We continue our discussion about spiritual authority. So far, we have seen that:
- God is the source of all authority.
- Authority works best when it is relational, not just positional.
- Authority is functional and not static.
- Authority was intended to work through love.
- Authority will develop faith in people.
This week we want to take a closer look at what authority is. We have established that all authority comes from God. Authority gives you influence over people. There is a vast difference between power and authority. Power is limited, while authority can be both limited and unlimited.
Authority can be limited in that it can only be exercised over certain people or tasks. A Governor only has authority over the state he governs. The President has a more significant authority than a Governor. His authority is not as limited as that of a Governor.
No one has unlimited authority except God. No person has complete authority. No government has absolute authority. It is all delegated authority. Even the devils and demons submit to Jesus and His Name.
Eph 1:20-21 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.
You must understand that when satan was kicked out of heaven, he left heaven with no authority. The question is: Didn’t he have authority over the demons that followed him? First, if God authorized satan, God would sanction his rebellion, and God would not do that. Secondly, satan rules over those demons because of deception and lies, and that is not authority but manipulation. He leads because they allow it, satan manipulates them through fear and not because he has it. Satan had influence because we know he influenced a third of the angels to follow him – Rev 12:3-4. He has power but no authority. Jesus never recognized satan as having authority but does acknowledge that he has power – Luke 10:19.
Jesus says that he saw satan fall from heaven like lightning Luke 10:18. Do you think this happened to satan when the disciples returned and rejoiced because demons were subject to them? Remember that the disciples were not born again yet. These were unsaved people casting out demons! Jesus was referring to something that happened long before they even got to this point in time. How could they cast demons out? Demons and the devil have no authority. Jesus gave the disciples the authority to do it. The newest believer has more authority than satan, or any demon will ever have.
Luke 10:19-20 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
If satan has no authority, where do you think he would like to get authority from? He knows God will not give it to him. Let’s see what the enemy did.
When God created Adam, He made man in His image and gave man dominion and authority to rule over all His hands’ works. The Psalmist states that God made Adam only one level lower than Himself.
Psa. 8:3-9 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim – God), and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Adam had delegated authority from God to rule and reign on earth. The enemy being kicked out from heaven then comes to earth and deceives Adam. By getting Adam to sin, man becomes a slave to satan, and satan rules with the authority man had – Rom 6:16. Delegated authority is better than no authority at all. He is now the god of this world. Please see how he blinds people and keep them in bondage to his stolen authority.
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Jesus also does not dispute satans claim when he offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world – Matt 4:8-10. What Jesus refuses to do is acknowledge satans authority by bowing down to him. The mistake satan makes is assuming that if you own something, it gives you authority. I am trying to convince you that because I drive a Mercedes, all of the Mercedes Company functions on my command. Satan does not own creation; he influences the kingdoms of this world like the culture, arts, education, banking, and entertainment. The earth is still the Lords and all that is in it Psalm 24:1.
So satan has no authority except what people allow him to have through deception and manipulation. Jesus has all authority, but we will look at that next time.
