And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority.
(Matt. 8:5-9)
There’s a connection between understanding authority and having great faith. Sometimes a believer’s faith doesn’t operate because he doesn’t understand his authority in Christ. Every time he starts to receive something from God, the devil steals it away, and he doesn’t realize he can do something about it.
So we must develop an understanding of the authority God has given us. Authority is not our own power or strength. The best term to explain authority is “delegated power.”
Jesus delegated authority to His disciples and to the Church: “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). Jesus said, “Whatever you forbid on earth, heaven will forbid. Whatever you allow on earth, heaven will allow.”
Jesus is the Head of the Church. We are His body on this earth with the right to use the authority vested in His name. The body has the same authority as the Head.
God is waiting for us to give orders to the enemy so He can legally enforce those decisions. We are the ones with the authority to do something about the devil. Whatever we forbid on earth, heaven forbids. Whatever we allow on earth, heaven allows!
Jesus has spoken healing to me through His Word. Now I
have authority on earth to keep the devil from stealing my
healing from me. In the name of Jesus, I am healed!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.