During our study of the Authority of the Believer, it has been pointed out more than once that the authority of which we are speaking is the inheritance of every believer. It is not some special gift imparted in answer to prayer, nor something meant for an exclusive few, but the inherent right of every child of God because they have been “elevated” with Jesus Christ to the right hand of the God the Father. Therefore, we have become, through the rich mercy of our Heavenly Father, occupants of the Throne in heaven, with all that it implies of privilege and responsibility. The “elevation” is wholly due to the grace of the Father. We do not "climb the heavenly steeps" by any act of faith or devotion on our part. It IS ours! That being the case, we should simply recognise the reality of this position, and to take our place in humble acceptance, giving all the glory and honour to God.
Let us re-examine four words to which mention was previously made (in Ephesians 1:19). They are "toward us who believe." Earlier, we pointed out that all the demonstration of the ‘supreme power’ of God in Christ Jesus pointed ‘man-ward’ - toward you and me. We shall now emphasise something else. It is not enough that the Divine Fullness is poured out in unlimited supply; there must be a receptive heart and attitude on our part. A bottle may be submerged in the waters of a fountain. But if the cork is still on, you will wait a very long time, and eventually carry it away empty. Many truly spiritual people are, as it were, immersed in the ‘supreme power’ of God; but the cork of “ignorance” is yet to be removed. Because their minds have been blinded as they have read the Word, the simplicity and the glory of this powerful truth has not dawned upon them. That is, all the awesome power that raised Jesus from the dead was directed to us.
For that reason, we must be fully ‘open’ to the Spirit of God for us to qualify for His authority. We need to continually pray, with deep heartfelt humility, "the eyes of our mind may be enlightened"?
Whenever the eyes of your understanding have been enlightened your attitudes change. Why? Because when the light get’s switched on, you see different! I have found three fundamental characteristics (attitudes) that must be present if we are to operate in the authority the Throne in heaven represents:
(1) Belief
"Toward us who believe." Few comprehend the primary thought of "belief." It has a twofold meaning, filled with deep significance. In it are combined two old Anglo-Saxon words: "be," to ‘live’ or ‘exist’; and "lifan," which implies ‘accordance’. Therefore, to “believe” means literally "to live in accordance with.” Note, the root of belief is action! Any truth which the mind accepts, the will must obey. You do not truly believe, unless your conviction is evident in your life. Hence, "belief" stands on a par with its great synonym "faith," which means, not only do you have trust in God but you demonstrate that trust by practical expression. Belief, like faith, is always active!
The question is, do you really believe that God "has quickened us together with Christ, and has raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"? If you do, your reaction to it will be passionate. Passion and belief are closely related, and in the Greek understanding of belief this is very clear. “Pistevo” is a heartfelt ‘passionate’ emotion that leads one to action. You cannot believe in Christ’s cause without being passionate!
Therefore, if you “believe” that you are seated together with Him at the right hand of God you will passionately declare: "Lord, I accept Your gracious word. I believe that elevated position which You have secured for me is real. In humble faith I now take my seat in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus at Your right hand. Teach me how to fulfil this ministry, how to exercise the authority which You have entrusted to me. Holy Spirit, train me day by day that I may attain to the full stature of the perfect man in Christ, so that in me God’s plans and purposes may be fulfilled. Amen."
Notice, if you’re ‘walking in the spirit’, your normal daily life is ‘worked out’ in the heavenlies. So, to secure full consciousness of this, there must be a continual acceptance of this fact. Morning by morning, as one of your first acts of worship, take your seat with Christ (as suggested in the previous paragraph) and give thanks to God for all that it implies. Let us all remind ourselves daily that we are seated far above all the powers of the air, and that they are in subjection to us. As our faith learns to use the Name and the Authority of Jesus, we shall find the spiritual forces obeying in ways that will surprise us. As we continue to abide closely in Him our prayers for the advancement of the Kingdom of God will become less and less cumbersome. They will increasingly manifest and exercise a spiritual authority that recognises no boundaries, fearlessly binding the forces of darkness.
(2) Humility
While ‘belief’ introduces you to your place of “throne-power”, humility makes sure you retain it. As you compare the abounding grace of God, and your own unworthiness, the question arises, “Am I worthy of such responsibility?” But praise God, it becomes less necessary as your soul grows in grace, and Christ-likeness increases in you. But you should never drop your guard when it come to pride. Pride is always lurking, stalking you in every success you have. The forces against whom you wrestle - the principalities and powers, the world-rulers of this dark age, the hosts of wicked spirits in the air, know you far better than you know yourself. So as you antagonise them with your God-given authority, don’t be surprised if their counter-attack is often swift and crushing. With a strategy gained in long experience in spiritual battles they know that taking the offensive is their best mode of defence. And one of the devil’s tested weapons is spiritual pride, and too often it proves very effective.
Victory over all the powers of the air, from their dreaded prince of darkness downwards, is a demonstrable responsibility applied by a believer when exercising his/her divine authority. However, it must always be employed in total humility. After all, this authority was secured by God’s Son, and is found and contained “in Him” alone. Since Eden, man has forgotten that God is essential to life. Through the intervening ages he has constantly sought to show himself self-sufficient. Jesus Christ was the first man to ever cast Himself fully upon God. He surrendered completely in God, and delivered Himself to the enemy, to be mocked and jeered. At Calvary, the One who had fully trusted had to bow down to death (for the sin question of the world was involved), and shed His precious blood for the atonement of us all. So, "He was crucified through weakness" (2 Corinthians 13: 4). And when this was accomplished, nothing more stood in the way. So God raised Him from the dead, and stripped His foes of all their authority - giving Him a name that is higher than any other.
Christ’s total surrender to His Father’s will is a wonderful example of humility. “Not My will, but Your will be done!” And I believe that this humility was the very key that opened the door to victory.
With believers, the consuming desire to be independent is something, which even the regenerate heart does not fully overcome. Often, just after some significant victory has been gained, there comes a subtle whisper from the enemy. Suddenly, the ‘overcomer’ is swiftly stripped of strength through feeling that he is now strong. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived by the devil! That is his greatest weapon. Remember, your pride is you deceiving yourself. When ever you partake, all the devil has to do is keep you spinning.
“Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.” - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(3) Boldness
With profound humility, we may go further with what we believe, but the greatest boldness is found in the Name of Jesus Christ. True boldness is faith in the full manifestation of God’s supreme authority. Therefore, when God has spoken, to hold back is not humility but unbelief. In the employment of authority, there is needed a Divine courage that has no fear, and reaches out strong hands to bind and to restrain all that is contrary to God’s plan and purpose. But with this courage, there must be a continual and close “abiding” in Christ, a spirit that is alert to every urge, and a mind that is steeped in the Word of God.
Boldness is vital when establishing the victory through the Authority of the Believer. Scripture says, “The wicked flee when no man pursues them: but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). The word for bold in this verse means “secure, confident.” That’s just the kind of boldness the synagogue rulers saw in Peter and John as they ministered ( Acts 4:1–2).
In the previous chapter (Acts 3), Peter and John prayed for a crippled beggar and he was instantly healed.... Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. The healing caused a great stir around the temple, and in an attempt to stop the disciples from sharing their faith in Christ, the religious leaders had them arrested and put on a public trial.
Acts 4:8 begins with: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost…” and this tells me he wasn’t going to deliver a speech. It wasn’t going to be something quiet or reserved. Peter was bursting with the Holy Ghost. He had a supernatural boldness when he reached down and lifted up the crippled beggar, and he has boldness in front of the religious leaders. He was not intimidated by anything! “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Hanging around with Jesus makes you bold!
As God’s servants we should be secure in our identity in Christ Jesus - in the supreme authority we have access to. We should be the boldest people on the planet! Especially when confronting God’s enemies! In Acts 4 God’s people prayed for boldness and the house shook... “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Belief, Humility and Boldness - these are necessary attributes if your authority is to be effectual.
