Wednesday, 3 May 2023
Supreme Authority
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17 NKJV).
There’re two things I’ll like you to observe in the theme verse. The first is the fact that the Lord Jesus gave us authority over demons. What is authority? Authority is delegated power; it’s the right to command and be obeyed or the ability to command and enforce obedience. It’s the right to command something, someone or anything and be obeyed! For example, when we use the Name of Jesus to effect a change or make a command, that’s authority!
Secondly, He also gave us power of attorney, that is, the legal right to act on His behalf or in His stead as His agent: the legal right to act in His Name. So, having been given the power of attorney, how much power do you wield? How much force can you exercise? And how much authority do you really have? It depends on how much power is behind the one that gave it to you.
It doesn’t matter how much power you’ve got; if someone with a higher authority than the one who authorized you comes, you have to submit.
Matthew 28:18-19 lets us in on the Master’s authority. It says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Notice He doesn’t say some power, but ALL power; also observe that He didn’t say all power is given unto Him to exercise in Israel or some parts of the world; no! He said in heaven and in earth.
The Lord Jesus has supreme and unrivalled authority. Hallelujah! When you issue commands to Satan, his demons, and the elements of this world in His Name, they’ll hear and obey you, because you function in Christ’s supreme authority and dominion.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for giving me the ability to command and enforce obedience, and the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus to effect changes and control circumstances. That name wields all power in heaven and in earth. Therefore I declare, in the Name of Jesus, that the gospel shall have free course in the nations of the world. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 16:17-18; Acts 3:16; John 16:24
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 1:1-18 & 2 Samuel 15-17
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 7:14-23 & Numbers 6