The Authority of Christ

How important it is for Christians to comprehend their identity concerning their authority in Christ!  Jesus has all authority in heaven and in earth and has granted that same authority to all who repent, trust in Him, and are regenerated through the Holy Spirit.  We have been fully equipped and enabled by God to operate according to the power which raised Jesus from the dead for God's glory.  I think it would be safe to say that this power has not been realized in the day-to-day living of many Christians.  But we must be convinced that it is God's will that our lives be a demonstration of the Holy Spirit in power before we can ever do it.  I do not need to convince you:  I trust the Bible and the Holy Spirit to do that!

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."  This passage reeks of spiritual authority granted by God to the believer to be used for the glory of God.  The source of the authority of a Christian comes from Christ and is to exercised in humility and meekness.  The problem is many associate meekness with timidity and weakness.  Paul was not a timid man, but was bold as a lion.  He shook a viper which latched on his hand into the fire without injury, cast out demons, pronounced blindness on a government official, healed the sick, spoke with boldness when faced with torture, imprisonment, and death, wrote strongly worded letters, and even rebuked Peter to the face when necessary.  Paul exercised authority both within and outside the church while remaining under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Now consider for a moment examples of Christ's power and authority.  Even the wind and the waves obeyed Him!  No condition, disease, demon, or Satan himself could withstand His commands.  With a word demons were cast out even over great distances, and when tempted by the devil Jesus said as He stood upon the authority of scripture in Matthew 4:10:  "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."  Before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension Jesus said in John 14:12:  "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."  Even though Jesus emphatically (the verse begins "verily, verily" in the KJV) stresses the truth of this statement, I confess for a long time I didn't live like I thought this was true.  Even now it can be a struggle.  Then He continues in John 14:13-14:  "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."  Whoa.  Do we believe these words of Jesus?  Really?

There is a verse I was discussing with a friend the other day which some have used as a stumbling block in exercising the biblical spiritual authority of a child of God as revealed in scripture.  Jude 1:9 states, "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"  I have heard people say things like, "If the powerful archangel Michael when contending with the devil refused to speak harshly against him, what right do we have to do so?"  In this letter, Jude is dealing with apostasy.  It was not written with the intention of restricting us from exercising the authority we see manifested in Jesus Christ.  I will break it down like this:  the devil is a contentious, accuser of the brethren.  Christians are never called to revile or accuse anyone, much less Satan.  That would be returning evil for evil and answering a fool according to his folly.  Michael the archangel knew his role, knowing full well the authority and power of God to deliver.  There is no need to argue or resort to accusations when God can end it instantly through divine power.

Here is a point that may blow your mind:  as a child of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, you have more authority and spiritual power at your disposal than Michael the archangel!  Surprise you?  Angels have not been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, but every Christian has.  Jesus has made a New Covenant with men by shedding His own blood.  There is no scripture which states that Michael has the Holy Spirit dwelling in or coming upon him in fullness.  But this is true for the believer who has been filled with the Spirit!  Believers have been adopted into the kingdom of God as His children and are co-heirs with Christ.  We read nowhere in scripture that Michael has received a commission from God accompanied with all the power of Jesus Christ:  Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

Satan would love for us to fall short of appropriating the authority God has given His people through prayer, walking in the Spirit, and obedience.  Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."  I share this not so Christians will start strutting around like peacocks, looking for the devil so they can try to beat him up or bully him around.  Not at all!  Such a one would fare no better than the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17)!  There is nothing more humbling than recognizing that all our identity and all we possess is by the grace of God, and all our righteousness, power, and strength comes from God alone.  It is not our ability but God's.  Jesus did not speak on His own authority, and neither should we (John 12:49).  The Spirit is the One who leads and guides us in what we should say (Luke 12:11-12).  Jesus never backed down from satanic confrontation, and neither should I when the Holy Spirit resides within me.

Believer, flee from temptation.  But you walk in sin if you flee from the devil!  You need not fear, for God has empowered you through the Holy Spirit for such conflict.  Ephesians 6:10-18 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² 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. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."  I gladly run the risk of being called a fanatic to the end that people will embrace the authority and heritage Christ has granted them through His shed blood.  I am no fanatic to believe the words of Jesus Christ.  I am a Christian, and Jesus is my LORD and Saviour.  What He says I believe, and as the Spirit leads so I will say.

Have you walked in the authority of Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Spirit today?  That is what abiding in the Vine and walking in the Spirit is all about.  God, grant me the strength, wisdom, and discernment to keep putting one foot in front of the other, trusting in you to supply my every need.  Thank you for saving my soul and protecting me from evil.  May you be glorified in my life as I seek your face and trust you to guide my every step.  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)