Restoration and Authority

Restoration of the fellowship with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden must include restoration of the dominion that God gave to Adam. The Bible tells us that in Christ Jesus, God restores His people to the Father-child relationship that was broken by Adam’s transgression. All who believe in Christ are brought back into the household of God and share in the same privileges as the true Son. They are destined to be conformed to His image and have become joint-heirs – ruling and reigning as kings and priests on this earth.

During the restoration of the church, when the gifts of the Holy Spirit are operating in superabundance, the prerequisite for any human vessel to be fully effective under this fresh anointing is the correct application of authority. Before any signs and wonders can manifest, an atmosphere that’s conducive to “God’s authority” must exist. In the Book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul earnestly prayed that the Church at Ephesus would receive the revelation of who they are in Christ, and especially, what authority this position secured for them (Ephesians 1:18-23 and Ephesians 2:4-6).

One of the things that the eyes of their understanding had to be enlightened to was; “the exceeding greatness of His mighty power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” Literally, “His express and effective reigning authority concerning us who believe, as demonstrated by the application of the might of His strength.”

But how exactly does Christ apply this reigning authority and mighty power? Through us who believe! This is confirmed when we join two key phrases in the marvellous prayer which Paul prayed. The first appears immediately after the verse we’ve just examined, “…And seated Him [Jesus] at His [God’s] right hand in heavenly places.”

The second key phrase is found in Ephesians 2:6, which says, “And has raised us up together…” In the mind of God the Father, we were raised when Christ was raised. Notice also that God not only raised us up together, but He made us sit together in heavenly places! Therefore, in the mind of God we were raised when Christ was raised, and when Christ sat down, we sat down too – the enemy under our feet. That’s where we are right now – in a fixed position with Christ and consequently, all the authority that has been given to Him now belongs to us – joint or co-operative authority.

Authority is an active word, as it implies the use of power. And as we have just agreed, this authority is directed primarily against the operations of evil forces. Note, Jesus came to destroy the ‘works’ of the devil – not destroy the devil himself. If the devil was destroyed, the earth would be just like heaven! Jesus did however, defeat the devil and make a show of this openly. In war, if you defeated an enemy, that enemy is not necessarily destroyed. Therefore, if you do not keep that enemy in check [enforce his defeat], he could push on and overthrow a lesser power. We are God’s instruments of power here on earth especially during restoration.

Remember, not only have we been made to sit down with Christ, but we have also been positioned, “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.” Though we wrestle with these instruments of evil, we have total authority over them through Christ. This authority belongs to us whether we know about it or not. Therefore, every blessing, any right, any privilege and all authority can belong to us, but if we don’t know about it, we can’t act upon it. Knowledge on its own isn’t enough, because it’s only knowledge acted upon that brings results!

Romans 5:17 tells us that we should “…reign as kings in life through one Man Jesus Christ.” When a king gives an order, he is confident that it will be carried out because he is the ultimate authority. We should employ this attitude toward the devil and his demons, in order to destroy his works. Many of us use the authority that’s legally ours but when circumstances don’t change immediately we become discouraged and back off. We then start talking unbelief and bring about our own destruction. Unconsciously, what we’ve done is we have given the devil dominion over the situation. The result being, he brings about our ruin.

James 4:6 tells you to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Notice, you are not supposed to get someone else to resist the devil for you. What’s more, can you resist something that you don’t have authority over? No! And James does not say the devil will flee from Jesus. He says the devil will flee from you. The authority is yours – provided you draw near to God.

When Jesus handed all authority over to the church (His bride), He wanted her to rule and reign in this life until the restoration of all things. This is part of the majesty and glory God had always intended for her. I’m convinced that the restoration prophesied in both the OT and NT has already begun. A period of refreshing renewal has started and this is as a direct result of God’s divine presence with His people.

However, God is a consuming fire, and His awesome presence, in the midst of the congregation, will establish complete dominion and total authority over all the works of the devil – sickness and disease, rulers of darkness, principalities and powers. And over everything that is named (Ephesians 1:21).

Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Chris Demetriou, 18/05/2008