Continuation from Part 1
Principle # 2:
As new creations, we have been put in a position of power and authority A position delegated to us by God through Jesus Christ. You are now able to discern between God’s will and the traps of the enemy. When you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, you were delivered from the power of darkness into His marvelous light according to Colossians 1:13.
The word ‘power’ is literally translated “authority.” You have been delivered from the power (authority) of darkness and placed into God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore…” (Matt. 28:18,19). That power was given to you as part of your inheritance in Christ Jesus. You have entered this position of authority because you are in Him. Oh, Glory to God! I feel like shouting already!
Before I got born again, I allowed other people to run my life. They dictated to me the way they wanted things done and I did. It was my nature and way of life. Tell me what to do and I will do it regardless of the cost or what Holy Spirit says. That is not the way God intended for us to live our lives. He wants us to listen to Him and do what He tells us to do. You must exercise dominion within your seat of authority. You must know what is rightful yours. Only then are you able to say YES or NO to the dictates of men.
Jesus succeeded in securing all power by going to the cross, dying a horrible death, suffering the penalty for sin, and defeating Satan in the pit of hell. He came to earth as a man for one reason: to re-capture the authority that Satan had stolen through Adam’s disobedience in the garden. Jesus was called the last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. After securing that power and authority, He freely gave it over into the hands of those who would believe on Him—and that is you and me.
Jesus’ words in the 16th chapter of Mark were not intended for the early church alone. His words are just as vital and real today as when they were first spoken. Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead. His words to them form the basic foundation for the work of the New Testament church. It was at that time that He delegated authority to carry out that work.
With authority, comes responsibilities
In Mark chapter 16 and verse 15, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” I love it.
The command that Jesus Christ gave here is, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” Every Born-again believer has been given the authority and responsibility to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this earth. If you can’t go, then you can send someone in your place. “And these signs shall follow them that believe…” Notice who is to do all these things: them that believe. The signs will follow the believers who act in faith and boldly speak in Jesus’ name. They shall cast out devils; They shall speak with new tongues; They shall lay hands on the sick, etc.
The believer is the one with the power and authority to do these things. Mark 16 and verse 20 says, “They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” God will confirm His Word, but first it has to be spoken forth. That is where you and I come in. God does not preach. He has given us the authority to do the preaching. God will not lay hands on the sick. He promises to bring the healing when believers lay hands on the sick by faith. God will always perform what He has said in His Word.
God’s Word is a creative power and for that power to work for you, it must be released in faith. He spoke the existence of the whole world into being through His words of faith (Genesis 1:3).
Mark chapter 4 and verses 35-40 says; “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, “let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, why are you so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
Jesus spoke the words, “Let us pass over unto the other side” According to Him, there was enough power and authority in those words to get the job done. Notice that Jesus did not take command of the ship to see that His words were carried out or not. He went to the bottom of the boat and went to sleep on a pillow.
Jesus delegated the authority to His disciples and they accepted it. But when the storm came, they were filled with fear that the boat would sink. Jesus had to take back and carry out the responsibility of authority Himself that He had delegated to them by rebuking the wind and the sea.
How to partner with God to enforce His Kingdom work on the earth
God is looking for individuals who are willing to stand in the gap to fulfill His purposes and enforce His covenant on the earth. When we, as believers respond to God’s call in this final hour, we will experience the Glory of God more than ever before in the history of the church. Why? Because God is drawing a distinction between His bride and others. Can He count you on this very final hour? Remember the Bible say’s “…We are God’s ambassadors…” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
2 Chronicles 16:9; “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars…”
1 Samuel 2:35 (NKJV) says, “Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven…”
Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
What does it mean to stand in the gap?
Standing in the gap has historically been taught as being synonymous with intercession. However, I believe that standing in the gap also means that believers are standing in the gap for righteousness in the marketplace. It means becoming the solution to unrighteousness. Believers have to become and continue to be the salt and the light that is going to allow the earthly culture to be shaped and transformed so that Jesus does not have to judge His people or nations.
Since evil still exists on the earth through Satan, God has given the “lease” on earth back to us through the blood covenant of Jesus. However, it must be exercised to see the manifestation of the covenant promises.
God is waiting on His people to exercise the authority He has given them to bring these things into being. One of Jesus’ last instructions to the disciples was regarding His authority and His passing of that authority to those of us on the earth.
This is stated in Matt 28:18-20; “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Jesus was officially passing His authority to us.
We are to enforce and teach what Jesus has instructed us to do and what He has said. Our role is to enforce His will through prayer by claiming His promises and defeating the works of the enemy. Jesus came to defeat the works of the enemy.
1 John 3:8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning… For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
How can we accomplish our mission as believers here on the earth?
There are three main ways in which we can accomplish our mission on the earth
- Through study and knowing God’s Word (Our Kingdom Instruction Manual)
When you read the Word, read it out loud as often as you can. Mark 11:23-24; Jesus tells us to speak to the mountain! “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believe those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” The next verse says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them”.
Faith in God’s Word is what activates the power of God on the earth and hence the authority of God. Do you need to see God move on your behalf? Find out what He said in his Word: His covenant. Begin to pray and agree with God that whatever has been done in Heaven will be done on earth (Matthew 6:10).
Speak the words you need God to do on your behalf. Declare God’s covenant over your situation. As you do this you will begin to see your prayers manifested in the physical realm. Amen!
- Though Prayer
We too are called to defeat the works of the enemy on earth. We do not have to ask what God’s will is in many situations because He has already stated His will in His written Word.
We are here to enforce His will through intercessory prayer and speaking only what God says. Unless we do this, we will not see the manifestation of His will and His purposes accomplished on the earth.
He limited His authority on earth based on our involvement to pray His covenantal promises into existence. Many things on earth do happen because either God’s representatives fail to stop them (the bad) or pray them (the good) into existence. God will NOT act without His representatives using their authority through prayer and spiritual warfare to activate His desired will.
- Through Continuous Declarations
The Bible says in Proverbs 18: 21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” We can exercise authority with our words – by declaring what only God says. God spoke the world into existence.
Psalms 33:9-11 declares, “…For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” When God told Moses to speak to the rock, He was telling Moses to move in the same dimension as God – through the spoken Word. Pray and declare God’s Word aloud. This allows your words to be heard by principalities and spirits and it allows you to hear the words and for them to be imprinted on your heart. When you speak forth the Word in faith, circumstances will change to respond to the spoken Word
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