HSD: You have Authority

Come here. Come walk with me.

How often are you wielding the authority given to you by Christ? Let’s preface this question: many Christians rebuke based on perceived threat (often times after missing opportunities to strike against the symptoms of enemy infiltration) while others passively submit prayers to God in a sort-of half-hearted faith by leaning on God in acceptance of their circumstance(s) without recognizing the power he has given us all to fight against that which fights against us. I’m a visual learner, so I’ll paint a common illustration, and I challenge you to be honest with yourself. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal as you read.

Here is an example of both half-hearted faith making passive choices in prayer AND delayed rebuke.

Imagine this: You just decided to strengthen your relationship with Christ. Within that same week, however, you recognize that the co-worker you once got along with famously is keeping communication with you very short—almost glib, even. You tell yourself she must be going through a hard time and resolve to ask her about it later. As you go about your day, you recognize that your workspace feels a little heavier than usual. People are quieter. Conversations are hushed once you enter rooms. Lively groups dissemble with an unspoken understanding in recognition of your presence. You question if you’ve done something wrong and surrender it to God, in full repentance in case there’s something you missed. Over time, however, you teach yourself to adapt. You tell yourself that maybe you weren’t as close to your colleagues as you thought and as you continue to surrender the situation to God, you begin to self-isolate more at work. Then one day, you walk in on a meeting. A circle has gathered and whispered discourse stains the air. Upon recognition of your entry, the group dissembles once more yet one person remains in the room—your boss. “May I speak with you in my office?” You agree and follow him both sheepishly and confused.

Once settled in his office, you’re told about the laundry list of grievances made against you. The gossip that has been spread without merit and the lies designed to assassinate your character. Your boss asks you if there is any truth to these stories because some details are pretty concerning and hold the potential to defame the company’s reputation. After assuring your boss that none of these stories hold validity, you go home and ask God why He would allow this. Once met with perceived silence, you decide to rebuke the enemy’s plans against your life and livelihood, believing that this is what The Lord expects you to do at this point.

We have all found ourselves in a space where we ask the Good Lord, “why?” Even if you tell yourself, “Lord, I’m not questioning you. I just don’t understand this one,” you’re essentially doing the same thing, just more respectfully. (It’s okay. I hold you accountable with love). However, there are a few things to note in situations like these:

1. Justifying, assuming or rationalizing without consulting The Spirit can lead to leaning on our own understanding—an open portal for the enemy’s corruption. If something seems off, ASK the Holy Spirit to reveal or expose to you what is happening around you and wait for that revelation. In the meantime, pray for divine coverage and protection.

2. Passive surrender isn’t applicable to all situations. There is a time to ask, a time to fight with authoritative declaration, and a time to surrender situations to the Lord. Remember in Matthew 14:14-20 that after witnessing the day fade to night, the disciples grew concerned for the multitude of people listening to Jesus’ Word. They turned to Jesus and asked Him to send the multitude away so they may find food for themselves. Jesus didn’t say, “okay, I’ll do that for you all. This makes sense.” He said, “You feed them.” How were they meant to do so? By giving the Lord what they already had and allowing him to meet that portion and exceed that amount by the faith they exercised when giving Him this portion. Sometimes we don’t see things happen because we’re applying our faith in the wrong context. Sometimes the Lord doesn’t want you to just believe that HE will do it, He expects you to believe that in His Name He gave YOU the authority to speak to your situation. Sometimes, He expects YOU to use the authority or the portion He gave you so that He may reward your faith. Always ASK the Holy Spirit which direction is expected of you. Over time, you may be prompted to move a certain way without having to ask. The Holy Spirit is always, always, always ready to assist and guide you either way.

3. Ignorance toward spiritual warfare does NOT exempt you from the fight. Whether you engage or not, you’re still on the field. (Stay tuned for language to employ in prayer against spiritual warfare.) Remember your first line of defense at ALL times, even when all seems well, is prayer.

4. You are NOT necessarily dealing with people. You are more so dealing with the spirits operating in people (Ephesians 6:12). Recognizing and rebuking satanic spirits in operation as early as possible has the power to determine the outcome of all situations. Underneath all of the spirits people entertain, lean into, ignorantly accommodate, come into agreements with, are the souls and purposes and personalities and characteristics that GOD himself created. Pray for these souls instead of begrudging the assigned spirits that are corrupting God’s good works.

5. There is often a lesson to be gained in what God allows. There are usually signs that He shows you leading up to the full manifestation of the enemy’s plan against you. Before a strike is made, there is always a preceding infiltration. “Be sober. Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

6. The Word says, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5). Wisdom is always your friend. Seek it. Ask for it. Receive it. Believe it.

7. God is already covering you (which is why no one was fired in the case above) but trusting and diligently seeking Him is essential.

8. Speaking of the Word: reading it consistently, meditating on it daily, and applying it completely can guide you and your responses in 100 percent of situations. Guaranteed.

You have authority. Use it early, use it wisely, but use it.

Jesus was and is the reminder. He is the filter between us and the Father. If you think back to Genesis 2, the Lord not only provided man with animals and creatures, but He gave us dominion over them. He gave Adam, who was still in God's good graces and free of sin, the AUTHORITY to name these animals. In Ezekiel 37, God gave Ezekiel AUTHORITY over the dry bones to bring them back to life. Ezekiel had shown he was both faithful and obedient, so in God's good graces he was given authority to raise the dead by the Lord's name and command! The Word says, "And whatever you ask in My Name, I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13) This means that authority to speak life into dead situations, the authority to cast out all that is unfavorable, and the authority to remind the enemy of the power you carry as a Child of God has been given to you!

Your power has been outlined in Deuteronomy 6:17-19

Paul reminds you in Ephesians 6 and 2 Corinthians 10

and Jesus, in all of his splendor, told you himself in John 14:12

Jesus' sacrifice has ensured that you CAN declare and decree with Holy Boldness.

So again, what are you doing with this power? What are you accepting daily? You have the power to cast out sickness, illnesses and viruses like the spirits that manifest into physical symptoms they are (Mark 3:15). Are you speaking to them or are you telling yourself, "I'm not feeling well, but God is able." Sometimes, having faith means to stand firmly and exercise the authority God says you already have. “I speak to the spirit that is operating under the powers of illness that has been assigned to my life, and I cast you out in the name of Jesus in Glory of the Father in Heaven! I denounce and renounce any agreements I have formed with you Satan and I repent to Jesus for any lies I’ve accepted from the enemy.” Believe it! Nothing can happen outside of God’s command or outside of His Divine Providence/Permissive Will anyway. Speak to the enemy and the spirits He employs like He is beneath your feet. Remember, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:26). If you've fought the good fight and actively served your position in the war staged against you, THEN you surrender it all to Christ in glory of the Father. Surrender and believe that it is done, and it is done.

OWN your authority in Jesus' name and surrender as led by the Holy Spirit. You've already surrendered your life to Him. Walk in the power he has given to those who have chosen Him.

I love you with the love of Christ, and I'm here if you need anything.

And remember, in everything you do…

do it with Love.

Holy Spirit, we thank you for the leading of this word. Please let it reach whoever needs to hear it. To the Glory of the Father, by the leading of You Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.