“And
they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this!
for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come
out.”
Luke 4:36
Here
is an account of how Jesus exercised His power and authority over unclean
spirits. He knows, and he operated the secrets of Kingdom power and authority.
To start with, we need to know the meaning, and difference between power and
authority.
Power
is the ability to do or act. It is the capability to achieve something.
Strength is involved when power is at play. However, authority is the right to
use power.
“Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians
6:10
In
the King James Version of the Bible, the translators often used the same word
to express both power and authority although they both have different Greek
words.
Power
is from the Greek word 'Dunamis'
which is the same word that the English word 'dynamite' took its root from.
Power is given to man as a gift even at the times he may not have deserved it.
It is a fiery presence of God.
Authority
is from the Greek word 'Exousia'
which is the right to use power to achieve a goal. Ancient kings in Bible times
use their scepters as a symbol of authority to rule their domains. Every
citizen sees the king’s scepter as a sign of the kingdom’s highest authority.
The king conquers other lands with military strength (power), and rules all the
kingdom’s colonies through authority.
“He
ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the
rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.”
Psalm 66:7
“But
Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are
accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their
great ones exercise authority upon them.”
Mark 10:42
While Jesus was here on earth, He
demonstrated to us the authority of the Kingdom.
“And
he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose,
and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men
marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea
obey him! And when he was come to the other side into the country of the
Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs,
exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they
cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art
thou come hither to torment us before the time?”
Matthew
8:26-29
The Psalmist also gave us an insight
into the essence of power and authority.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4
In
this scripture, the rod represents power. It is used to guard the sheep by
using it to beat off wolves, bears, and lions. Likewise, the staff represents
authority. It is used to guide the sheep by leading them into the way they
should go. The staff is also used to maintain the steadiness of the shepherd
while walking.
In God’s Kingdom here on earth, we
rule as gods over the forces of nature.
“God
standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
I
have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”
Psalm 82:1,6
Ye
are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that
is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Christians have been redeemed by the
Blood of Jesus to rule over every other kingdom.
“And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Revelation
5:9
“O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1
Corinthians 15:55-57
Jesus has taken back the authority,
dominion, and autonomy that Satan stole from man in the Garden of Eden, when He
went into the grave after His death on the cross of Calvary. Jesus is the Lamb
of God that was sacrificed for you and me.
“There
is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he
power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall
wickedness deliver those that are given to it.”
Ecclesiastes
8:8
“And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and
such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and
honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Revelation
5:13
“The
next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29
He rose up with power and all dominion
over the devil by taking from Satan the power of death and the grave.
“And
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew
28:18-20
“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.”
Luke 10:19
Kingdom power and authority are
given to us via the release of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives.
“But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts
1:8
“And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.”
Acts
2:2-4
