Standing On Our Spiritual Authority

Jul. 3, 2017 | By Creflo Dollar

Being a Christian has many facets to it, some of which we don’t understand until we study the word of God about our identity in Christ. The fact that we have been set aside from the rest of the world as children of God brings with it the expectation that we will carry ourselves as such; it also brings privileges others don’t have. When situations rise up against us, we don’t have to tolerate them helplessly. We can defeat trouble, not with our own power, but by standing on our spiritual authority.

The word “facet” is significant, because until we realize who we really are, we’re still diamonds in the rough. After we get saved, we need to study the word to learn how what we go through can be like the polishing and shaping process raw diamonds go through to make them beautiful. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV). During the process, the Holy Spirit continues to teach us and point out to us the specifics of what we’ve been empowered to do.

Power is the ability to get results, and Jesus gave this power to his disciples. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” (Matthew 10:1). We have that same power, but many people don’t know this. As believers, we have the right to command and to use what God gave us to defeat the enemy.

We have what the world doesn’t have. What has been given to us allows us to be victorious, no matter what happens. We are not powerless victims of circumstance. “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” (Luke 10:19, 20)We rejoice not because we have this power, but because our close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ has given us the authority he wants us to have.

Authority isn’t about talking to God about the problem; it’s about talking to the problem about what God has already made available to us. Religion would have us ask him to do something he’s already done, but this is useless. The authority he has given us is irrevocable, and he won’t go back on his word. “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34, NKJV). We’re more powerful than we realize, and we’ve been authorized to “flip the switch” ourselves.

Submitting ourselves to God gives us this awesome power. The spiritual authority on which we stand is stronger than granite, because it comes from God, but we grasp it by faith. “So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, AMPC). The devil, and everything that comes from him, won’t be able to withstand us. Fully believing this is what sets us apart from others.