AUTHORITY AND POWER

“So they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with AUTHORITY and POWER He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” – Luke 4:36

The Bible presents a strong relationship between AUTHORITY and POWER. “And He called the twelve together, and gave them POWER and AUTHORITY over all the demons, and to heal diseases” (Lk.9:1). Jesus gave the disciples both authority and power over diseases, demons, and their destructive works:  “Behold, I give you the AUTHORITY to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the POWER of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk.10:19). The phrase “serpents and scorpions” refers to the power of the devil – demons, evil spirits, and all of his cohorts. We’ve got authority over them! The Bible clearly distinguishes between Power and Authority. Though distinct, the two really must go hand in hand. Authority without Power is worthless. The value of authority rests on the Power that is behind it! The Power behind our authority is the Power of God Himself. That’s why the devil and his forces are obliged to recognise and respect our authority!

Authority is delegated power. Policemen who direct traffic during the rush hour simply raise their hands and vehicles stop. They don't have the physical power to stop the vehicles if the drivers choose not to stop. But they don't use their own strength to stop traffic; they are strong in the authority that is invested in them by the government they serve. People recognise that authority and stop their cars. Similarly, there’s authority that’s vested in us believers by the Lord Jesus Christ, backed up by His Unlimited Power! When there is a military coup in a country, the military junta appoint a person to be president. This individual has the authority of the presidency, but the power still rests with the military. A school monitor could be in charge of a group of students, yet have no power. His fellow students could mock and ignore him. Many teachers have the ‘authority’ over the students, but they do not have much power over them to back up that authority.

Jesus not only had authority over unclean spirits; He also had the power to force them to come out (Lk.4:36). On an occasion, the Jews sent spies to ensnare Him and deliver Him to the governor, who had both authority and power: “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor” (Lk.20:20). The governor had both authority and power. Jesus also did not give us a powerless authority. Believers in Christ do not just have the authority over diseases and demons; we also have the Power of God to actually command and overcome them. Paul told believers to be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His might – not in our own might (Eph.6:10). That means you can step out in front of the devil, hold up your hand, and command him to not come any closer.

In dealing with disease or demonic activity, we not only need to declare that we come in the name and the authority of Jesus Christ, we should also affirm that Jesus has given us God’s Power, which is vastly stronger than the power of the hordes of hell. We command them authoritatively wherever they hide or manifest. We can literally force demon spirits out and away by the Power of God through the name of Jesus Christ. But all the power and authority in the world will avail to nothing and do no good, unless we use it! First John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Satan is “he who is in the world” – the god of this evil world system. But the Power that's in you is greater than the power that's in the world, because the power that backs our authority is greater than that which backs our enemies! Alleluia!