Law of Authority Part 3
 

The Believer's Jurisdiction

It is absolutely essential that we as believers must understand our legal authority over Satan and his host. It is just as important, however, that we understand how to exercise that authority. What good is it to us if we know we are free from Satan's power, but don't know how to appropriate our freedom? You see, for every truth of God's Word there is a legal side and a practical side. There is the specific truth, but there is also the practical aspect of walking in that truth.

In understanding the Authority of the Believer, emphasizing the practical application of this reality and exploring how our authority relates to the principle of spiritual jurisdiction.

A. Our Legal Position of Authority

In Ephesians chapters one and two we learn about the legal authority of the believer. Ephesians 1:19-21 reveals that God has positioned His Son in a place of preeminence and power,

"...according to the working of his mighty power, 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:"

Here we learn that Jesus is positioned in the highest place of spiritual authority. He is seated over all the powers of the enemy.

As we proceed to Ephesians chapter two we discover a marvelous truth concerning our own spiritual position. Not only has God raised Jesus from the dead and positioned Him in a place of authority, but He has also raised us up from the dead and positioned us with Christ in that same place of authority.

Ephesians 2:4-6;

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

Our position in Christ is "far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion..." (Ephesians 1:21). Through our identification with Christ we have the same legal authority over the devil that Jesus has! That's what 1 John 4:17 says as it declares: "...as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world."

We must remember, however, that the exercise of every being's authority is limited by the boundaries of its jurisdic­tion. Only within certain boundaries can the believer exercise his authority.

Outside of these boundaries he cannot exer­cise authority. The authority of the believer has limitations that must be recognized.

Let's identify some of the bound­aries which determine the extent and limitations of the believer's authority.

B. The Boundary of the Spirit Realm

Scriptures reveals a very important boundary that governs our authority as believers.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds..."

The true jurisdiction of the believer is in the realm of the spirit, for our authority is not a natural authority, but a spiritual authority.

2 Corinthians 10:3 says,

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh"

Our authority is not in the natural realm! Though our authority can be used to change circumstances in the physical realm, it is not from the physical realm that we operate or exercise our intervention. Our spiritual authority is exercised from our position in Christ. By using the weapons of preaching, prayer, confes­sion, and other spiritual weapons, we fight our good fight of faith. Continuing on to verse four we read, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal...". If the weapons of our war­fare are not carnal, then they must be spiritual!

To war after the flesh is to war outside the range of our authority, when we step outside the jurisdiction of our authority when we resort to the natural weaponry of carnal man! But when we remain in that territory called the realm of the spirit we can exercise our right to intervene in the matters of this world.

C. The Boundary of Faith

The authority of the believer will not successfully oper­ate outside the boundaries of faith. In the gospel of Matthew we find an account that illustrates this point.

Matthew 17:14-20a;

"And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatick, and sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, 0 faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief...”

Jesus had already delegated to the disciples authority to cast out devils. But this delegated authority would not func­tion outside the boundary of faith.

Though only a few weeks before Jesus had empowered the twelve with "...power over unclean spirits, to cast them out..." (Matthew 10:11, they failed to exercise their authority because they operated outside the boundary of faith.

The fact that their authority over this par­ticular demonic spirit was limited was a great surprise to these twelve men. Upon questioning Jesus, however, they discovered that their delegated authority would not operate outside the boundary of faith.

This account in Matthew reminds me of a story that Brother Kenneth E. Hagin tells in his book I Believe in Visions, in the chapter "If the Badge of Doubt." In this chapter Broth­er Hagin recalls an instance in the early days of his healing ministry when he was attempting to cast a devil out of a man who had tuberculosis of the spine. After he cast the devil out of the sick man, Brother Hagin said to the man, "See if you can stoop over and bend your back." Brother Hagin recalls that as long as he asked the man to "See if you can...", the man could not. Jesus appeared to brother Hagin at this time and instructed him concerning this situation. Following this vision he made a correction and commanded the man to bend over in the name of Jesus. The man obeyed and was instantly healed. Brother Hagin concluded that chapter of his book by saying,

"I learned that no matter who we are, if we move in unbelief, we will stop the flow of God's power."

I share this story to illustrate the fact that our authority as believers will not operate outside the boundary line of faith. Another way of expressing this truth is to say that we negate our authority when we step outside the boundary line of faith.

Our authority over Satan can only be exerted when we operate within the borderlines of God's Word. Even in the ministry of deliverance, if Satan can get you on his "turf" through unbelief, or if you go past the directions of God's Word, then you will not be able to cast out devils even though you have the legal authority to do so!

For example, those who try to cast devils out and com­mand them to go to hell, or try to cast them into the abyss or the lake of fire, will not be able to successfully minister deliv­erance to the captives. That person is trying to operate their authority outside the boundaries of God's written Word. Nowhere does the Bible say that we can cast demons back into hell, or into the abyss or the lake of fire. No, the Bible simply says that we should cast demons out of those who are possessed. That's all we need to do. Any time the devil can seduce us or deceive us over the boundary line of God's Word, our authority over him will be less effective and his operations will remain intact. Therefore, let's remain in the Word and, thereby, maintain our full authority as believers.

Summary

There are boundary lines and limiting borders that define the range of authority or spiritual jurisdiction we have as believers. The boundaries of the realm of the spirit, of faith, and of the Word of God are boundaries that define our jurisdiction. These are boundaries we must abide within if we expect to walk in the level of power that has been legally provided for us. When we transgress these boundary lines and leave the borders of our authority, we lose power in our lives and experience a breakdown in the true authority purchased for us by God. However, remaining within the boundary lines of our spiritual jurisdiction will enable us to fully appropriate the authority that does belong to us as believers.

 

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(8) Spiritual Warfare