The Authority of The Believer.
Notes
Transcript
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Introduction:
Most Christians don’t lose battles because Satan is stronger — they lose because they don’t walk in the authority Jesus has already given them. Christ said, “Behold, I give you authority…” (Luke 10:19). Spiritual warfare isn’t about formulas or shouting louder — it’s about living daily in submission to Him and exercising His authority.
If we’re going to understand our place in this battle, we have to start where Jesus started with His disciples — by reminding them that authority is not something they earned, it was something He gave them. Our authority isn’t in ourselves, it’s in the King who sent us.
1. We have been given authority by King Jesus to take ground from the enemy.
1. We have been given authority by King Jesus to take ground from the enemy.
19 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. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
a. Let us take a close look at verse 20.
a. Let us take a close look at verse 20.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
b. The Lord Jesus Himself says the word on maturity.
b. The Lord Jesus Himself says the word on maturity.
Don’t get high on the fact that you have been given authority over the enemy.
Jesus would not have said this if it where not a problem.
Pride is often a barrier to walking in the spirit and growing in the spirit.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Elders are not prideful.
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
But here’s the danger: when we know we have authority, it can be tempting to misuse it. Some treat spiritual warfare like it’s a formula or magic trick — as if saying the right words is enough. That’s where many fall, and Scripture gives us a sobering warning.
2. Do not make the mistake of turning spiritual warfare into “magic” words and secret formulas. Rather, it has to do with your relationship with the Lord.
2. Do not make the mistake of turning spiritual warfare into “magic” words and secret formulas. Rather, it has to do with your relationship with the Lord.
a. Don’t punch above the truth of your relationship with the Lord.
a. Don’t punch above the truth of your relationship with the Lord.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
The sons of Sceva didn’t know Jesus.
The sons of Sceva didn’t know Paul.
The demons knew both.
The demons also knew these men where using “magic words and formulas.
b. Regular time with the Lord is one way to gain spiritual weight.
b. Regular time with the Lord is one way to gain spiritual weight.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Prayer, fasting, studying the word, meditation, worship, serving by using any of my gifts— especially my spiritual gifts, are all ways to increase your imtamscy with God.
Prayer and fasting in the day when Jesus said this were considered regular devotional practice.
c. Don’t let laziness and rebellion give the enemy a legal right to be in your life.
c. Don’t let laziness and rebellion give the enemy a legal right to be in your life.
Adam was Lazy.
Adam was Lazy.
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Where was the serpent from?
Where were they at? Right! they where at the garden.
The serpent of the field should not be in the garden! The authority that Adam had was to tell the beast to go back to the field were was supposed to be.
Ahab was rebellious.
Ahab was rebellious.
25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.
Ahab allowed himself to be stirred up in the wrong way. he knew better.
He was a king of Israel. He knew not to let Jezebel drag him into false religion and away from the truth.
So authority is real, and it must be rooted in relationship. But how do we actually walk in it day by day? The answer is simple but powerful: by living in daily submission to Christ. Authority grows in humility, obedience, and consistency.
3. Walk in Your Authority by Daily Submission to Christ.
3. Walk in Your Authority by Daily Submission to Christ.
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Authority works when we live in submission to Christ first.
The devil doesn’t flee because we say words — he flees because we are aligned under God’s authority.
The armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18) is not just a metaphor — it’s a daily practice of truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer.
Authority grows stronger as we practice obedience and consistency in our walk.
Practical ways to walk in authority:
Practical ways to walk in authority:
Resist temptation quickly. Don’t let small compromises grow into strongholds.
Speak God’s Word. Jesus resisted the enemy in the wilderness by saying, “It is written.”
Live watchful. Be vigilant in prayer, guarding your heart and mind.
Stay humble. Authority isn’t about pride — it’s about walking in Christ’s victory.
Conclusion:
We’ve seen tonight that authority is not something we earn, but something King Jesus gives us. He entrusted His disciples with power to heal, deliver, and proclaim the kingdom — and He gives us that same authority today.
But authority is never about pride or formulas. The sons of Sceva remind us that words without relationship have no weight. True spiritual authority flows out of intimacy with Jesus, a clean life, and daily devotion.
So how do we walk in this authority? By staying submitted to Christ, rooted in prayer and fasting, living in obedience, and refusing to let pride or laziness give the enemy a foothold. James said it best: “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Church, don’t leave your authority unused. Don’t live beneath what Christ has already given you. The enemy may come to tempt, accuse, and deceive — but you have the right, the responsibility, and the authority in Jesus’ name to stand your ground.
Take this with you: You don’t fight for victory — you fight from victory. So walk in the authority of the One who already overcame.
