Understand your authority in Jesus

Authority definition:

the power to give orders or make decisions; 

the power or right to direct or control someone or something.

Jesus taught, healed people, and drove out demons with authority.

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him. Mark 1:27

In the Bible story of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant, how the Centurion describes authority helps us understand the authority Jesus had.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Luke 7:6-8

Jesus gave his disciples authority to overcome all the power of the enemy and sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Matthew 10:1

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

After Jesus rose from the dead, all authority in heaven and earth was given to him. As Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he commanded his disciples to go and make disciples and to teach them to obey everything he had commanded the disciples, which included healing people and driving out demons.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9-10

Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth, and he has delegated some of that authority to his disciples to do what he has asked them to do. Therefore, every Christian has Jesus’ authority to make disciples and overcome all the power of the enemy by proclaiming the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, raising the dead and driving out demons.

Prepared by Julie Young