise God, the Second Adam (Jesus) came. He was untainted by sin. He said that the devil had nothing in him and no power over him. He showed us what it was like to walk in DOMINION. He demonstrated how man was meant to live. He dominated demons, casting them out with a word. He rebuked sickness and it fled.

He even spoke to the wind and waves and they were still : 

Mark 4:35-41: A great WINDSTORM arose, and the WAVES beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 

This was no ordinary storm, it was sent by satan to kill them and stop them getting to the other side when he would deliver the Gadarene demoniac. It is a picture of situations we face as we move forward in God's will. 

We may come against WAVES (obvious visible problems) but they are caused by the WINDS (invisible spiritual forces blowing against us). 

The disciples would have tried to bail the water out of the boat - they were fighting the waves, but until the wind was dealt with they were bound to fail.  Likewise there are times we have to deal with the spiritual forces causing the problem (however, not every problem is of this nature).

But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a pillow 

(sometimes God seems to be asleep in a situation, when actually He is waiting for us to use our authority). 

They awoke Him and said, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Then He arose and (1) rebuked the wind, 

and (2) said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' 

And (1) the wind ceased and (2) there was a great calm. 

Notice He first SPOKE the COMMAND to the invisible WIND and then (2) to the waves (the visible problem caused by the invisible forces).

Jesus was exercising the dominion that man was originally entrusted with.  In the rebuke to his disciples is the expectation that as men they should have been able to handle the situation with faith and authority as he did.

The basic reason why man could not exercise authority over satan is that through sin he lost his position of RIGHTEOUSNESS with God.  He was not in God's Kingdom and so had no legal standing against satan - in fact he was in satan's kingdom.  For this situation be changed, man needed to be FORGIVEN and JUSTIFIED (declared RIGHTEOUS WITH GOD). Only then could he stand against satan and bind him. I want to establish you in the Righteousness of Christ (so that your Breastplate of Righteousness is on).

Isaiah 53:4-11 describes how Christ died for our sins on the cross: 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all... 

My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.

Then Isaiah 54:14-17 gives the result of this sacrifice for believers. 

God says to us: In righteousness you shall be established, you shall be far from oppression; for you shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not (be able to) come near you. Behold, they (opposition) shall surely gather together, but not by Me (God is not the cause of trouble). 

Whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake. 

Behold, I created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I created the waster who destroys (God says: 'I created the devil and I can handle him!') No weapon (word or curse) that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgement YOU shall condemn (you must do it). This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, says the LORD.

Jesus has restored to us the authority that Adam lost, and more, by giving us His Name. 

Luke 10:17-20: 'The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.' He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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.' 

The Name (the power and authority) of Jesus had already cast satan out of heaven like lightning and it will the same effect when we use it in faith. Dealing with satan and seeing him flee should be a normal, matter of fact part of living by faith (nothing to get too excited about). We think - 'why doesn't God do something about satan (and his oppression) - but He has given you the authority to do something!

In the presence of evil, or oppression that comes against you SAY: 

In the Name of Jesus I command you to cease in your operation against me (and my family). I bind you. I command you to be removed from me. No weapon formed against me can prosper. Your power is broken in Jesus Name. 

If you are aware of words or curses spoken against you, just condemn them. If we sense a wrong spirit or atmosphere coming against us or our family, we must deal with it.

We must exercise your authority through your words: 

Have faith in God. For verily I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, 'Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says (Mark11:23). 

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Rev 12:11). As we testify what the Blood has done for us, we overcome satan. You are completely protected if you trust in the Name of Jesus (Proverbs 18:10).

In spiritual warfare, you must stand trusting in the Name and Strength of Christ alone: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10,11). 

Satan has to work through people because his authority is only derivative. 

God gave man authority and men's words carry power for good or evil. 

Satan can use man's authority if he can influence a man's words and actions. So a fiery dart may seem to come from a person but we must see the origin of the attack as spiritual. We don't overcome by fighting the person but by taking out the spirit that is working through that person. Strife and unforgiveness against the person actually entangles us in satan's trap (2Tim 2:23-26). 

This is why Paul said: For 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 (v12). 

So first SUBMIT to God (forgive the person - they are not your real enemy) then RESIST the devil in the Name of Jesus and he will flee from you. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee (as in terror) from you (James 4:7).

In order to effectively stand we must: 

take up the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (v13). 

Notice that it is God's Armour, which by faith we can appropriate and wear for ourselves. The Armour describes the different areas where we need to exercise faith in Christ. When we do, we are surrounded by His protective power.

1. BELT UP: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with TRUTH (v14). The Belt of Truth is foundational to the armour. People who are afraid of being under a curse need to be established in the truth of who they are in Christ. The Belt of Truth concerns our Authority in Christ - that you have the right to stand and command satan to be removed.

TRUTH 1: THE AUTHORITY IN JESUS NAME: 

God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:9-11).

TRUTH 2: THE NAME and the AUTHORITY IN JESUS NAME is given to us to combat evil powers: 

May 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 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 to the church over all things)...and (which He worked) in us raising us to sit with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:17-22, 2:1-6).

When He ascended on high Jesus was given all authority in heaven and earth: Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All AUTHORITY has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, preach the Gospel and IN MY NAME (His authority is in His Name) heal the sick and cast out demons (Matthew 28:18,19. Mark 16:15).   In other words, we have the authority to exercise authority over satan in the Name of Jesus.

This Name was given to the Church: Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have (the Name) I give you: In the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk (Acts 3:6). 

He was given the Name above every Name (Phil 2:9-11). 

When He said: Go ye therefore in My Name, Jesus was gaving the use of His Name (authority) to the Church - for our combat with evil, especially necessary to overcome satanic resistance to our fulfilling the Great Commission. We need to bind the power of the god of this world who blinds the minds of unbelievers (2Cor 4:4).

Jesus said in John 14:12 on: 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 (including dominating the devil), because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask (demand of the devil) in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

If you ask (demand) anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments (I command you to bind evil in My Name). (Note the difference with prayer to the Father in Jesus Name in John 16:23,24).  Jesus always dealt with evil spirits by a command of authority. in John 14, He is giving us the authority to do the same in His Name.

When He ascended to the Father, as a man He received the Name above every Name and He entrusts that Name to all those who are united to Him by faith.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:12-17). 

By going to the Father, Jesus was not only able to give us His Name, but also He gave us the power of the Spirit. That means that when we make faith commands in line with God's will, the Holy Spirit will go forth and enforce it (as in Genesis 1:1,2).