Mensa Otabil - Taking Authority
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Well, this week we’ve been talking about taking authority, and that has been our theme throughout the week. It ends today, and next week, starting tomorrow, our theme will be breaking barriers. We’ve been praying, and I’ve been teaching on how to go about taking authority, which has formed the basis of our prayer. I am concluding the week of taking authority with a message titled «Taking Authority.» I will teach a bit on that and then we will spend some time in prayer.
Luke’s Gospel, chapter 4, verses 31 to 36, will be my first text for today. While I’m reading, note the number of times— or the occasions—when the word «authority» occurs, and you can underline it in your text. «Then he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath.» This is about Jesus Christ. «And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.» Now, in the synagogue, there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, «Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!» But Jesus rebuked him, saying, «Be quiet and come out of him.» And when the demon had thrown him into their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, «What a word this is! For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.»
You will note that the word «authority» is used twice in this passage, in verse 32 and in verse 36. The word «authority» comes to us from the Greek word «exousia,» which is translated as authority. The reason I reference the Greek word is to break it down and give us further meaning. «Exousia» can be broken into two parts: «ex» and «ousia.» In Greek, «ex» means «from» or «out of.» So when we say «ex,» it means something that is coming out of something—something from. «Ousia» means what you have, such as your wealth or property. Therefore, «exousia» means «from something you have.» So authority basically has to do with exercising what you have. If you don’t have it, you can’t exercise it.
When we talk about Jesus having authority, he was operating from what he had. If we talk about ourselves having authority, it means we are operating from what we have. If you don’t have it, you can’t use it. This is how authority functions; it comes from what you have. When we look at the passage we just read, we see two things about Jesus and authority. The first is that Jesus taught with authority. When he taught the word of God and preached the word of God, he spoke with authority, and the people who heard him compared him to the scribes, the teachers of the law. They said that Jesus spoke with authority, not like the teachers of the law in their time.
Why did they draw this comparison? Because the teachers of the law, when they taught, had to refer to some other authority. They would say, «So-and-so says this.» It’s almost like the way academics write major theses: «According to so-and-so,» and so they would quote books and authorities. But they didn’t have authority in themselves. Every authority they had was outside of them. However, when it came to Jesus Christ, he didn’t quote some other Jewish authority; he spoke from himself because, of course, he is the Word. When he spoke, the people saw the difference between him and others. It’s like somebody who wrote the book himself explaining the book—he doesn’t need to rely on someone else to explain it. Jesus is the Word; he wrote the book himself.
So when he preached, he preached with authority. Not only did he teach with authority, but Jesus also demonstrated power by casting out demons with authority. It was not just in word only, but also in demonstration of power. It’s very interesting when you read the passage. If you remember, when Jesus had cast out the demon, the people who were there listening and watching said, «What word is this?» They didn’t say, «What power is this?» but rather, «What word is this?» The reason they said that is that the power was released through the word. When Jesus cast out the demon, he spoke with such authority that the people said, «What kind of word is this? How does anyone use words in such an authoritative way that even devils will come out?»
Jesus used words, and his words carried a force that compelled other forces to obey him. So when he said to the demon, «Come out,» he said it with so much authority that the demon came out. The people were amazed, questioning, «Who is this who uses words with such authority?» I believe that this morning we can also use God’s word with authority like Jesus did. Not only did Jesus teach with words and cast out demons with authority, but he has also given us his authority.
Jesus has given us his authority; it doesn’t only stay in him; it’s not only manifested in him and through him. His authority has been given to us. In Luke’s Gospel, again, chapter 10, verses 17 to 19, and then Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 to 19, we see this. Luke chapter 10 recounts after Jesus sent 70 of his disciples to go out, and they returned, rejoicing, saying, «Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!» Note that they are not just subject to us, but «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.» Authority over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy!
Then, Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 to 19: «Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.'» Our authority in Christ comes from what Christ has made available to us. Remember how I defined authority from the Greek word «exousia»? It’s out of what you have. Out of the treasure you have, out of the possession you have. For us to exercise authority, we must be given authority. So, Jesus says to his disciples, «I give you power over all authority, over all the works of the enemy.» When he resurrected, he declared, «I have all the power. Now go in the same authority that I have.»
Our authority comes from what Christ has made available to us in the New Testament. What Christ has given us is expressed in the epistles. The Apostle Paul called it the riches of our inheritance in Christ. There is something that Christ has made available to us; he has put it in us. It’s inside us, and it is out of what we have—"exousia"—that we bring it out. The authority rests in us; we release it out of us. Remember when Peter and John were at the Beautiful Gate and they saw a man who was crippled? Consider the words that Peter used: «Such as I have, I give you.» He was referring to the authority that was in him—"exousia"—what I have coming out of me.
We have been given authority. Where is the authority of the believer? I will talk about three places or three things that give us authority. First, the believer’s authority is in the power of Christ’s resurrection. It is after his resurrection that he says, «All power has been given to me.» When he resurrected, he spoiled all principality and power, and the power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that is at work in us. The resurrection power is resident in you and me if you are a believer in Christ. It doesn’t reside in everybody but in believers in Christ Jesus. The power at work in us—the resurrection power—this is your first deposit.
The second is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Holy Spirit who lives in us is the sign that we belong to God and is the presence of God within us. The early disciples of Jesus understood the authority they had through the Holy Spirit. Thus, the authority of the believer is, first, the resurrection power, second, the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, and third is the supremacy of the name of Jesus. Remember the disciples who came and said, «Lord, even the demons were subject to us in your name!» The name of Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the resurrection. If you want to know what God has given to you, from which you will express your authority, these three things matter: the name of Jesus, the power of resurrection, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
At the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee bows. We have the name. If you are a believer, you have the right to use the name of Jesus. If you are not a believer, you don’t have the right to use the name of Jesus in expressing authority. Remember the story in the book of Acts? Seven sons of a priest called Sceva saw Paul casting out demons. They said, «In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches…» They used the name of Jesus, but they didn’t have the authorization to use it. The demon recognized the authority and said, «Jesus I know, and Paul I know.» Why did he say he knows Paul? Because Paul was authorized to use the name of Jesus. If you were there, the demon would have said, «I know Jesus, and I know you too,» if your name were registered as an authorized user of the name of Jesus. You are an authorized user of the name of Jesus, like a Toyota authorized distributor or dealer.
The demon would say, «I know the authority; I know those who are authorized to use it,» and they would question, «Where are you coming from? Who are you?» They suffered the consequences of using the name of Jesus without authorization. But thank God we have authorization through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So what do we use our authority for? Since Christ has given us authority, what should we use it for? I’ll talk about three things we can do with our authority, and then we will pray. We use our authority to proclaim God’s decrees. What does this mean? It means God has decreed things, and by the authority we have in the name of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ’s resurrection, we can proclaim those words. We can declare those words, and those words coming out of our mouths will have the same power as if they came out of the mouth of Jesus Christ: to proclaim God’s decrees.
So, we say what God says. If God says, «Let the weak say I am strong,» then we can also proclaim, «I am strong.» What are we doing? We are proclaiming God’s decrees. If he says, «You are the head and not the tail,» we say, «I am the head and not the tail.» We are proclaiming God’s decrees. Anytime before I preach, we make all those declarations. It’s not poetry; it is proclaiming God’s decrees. Everything we say is grounded in scripture; there are about 14 scriptures that have been put together into those proclamations. So when we make them with authority, we are proclaiming and affirming God’s decrees.
The second thing we use our authority for is to enforce Christ’s dominion. We must bring every thought and every spirit captive to the knowledge of Christ. Anything contrary to what Christ has made possible must be enforced by the dominion of Christ. If he died for our salvation, we must be saved. If he was wounded for our transgressions, we must be delivered from our transgressions. If the chastisement of our peace was upon him, we must have peace. If by his stripes we are healed, we must be healed. We must enforce healing. You can’t just say, «Oh, Jesus gave it to me, so it is mine»; you must enforce it.
By the authority of the believer, which Christ has given us, we establish God’s will. Whether we are moving mountains or praying for situations to change, we are establishing God’s will. We are proclaiming God’s decrees or enforcing Christ’s dominion; that is what we are doing. Wherever he has dominion, we proclaim his dominion. «Jesus shall reign wherever the sun shines.» From morning to evening, as the sun moves around the globe, we are establishing the authority of Jesus around the globe.
So this morning, as we pray, we will do so with understanding. Remember—authority is based on what is inside you. If you don’t have it, you can’t use it. What is inside you is the power of the resurrected Christ, the Holy Spirit of God, and God has also given you the name of Jesus to use. These are your sources of authority, and when you use these, you establish God’s will, enforce Christ’s dominion, and make decrees according to the word of God.
With this understanding, we will pray. There will be four prayer topics, and you can fashion your prayers for specific areas of your life. Let’s rise together as we pray today. For those of you following us at home, be part of this prayer. I will lead you in a prayer, and after that, you will pray on your own. Then I will lead you in a prayer declaration, after which you will use your own words, and we’ll do that for four prayer topics. Are you ready?
Alright, so say with me: «Heavenly Father, let your kingdom come. I proclaim that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and of Christ Jesus.» Amen. Now make that decree that every kingdom, every nation, every force will come under the kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ. No matter what the kingdom is, no matter what the force is—whether it’s a spiritual force, a governmental force, a judicial force, or a military force—it is being subjected to the kingdom of God.
«The kingdoms of our world become the kingdoms of our God and of Christ.» In the name of Jesus, we thank you, Father, for your kingdom that rules. Let your kingdom come; let your kingdom rule. Let your dominion be established over this earth and over every sphere of this earth and every area of operation on this earth. In every manifestation of power, in every kingdom—whether in science, the arts, business, education, culture, or the military—we declare that kingdoms bow to the Lamb of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let kingdoms bow to the kingdom of God! Let your rule supersede every other rule, Lord. In the name of Jesus, we decree your decrees that your kingdom rules, your kingdom reigns, and your kingdom is supreme. We decree the decrees of God’s kingdom over every sphere of power, over every manifestation of power, and over every kingdom of man and demons. They come subject to the kingdom of God. We overthrow the kingdoms of the enemy in the name of Jesus.
Oh yes, declare and decree the decrees of God’s kingdom ruling in your life, in your business, in your activities, in every area of operation! The kingdom of God rules; the kingdom of God reigns; the kingdom of God is above all! In Jesus' mighty name, oh yes! The Lord decrees victory! The Lord decrees victory!
In the name of Jesus, say with me: «Heavenly Father, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Manifest your perfect will in my life today. I subject every situation in my life under the feet of Jesus.» Now pray for the will of God to be done in your life as it is in heaven. The heavenly thoughts of God manifested in your life—what God thought of in eternity concerning you before you were born. His will, his heavenly desires manifested in your life in the name of Jesus. May the perfect will of God be manifested in my life, in your life, and in our life today—a day of perfection for us!
Pray, pray, pray! Every situation in your life—every situation that is misbehaving, every situation that has become unruly, every situation that is not conforming to heavenly will—we subject it to the feet of Christ. Let Jesus be Lord and King over every situation in our lives.
Talk to Him! Take authority over every unruly situation. Whether it is sickness, discord in your family, something on the job, or your finances going rogue—we are bringing them back into authority. Your health is coming back under the authority of the name of Jesus! In the name of Jesus, we are bringing everything captive to the authority of Christ. We are bringing our finances captive, our families captive, and every situation captive to the authority of Christ.
Pray, pray, pray! You are taking authority over it. Your children will not be wayward! Your grandchildren will not be wayward! In the name of Jesus, they will come under the blood, under the garment of salvation, and under the authority of the name of Jesus. The plans of God concerning you shall come to pass. The purposes of God will be established in your life. The devil is a liar; he will not win this war!
In the name of Jesus, we come with authority over every power that is not subject. For the third prayer, say with me: «Heavenly Father, I walk in the power of the resurrected Christ. By the words of my mouth, I exercise authority over demonic forces and their plans, and I cast them out in Jesus' name!»
Now, as Jesus used words, you begin to use your words. You are casting out every situation and binding and casting out every situation that is demonic in source, demonic in manifestation. We bind and cast you out in Jesus' name! In the name of Jesus, get out of my family, get out of my business! In the name of Jesus, get out of the church! Every evil spirit, we cast you out—cast you out—be gone! Get behind me, Satan! Move away from my path!
Every spirit of harassment, move away from your life! Every spirit of frustration, move away from your life! Every spirit of failure, move away from your life! The power is in your words! Speak the word with the authority of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Speak the word with the authority of the resurrected Christ. Speak the word with the authority of the name of Jesus!
We are clearing the spiritual atmosphere; the atmosphere is shifting! Chains are broken, limitations are broken! Atmospheres shift, atmospheres in the family shift! Atmospheres in your business shift! In your life, shift! In the name of Jesus, we seize the commanding heights of the realm of the Spirit by the name of Jesus.
For the final prayer, say with me: «Heavenly Father, by the authority of Christ, I walk in boldness to possess my inheritance as a child of God. By faith, I rejoice in your abundant blessings in Jesus' name!» The blessing is yours; take it! The favor is yours; take it! The increase is yours; take it! The abundance is yours; take it! God has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness; it has been given—take it! It has been offered—take it!
We are blessed with all blessings in heavenly places. We take them and bring them into manifestation in the name of Jesus! We declare victory and rejoice in the abundance of blessings that God has given us. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, your word is true; your thoughts concerning me are for good and not for evil. I have exercised authority today in the realm of the Spirit, and I see manifestations in the realm of the natural conforming to your decree, your will, and your purposes in Jesus' name.» I thank you, Father. I rejoice in your blessings in Jesus' name! Come on, give the Lord some praise this morning! Oh, give the Lord praise—rejoice in the Lord if you know that you’ve taken authority! Hallelujah!