A Man Set Under Authority

Matthew 8:1-13

Jesus marveled at this centurion because he had an insight into the kingdom of heaven. Although he was a Gentile, he had discovered more than any of the Jews that Jesus had met in His day. So many Christians are living beneath their privileges because they have not learned to exercise the authority that God has given them. Jesus came to give you authority over all the power of the enemy!

I. Where Spiritual Authority Originates:

a. The key is in verse 8: “For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” The source of any authority that anyone has is an appeal to a higher power. Authority is legal power that is granted to someone to act on the behalf of that person who has granted that power. And so, authority is always rooted in a higher power. You can never be over unless you’re willing to be under. Authority does not originate in itself; it always comes from a higher power. This centurion looked to a higher power for his authority. And he knew that the same thing was true in the realm of the spirit. (Matthew 28:18)

II. How Far Spiritual Authority Extends:

a. (Ephesians 1:19-23) The extent of our authority is this: We ought to have authority in every area and in every realm. All things are under the feet of Jesus. There’s nothing that is not yet put under the feet of Jesus. Jesus has transferred that authority to us. The authority that was in Christ and is in Christ as He’s seated at the right hand of God, has been given to us. And the Lord is giving us authority not just to be victorious one day, but to be victorious now.

III. What Spiritual Authority Can Do:

a. (Luke 10:19) The word “power” is used twice in Luke. The first word is the word “exousia” which means “authority.” The second word used for power is “dunamis.” It represents force. So Jesus said, “I give you authority over all the force of the enemy.” You do not defeat the devil with strength; you defeat the devil with authority! And when you learn to fight your spiritual battles not in your strength, but in the aouthority of Christ, then you are going to see Satan flee. It is not your strength; it is His strength; it is His power. The One who said, “Behold, all authority is given unto me,” the One who is “far above all principalities and powers,” this is the One Who has given His spiritual authority to you.

IV. How Spiritual Authority Works:

a. Spiritual authority is not for people who have a spirit of rebellion. The Bible says lawlessness will be the spirit of the world in the last days (Matthew 24:12). Lawlessness is everywhere in society today. If you refuse authority God has placed over you, you will not have the authority that God wants you to have. But when you begin to submit to the authority that God has given, the authority that God has given in your parents, your teachers, your boss, the leadership in the church, to Christ Himself, you’re going to find that He will “Give you authority over all the power, the force, the strength, of the enemy.”