Kingdom Authority: So, Who Are You?

By Angie Vickery

“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul teaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day, the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19:13-16)

So, do demons know who you are?

In a Kingdom, there is most definitely a King! And He has absolute authority. This is where we will begin today. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says,

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you until the very end of the age.”

Wow! Isn’t it interesting that He links “all authority” with the instruction to “go and make disciples”?

If “all authority” is His, then Satan has NO authority! And if Jesus gives it to us, what are we to do with it? Walk in all of it!

Here in Ephesians 1:20-23 we see clearly our authority with the King:

“which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God has placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

And

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Even if I am only a toenail on the little toe of the foot of Christ’s body, I am reigning with Him in the heavenly realms, sharing in His authority as the body of Christ! I have a call to radiate this Kingdom authority everywhere I go and in every way I can!

What do you think is the key to unlocking this truth, receiving it into our hearts, and carrying it out in our everyday lives? Let’s look again at Ephesians 1 verses 17-18a:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…”

Therefore, what we pray for you is this: a Spirit of revelation and spiritual eyes that can ‘see’! Like Peter experienced when he announced, ‘You are the Christ; the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered him and said, ‘Blessed are you…for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Wow! That’s Kingdom authority!) Matthew 16:16-19.

Do WE have authority to bring the Kingdom of God into our own world? Yes! Yes! Yes! Jesus said we should be salt and light to our generation, that we should take His ways and will into the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

A few days ago I took a cab to get my heavy guitar case, my music bag, and me to my destination: in Canterbury, England. On the way, the cab driver asked me what I would be doing with my guitar. I explained that I would be leading the music as a group of us planned a Christian retreat. He commented that he liked to sing but only Karaoke style. So I asked him if he went to church. ‘No,” he replied: “I used to when I was young, but too many bad things happened in my life. I figured He didn’t exist, or He wouldn’t let these things happen.’

What would you have said? That it isn’t God doing the bad things? That God is reaching towards mankind, and too few are responding? That His heart is to save, even at the cost of giving His Son to die on a cross?

Exactly. That is part of the point of this lesson. We are called to make a difference, to bring His Kingdom rule and authority everywhere we go. To show kindness, to preach the Gospel, as our Jesus commanded us in Matthew, baptize…to make ‘disciples’…to make a difference…to bring about His kingdom…‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done’.

The cab driver answered me and said, ‘Hmm, thank you, you’ve given me a lot to think about’. Pray for him.

Let us examine ourselves. Can we cast out the demons of self-hatred in a brother if we know not the Lord’s love for us? Can we make those demons run away, screaming? Can we walk in His authority to make disciples for Him? How can we? By dwelling in His presence, learning from Him who is gentle, kind and of humble heart. (Matt 11:28) He will tell you who you are, if you listen. And the word will spread in the heavenly realms.

“Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

Go on…make a name for yourself.

Go, walk in the revelation of the Kingdom authority He has given YOU.

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