Believers Authority

Let's start by reading Romans 13:1-2:

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."

There are several Greek meanings for the word translated as "power" in the New Testament. One of which is the Greek word "Exousia," meaning "authority." The Greek word translated as "power" here in Romans means authority. So, Paul was speaking in the sense of spiritual authority. You see, a police officer or a traffic warden does not have the physical strength or power to stop all those vehicles, but they have the authority to do so. All they have to do is raise their hand, and the vehicles stop. Romans 13:1-2 becomes much clearer to us when we replace the word "power" with "authority."

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God: the authorities that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the authority, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."

Romans 13:1-2

Now, let's take each sentence in the verse and look at it.

• Let every soul be subject unto higher authorities. This tells us that there are different levels of authority, and a decree was passed saying let every soul be subject to higher levels of authority than the one they operate in. Why?

• For there is no authority but of God, the authorities that be are ordained of God. This means God ordained all the levels of authority that exist. For Him to have ordained all levels of authority, He must sit in the highest level of authority. That's why He is known as the "Almighty," so everyone should be subject to the authorities above them because they were ordained by God.

• Whosoever therefore resisteth the authority, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Therefore, every soul has to be subject to a higher level of authority than their own because the authority that exists was established or ordained by God, and going against a higher authority than your own is going against God Himself. Authority is delegated power, and the value of authority is in the one backing it up. Disobedience to higher authority is called insubordination in military ranks and is punishable by death in most cases.

Here's what the centurion said to Jesus in Luke 7:8: "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, 'Go,' and he goeth; and to another, 'Come,' and he cometh; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he doeth it."

He describes the military ranks, explaining that he is a man under the authority of those higher than him, but he also has soldiers under him. He exercises his authority by telling the soldiers under him to go, and they go, or to come, and they come. Why? Because every soul is subject to higher authorities. Look at what happened to those who rebelled against the authority of God in Hebrews 2:2: "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward." Notice, every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. There is zero tolerance for insubordination.

After the resurrection of Jesus, see what He said in Matthew 28:18: "…Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." The Greek word for "power" here also means "authority." Notice that Jesus said, "All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth," meaning that, apart from God who gave Him the authority, Jesus now sits at the highest level of authority today.

Philippians 2:9-10 says, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." Just as on earth, when a king passes by and they call his name and say, "All hail King Augustus," all the subjects under his authority must bow. In the same way, when they call the name "Jesus," every knee should bow—of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—because of His authority.

Now notice, that Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth. But Jesus ascended into heaven and is no longer on the earth in bodily form. So how does He exercise His authority on the earth? You see, Jesus is not only in heaven; if you are born again, Jesus is also in you! Look at 1 John 5:11-12: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." He that has the Son has life, and we know that we have passed from death into life. Once you are born again, you have eternal life in you. But this life is in the Son, Jesus Christ. That means Jesus is not only in heaven; He is also in you!

John 17:21-23 says, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee...And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." Jesus, the one who has all authority on the earth, said, "I in them." No wonder the Bible says, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This means the authority of Jesus on the earth is expressed and exercised through the Church.

When you received Jesus into your heart, He gave you authority on the earth. Jesus delegated His authority to the Church when He went to heaven, and when someone is born again, they automatically receive this authority. John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Here again, the word "power" in Greek means "authority." This verse could be read, as many as received Jesus, to them He gave authority to become the sons of God. Therefore, as a believer, you have authority—it was delegated to you by Jesus when you were born again.

Let us examine the hierarchy of the authority delegated to us by Jesus at the new birth, so that, like the centurion, we can know what has been placed under us and understand whom we can command to go, and it will go. Keep in mind that the authority we have and express on earth is the authority of Jesus. We can express it because He lives inside of us. When He came in at new birth, His authority became our authority. Now, just how high is this authority level?

1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Notice, it says "Greater is he (Jesus) that is in you, than he (Satan and evil spirits) that are in the world." Greater also means higher—the authority level of Jesus on earth is higher than that of the devil! Glory to God! Remember, every soul, including the devil, is subject to higher authority.

Therefore, we as believers can and should exercise authority over the devil. This is why the Bible says the first sign of a believer in Mark 16:17 is that in His name, they shall cast out devils. This means they would exercise authority over Satan. We can say to the devil, "Go," and he will go. Why? Because the Greater One, the One with a higher level of authority, lives in us. I remember the time when I first grasped this truth. I had previously been oppressed by the devil—some demon would come and press me almost every time I slept. But one day, I discovered that the Greater One lives in me and is stronger than the devil that had been oppressing me.

Luke 20:18 says, "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." That is, whether in defence or offence, the stone will win the battle. Why? Because He is at a higher level of authority. With this understanding, I said, "That means if the devil comes to oppress me. Since the Greater One is in me, I will win. If I attack him, I will also win. It's a win-win situation." So, I stood in anger against the devil and said, "If you come here again, I will kill you." Friend, that was the end of the oppression. Let’s enter into the consciousness that every believer is a master over demons. We have authority over the devil. When I’m faced with deliverance situations while ministering, I always tell the demoniac to kneel, and it kneels. I learned to exercise authority, and I’m still growing in it.

But you see, even while I was being oppressed by those devils, I had authority but didn’t know it. I had been born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues, yet I was greatly oppressed. I had authority, but I didn’t know about it. Are there things you are suffering from today that you have authority over, yet you haven’t come to the consciousness of this authority? King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 10:5-7: "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."

I believe it is time for us to wake up to the consciousness of the authority that has been bestowed on us by Jesus and give no place to the devil. Let’s rise and unseat every demon that has been ruling over us. The Greater One, the One with the highest authority on earth, lives inside you and me. Exercise your authority. Remain blessed.

Jesus is Lord!

Min. Roi