The Believer's Authority: Born of God, Ruling in the Spirit
When a person believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the Spirit of God enters their heart, and they become the temple of God. Naturally, their status in the spiritual world changes because God now dwells in them through His Holy Spirit. Such a person receives a different level of authority in the spiritual realm, having been born of God Himself and made a child of God.
John 1:12 (KJV): But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Jesus Trains His Disciples in Spiritual Authority
Jesus Christ Himself told His disciples about the authority and power they would possess after believing in Him and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. His disciples received the power to do the same works that Jesus did, and even greater works. From this, it follows that they received from God authority and power over all the forces of darkness, because Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, casting out demons and healing diseases, thereby freeing all who were oppressed by the devil.
John 14:12 (KJV): Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Jesus trained His disciples and prepared them for their own independent, full-fledged ministry. We see from Scripture that He taught them how to use the authority received from God to cast out demons and heal diseases.
Mark 3:14-15 (KJV): And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
Jesus told them that God was endowing them with authority over all demons, and that none of these demons could withstand the authority and power that God had given them in the name of Jesus Christ. No demon could harm them because the authority of believers in the spiritual world surpasses the authority of demons.
Luke 10:17-20 (KJV): And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
God, through David, had already proclaimed that believers would receive such authority to rule in the spiritual world, command all demons, and destroy the works of the devil.
Psalm 91:13 (KJV): Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Biblical Examples of Using Authority in Jesus' Name
This authority is real, and Christ's disciples demonstrated it. The people around them saw the manifestation of this power. Some, seeing that Christ's disciples were casting out demons by the authority in the name of Jesus, decided to use it themselves. The Gospel of Mark describes a case where a man, upon seeing the disciples cast out demons in Jesus' name, also began casting them out, even though he wasn't a follower of Christ.
Mark 9:38-40 (KJV): And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.
In the book of Acts, we find a powerful example of exercising this authority. The apostles Peter and John healed a paralyzed man without even praying to God for it. They simply commanded it in the name of Jesus Christ, and the spirit of sickness left him.
Acts 3:6-8 (KJV): Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
The apostles didn't need to pray to God for the healing of this paralyzed man; they simply needed to exercise the authority that God had already given them in the name of Jesus. God's will concerning the sick and oppressed had already been declared.
Matthew 10:7-8 (KJV): And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
You Also Have This Authority
Just as He told them, God also tells you: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. And also: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. Therefore, as a believer, if you are born of God and have been baptized with His Holy Spirit, you can exercise the authority God has given you in the name of Jesus Christ.
If even unbelievers could use this authority, how much more can you, to whom God has given it as His child.
The Warning: Using the Name is Not Enough
It's true that some unbelievers tried to use the name of Jesus, and sometimes it worked. Some demons are very fearful and are terrified of anything related to God. However, it doesn't always work. Some demons coldly assess the situation and understand whether the person truly has the authority from God or is an imposter. The case of the seven sons of Sceva illustrates this perfectly.
Acts 19:13-16 (KJV): Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
It's important to note that believers who come to God are not perfect and have not yet attained perfection in Christ (just as Jesus' own disciples weren't perfect). Yet God endows them with authority in the name of Jesus. Even believers who have sin in their lives can operate in this authority, as shown in the Word of God.
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV): Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The conclusion is clear: to exercise authority over demons and sicknesses, one does not need to reach some spiritual peak. All children of God, even "babes in Christ" (immature or carnal Christians), can do so. It is God's will that we, as believers, use this authority to destroy the works of the devil in our lives and the lives of others.
Prayer for Revelation of His Power
To fully grasp the authority, power, and might that you have from God, you can ask Him in prayer to reveal it to you and make it completely clear. The apostle Paul taught this very prayer to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV): That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
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