He Operates With Authority!
A police officer operates with the authority of his government to stop users of our roads. Just imagine a lone uniformed police officer standing in the middle of a New York City (NYC) road as a tractor-trailer barges down on him.
He holds up his hand with the palm facing the driver and he stops.
He is demonstrating his authority as an officer of the law. The Law, for example, of the NYC Police Department (NYCPD), confers it upon this lone police officer.
It authorizes him to stop all users of the road whether they are pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers, or cyclists.
As a Christian, do you possess authority with God? Your quick answer would we, yes! But, who listens and obeys you? And, what obeys you? Yes! What obeys you?
A Believer in Jesus Christ has heavenly power to command people and things and they must obey, for everything has ears.
Jesus Christ came to earth and he demonstrated that he had authority with God. First, he informed us that he came in his Father’s name (John 5:43). Consequently, you will discover that you have no jurisdiction unless you come in a known name.
This Comes With Authority!
The Police officer described at the start of this writing got his authorization from the NYCPD and from the clothes which identified him as such. If he wasn’t wearing recognizable clothes and had no known police vehicle the trailer driver may just keep going.
Similarly, Jesus told us where his influence came from, and then he showed us.
“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.”
John 10:25
Therefore, as Jesus went about all Israel doing miracles, and wonders, and great deeds, the religious community had a question for him.
They inquired of him,
“Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? [O]r who is he that gave thee this authority?”
Luke 20:2
They were cognizant that he couldn’t operate with authority without a name. Similarly, a name identifies a person, place, or thing.
What Does it Mean to Speak With Authority?
Consequently, Jesus by his authority was able to command people, devils, spirits, wind, water, and trees and they all obeyed him.
As a Christian, what is the source of your clout? And who and what obey your words?
There are two worlds: the physical and the spiritual. However, both require authority and power to function in them efficiently and effectively.
Every conceivable thing that we do in the physical world has a corresponding guiding spiritual principle. And violations of these invisible concepts manifest in physical ways that we don’t understand.
However, if we fix the spiritual problem the physical manifestation will adjust accordingly.
Powerful Reason Many Obey Those Without Authority!
How to Receive Authority?
However, people acquire authority through their connections and associations with a name. This could be the name of a thing and place like NYPCD.
Sometimes even with a perceived connection, one could have influence. That is why many people obey imposters posing as cops.
As a Christian does your body obey your words? If you command your headache would it disappear? Could you speak with authority to someone else’s problem and it obeyed you?
Would a rambunctious group of young men obey your whispered command spoken from a distance?
One pleasant Summer morning, in Brooklyn, I had an experience that changed my life relevant to how I see and use authority.
It was about 3 AM and I was writing. I was in my apartment on the 6th floor. But I was in a room that had a window which opens on a side street of our block.
That morning, a group of at least six young men was on my block enjoying themselves! They were playing dominos.
You Should Try This Sometimes!
However, as they continue with their game they were making a lot of noise, hitting the dominos on the wooden tables, cursing, laughing, and drinking alcohol.
They were less than a block away and their activities were affecting my concentration and ultimately my writing.
It continued to the point where I decided I have to do something about the noise. I must stop it!
No, I had no plans to call 911. The Police could come but I wasn’t going that route. I decided to deal with this personally!
Consequently, I push my head out the window towards the group of rambunctious men and whisper a command to them.
I said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I command you to be quiet and leave right now!”
I pulled my head back inside and continued working.
Why Many Contemporary Christians Possess No Force?
Within five minutes, I would say about three minutes later, the noise stopped. And before five minutes could elapse they dispersed.
I was excited! From that day until now I continue to speak to everything in my life, animate and inanimate, near and far.
And you know something, they obey?
I speak to my headache, my body parts, to other people (without them knowing) and they obey me!
You should try it!
When you were baptized in water invoking “the name” of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is Jesus Christ, you received your heavenly authority.
Consequently, it’s by baptism by immersion that you put on Christ. You put on his name. Water baptism grants you access to Christ’s influence here on earth.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27
Just like the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time, many contemporary Christians are weak and puny with no authority because they refuse and reject his name.
Conclusion
“For [Jesus] taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Matthew 7:29
They were not baptized in “the name” but in the role and function of the one with “the name”. The name Jesus Christ, and only this name, confers authority upon you.
Those without this name are weak, powerless, and sickly.
They depend on medications daily to provide relief from pain and sickness because they possess no power with God.
They are ignorant that with the Lord God, through Jesus Christ, they could function with authority and live without sickness or disease or pains!
But with no authority, they have no power, because they have refused to put on the one source of authority that heaven and earth recognize: the name of Jesus Christ.
In closing, many who own the name don’t know how to harness its power. They don’t know how to live victoriously in Christ. Why? If you stick around I will tell you!
