By Sidharth Mohandas
There are two Greek words that are often mistranslated in the Bible: “Dunamis” and “Exousis”. The former means “power”, it is from this Greek word that the word “dynamite” comes from. The latter however means “authority”. Knowing the difference between these two words can radically change the way we minister.
In some regions of India, we find traffic polices to control the traffic. If this man stands in the middle of the road and shows the “Stop” signal, whether it is a truck, a car or a scooter, they have to stop. He has been delegated authority to control the vehicles. And through his authority he can administer his power. If there is a violation of the traffic rules, the traffic police can either charge the violator or imprison him. This is how he can exercise his authority. Therefore, it’s impossible to separate authority from power, as one goes hand-in-hand with the other. Without authority, power is illegal.
The primary requirement to operate in God’s authority is to know the Author. Always remember, authority comes from the Author.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus [Acts 4:13]
When the religious leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John, they knew that these men had been with Jesus. Spending time with the Author brought authority into their lives.
The second requirement is the knowledge of what our rights are. This is where most of us miss out. So many people are confused as to what their rights in the Kingdom of God are.
Let me show you just one area where many people are confused: the area of healing.
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. [Matthew 10:1]
As clear as it can be, Jesus gives His disciples the authority to cast out demons, and heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Few people would debate the former, but when it comes to the latter, you’ll find a large number of people saying things like, “It is not God’s will to heal everyone”. But this passage clearly says that God has given us the authority to heal the sick. No, I’m not talking about asking God to heal the sick. Jesus commanded His disciples to go and heal the sick. Now don’t get me wrong, we aren’t healers, God alone is the Healer, but God has delegated us authority to impart healing to the sick.
When Peter and John came across the cripple at the Beautiful Gate, look what Peter says, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee” [Acts 3: 6]. Notice, Peter didn’t pray that God would heal them. He said, “such as I have give I thee”. God had provided healing on the Cross, and it would be ridiculous to ask Him for something He says He has given us. Peter knew what was his and that authority was given to him from God to bring healing to all forms of sickness and he just operated in it in faith.
What happens if you are not knowledgeable of what authority God has given you? It will be like the person who lay down before a river and died of thirst because he didn’t know water could quench his thirst. He could debate about it, and even fight over it, but he will still remain thirsty simply because he does not know.
Friends, remember, the power is available to all of us through the Spirit baptism, all that we need is to know deep in our hearts that we are authorized by the Author to operate in that power. I encourage you today to study the Word and know your authorities in Christ. I also encourage you to share in the comment area what you have personally learned.
That’s a really powerful post, Sidharth!
God has been whispering 1 John 4:4 to me for a couple of days now, and now I think I know why! Not to mention that He led me to read this post you wrote.
AMAZING!
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem brother.
amen :]
That is very challenging Sidarth. I’m sure that there is a dynamic that most of us have no experience of.
The question of people not getting healed still remains though. I know that sometimes people do pray in faith and the person remains sick, or dies. Healing is ultimately a work of grace.
He may heal the unbeliever to bring Him into the fulness of salvation, but He won’t heal the believer who is in sin. That is part of God’s discipline.
I’ve never heard that point of view before Sidarth and I would like to see the scripture that says this. If you really believe it then that means you will never get sick. All you would need to do is repent and you would become well. That is not my experience. Jesus confirmed that it is not always beacause of sin that we become unwell.(John 9:3) Who of us is without sin Sidarth? I think it is dangerous to burden people with guilt when they do not receive healing, simply because it’s not God’s time for them. I believe the ultimate healing comes when we die.
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. [Isaiah 59: 1-2]
Unconfessed sin can block God’s blessings from flowing into our lives.
Only the the “willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land” [Isaiah 1:19]
Scripture plainly says, “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, God will not forgive you your trespasses” [Matt 6:14]. Those are strong words, yet true.
Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 11, why many fell sick and died an early death. He said it was because they were divided and thus did not recognize the Lord’s body while partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you [Exodus 15: 26]
Listening carefully to His voice and obeying Him is a criteria to walk in the blessing of healing.
Jesus told a person who got healed of paralysis: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”
To every promise there is a condition. If you don’t meet that condition, you dont receive the promise. Mind you, I’m talking about those have entered into a Covenant relationship with God.
And no, sickness is not always because of sin. We all face trials of sickness, where our faith will be tried . But I was talking about those who live a life of disobedience and refused to repent.
Wrong belief can bring wrong results. Faith is the key to all of God’s blessings. Many people are taught wrong on the area of healing. Being healed of cancer of the bone and muscle, I have been called to help people receive the right teaching on healing, even though I do not have the gift of healings.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Now if you can’t be sure of the healing that you need, that’s lack of faith. Would you agree?
In Mark 6:6, Scripture says Jesus was not able to do much because of their lack of faith. When the disciples couldn’t heal the boy who was epileptic. Jesus said, “O unbelieving generation!”. In the book of James, it says that the prayer of faith would heal the sick. Mark 16: 17 tells us that those who believe shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.
But I was talking of specific cases where people who refused to repent and continued in sin , brought upon themselves sickness and disease.
I disagree on that Mike. Healing is a work of grace. When Jesus walked on earth, everyone who approached Him received healing. Healing in case of believers is often denied due to two main reasons- personal sins, mainly unforgiveness and linked to not recognizing the body of Christ. You must realize that God deals differently with believers and unbelievers. He may heal the unbeliever to bring Him into the fulness of salvation, but He won’t heal the believer who is in sin. That is part of God’s discipline.
Recently, my aunt [a believer] fell really ill. Nothing was happening when we prayed. We spent hours sitting by her, speaking the Word over her and praying. My aunt went through the motions of paise and prayer, she said God would heal her and stuff. But one time as I was praying the Lord revealed to me that she had unforgiveness in her heart. I told her that and she said she hated her husband and she said she was unwilling to forgive him. I was amazed at her stubborness. It’s been over 8 months and she is still sick, and asking God to heal her! Accepting it as God’s will for her!
You see, Isaiah 53:5 clearly shows us the work of atonement-
But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
No one would say “It’s not God’s will to forgive me of my sins”, would they? Yet they come up with this lie, that it wasn’t God’s will to heal them. We dont have to suffer for something He already paid for.=)
Sid
Oh yes I agree with most of what you say Sidarth. I have experience of God touching me in my sin and also another time when I had to forgive someone first before I experienced healing. God is sovereign and his grace is amazing!
btw, I have already ’subscribed’.
i’ve enjoyed the discussion between Mike and yourself.. Thank you both ;]
Sidharth,
I’ve followed your comments in the blogosphere for a while, but never visited your blog until now. Cool! I like, and agree with your healing perspective. Humbling, and empowering at the same time.
Thank you for your insights. I pray that in real, time-sensitive times, all followers will stop to think back to the example of Christ. And bring healing where it is otherwise not expected.
Thank you.