Lesson 60 – Exercising Authority

Text:

Luke 9:1-2 KJV  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  (2)  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 10:1 KJV  After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Intro:

God has chosen to include humanity in His work from the beginning. Knowing our limitations, He delegates the authority necessary to accomplish the specific tasks He gives us. Exercising spiritual authority is something that must be done cautiously with humility. Many claim they are exercising spiritual authority by shouting, making noise, or pushing/pulling someone this way or that. These demonstrative actions are not proof of spiritual authority. Rather, they are proof of no authority and therefore they are substituting fleshly actions for a real move of the Spirit.

The instructions from Jesus to his disciples were: do not take money, do not provide for yourself, speak only what he said to say, heal the sick, preach the gospel. This is a perfect example of how we are to exercise spiritual authority. When we fully surrender to God’s authority, He can work through us just as He did the early disciples. After they had completed their assigned task, Jesus assured them that they would never lack anything IF they were willing to allow Him to properly delegate authority to them.

Luke 22:35 KJV  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Delegated Authority:

Jesus will only delegate authority to someone with a servant’s heart. When Jesus delegated authority, it was clearly defined and only given to his disciples. Those who were willingly submitting to His authority. They recognized that the authority they possessed did not originate with them nor was it theirs to do with as they wished. When a non-submitted person attempts to exercise spiritual authority, they are usurping authority. Satan was the first to attempt to exercise spiritual authority that was not given to him. This is still the manner in which he works to accomplish his will.

Acts 19:11-16 KJV  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:  (12)  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.  (13)  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.  (14)  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  (15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  (16)  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.

Sons of Sceva pridefully attempted to exercise spiritual authority and they themselves were not under authority. Isn’t it interesting that Satan knew these men had not been given any authority? The spirit also knew who had the right to exercise spiritual authority. Paul, the submitted apostle, operated with delegated spiritual authority that hell was forced to acknowledge.

The Necessity of Unity:

The disciples were in the learning phase of exercising delegated authority. They had seen the Lord work through them and work miracles. This can be dangerous because our carnal nature will begin to assume that we are the ones doing the work and not God. Flesh will then attempt to rise up and exercise spiritual authority for our own carnal reasons.

Luke 9:54-55 ESV  And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  (55)  But he turned and rebuked them.

Jesus had to rebuke them for attempting to use authority in a way that was contrary to the will of God. Though they were walking with Jesus, they had gotten out of step with him. Jesus’ rebuke is a reminder that unity with the Spirit is necessary in exercising spiritual authority. He had told them to only speak what he told them to speak. Now in their moment of anger, not only did they want to “declare” what they were not told to speak, but in doing so they would destroy what God was attempting to save.

We must carefully exercise only the authority we are given. Never allowing our wants and desires, nor the wants and desires of those we are serving, cause us to go beyond exactly what the Spirit is delegating to us. Just as Israel did repeatedly with Moses, people today will put pressure on the ministry to perform unauthorized miracles. If we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.[1]

Boundaries of Authority:

Matthew 17:18-21 KJV  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  (19)  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  (20)  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  (21)  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

God knows how much authority to delegate to us. He will only delegate as much as He can trust us with and only enough to accomplish a specific task. We must maintain a consecrated life which is dependent upon God at all times. Surrendering our will and flesh to God is our responsibility. God is not going to compete with our flesh for glory. He will set the bounds of our delegated authority.[2] Those boundaries are often determined by our prayer and fasting. Unconsecrated vessels are not qualified to exercise spiritual authority. This is the reason many ministries are powerless and lacking. When we submit our will in prayer and crucify our carnal flesh in fasting, God can delegate authority to us to exercise on His behalf.

Conclusion:

Luke 10:17-21 ESV  The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”…… (19)  Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  (20)  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  (21)  In that same hour he rejoiced…..

God is looking for prepared vessels which He can accomplish His will through. Those who will allow it to happen without claiming responsibility for what took place. He still has all power in heaven and earth. There are needs all around each of us that God desires to meet. May we be consecrated and submitted so He can entrust us with power/authority from on high!