A Christian possesses some measure of authority that enables him to do what God wants him to do. This authority is a shared authority from the Lord Jesus because we as Christians are His commissioned representatives here on earth, acting as His mouth, hands and feet. Thus, we must learn to follow Him and exercise the authority He has given us to enable us to succeed in the task He has entrusted to us.
Our authority is only effective for this noble and all-consuming task.
Are you unsure of the authorities and privileges that God has given you so that you can do what He wants you to do?
Here are some Bible verses that speak of our authority as sons and daughters of God.
The privilege of approaching God with confidence through Christ – Hebrews 4:14-16:
"So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
The authority to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ – Matthew 28:19-20:
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you."
The opportunity to preach the gospel accompanied with signs and wonders in Jesus' name – Mark 16:15-18:
"And then He told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptised will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."
The joy of being Christ's ambassadors – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21:
"And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!' For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."
Grace to win in the fight against the enemy – Ephesians 6:10-20:
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
