He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son ~ Colossians 1:13 ESV
Kingdom, means King’s domain. Every Kingdom, earthly or spiritual, is ruled with power and authority. Strong’s concordance defines authority as conferred power or delegated empowerment to rule to the extent that one is guided. Every believer has received power through Jesus Christ to rule and govern here on earth on God’s behalf.
When we come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord, we are transitioned into the Kingdom of light, which is the Kingdom of God! We receive delegated authority from God to exercise His rule and reign here on earth.
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you ~ Luke 10:17-19 ESV
Christ did not die a gruesome death on the cross so that we can only go to heaven. We all have an open invitation to rule and reign with Him here on earth as we prepare for heaven, our eternal home. What a privilege it is, to walk in authority and be able to act on God’s behalf following His commands and leading.
Authority: Two Kingdoms
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross ~ Colossians 2:15 AMP
There are many scripture references that gives a clear distinction between the Kingdom of light and that of darkness. The Kingdom of light, which is the Kingdom of God, is sovereign, mighty, powerful, and everlasting unlike the Kingdom of darkness or any other powerful earthly kingdom and empires of men. God is King and His Dominion is everlasting and that is already established!
The kingdom of darkness, where the devil and his evil forces rule is marked with slavery to sin, bondage, witchcraft, unrighteousness and deception among others. Upon our belief in Christ, every believer receives divine empowerment to triumph against every power of darkness simply because Christ triumphed against them on the cross! Through the power of the ressurect King, we overcome the flesh, break yokes, pull down generational strongholds. Believer, we have received power to bind and lose things here on earth because we belong to a Kingdom that has greater power and authority than that of darkness. You are as powerful as the authority that sent you.
And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. He put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. He gave him authority over everything that has power in this world or in the next world ~ Ephesians 1:19-21 ERV
Kingdom Authority: Weapons
The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ERV
An analogy was shared the other day about an unarmed robber who enters a jewellery store and threatens the store attendant and customers to surrender their valuables. Nobody takes him seriously because he is not armed. In fact, one seemingly strong attendant roughs him up and throws him outside without the need to call security. Another armed man enters the same store, pulls out a gun at the people and makes the same demands. Everyone including the seemingly strong man quickly obeys in fear. The weapon the man pulls out makes all difference.
As much as God has given every believer power and authority, He has also given us weapons to execute his rule and reign here on earth. However, not physical weapons like the armed man in the store! Our weapons are spiritual and powerful enough to wrec havoc against forces and powers of darkness. Paul outlines some of these mighty weapons which includes the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, constant prayer and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:11-12, 14-18 ESV
Weapons not antiques – The Word
I recently visited a museum and saw a collection of ancient weapons and artifacts that are nicely preserved as antiques. If one of the antique swords on display is taken and used to cut something or protect someone against an attack, It will function as it was meant to do and give them an advantage against the attacker. But then again, people in this era are keeping it as an antique! Though functional, it is now meant for public display only and the much one can do is feast their eyes on these items.
God has given us weapons that should be fully functional and activated through our daily walk with Him. His Word, one of our most powerful weapons against the enemy, should not be tucked among books in our home shelves as a display of our religion. We are meant to read the Word, meditate on it then speak it! His Word is living and active.
God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts ~ Hebrews 4:12 ERV
Whenever we speak the word, we speak the mind of God and exercised his authority through the written word like Jesus did in Matt 4. It is in speaking that we express our Faith in God. We cannot rebuke, bind, lose or overcome darkness without speaking!
See, after Jesus begun his ministry here on earth, and God affirms him as His only begotten son, the devil challenged this affirmation and tested his obedience three times.
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ~ Matthew 4:3-4 ESV
Jesus countered the enemy’s offer with the Word. The more we know the Word of God, the more we prevail against the lies of the enemy. God has given us far better and greater promises than what the enemy can offer. But we cannot claim or pursue these promises if we don’t know them. Spending time daily in the Word of God will help us understand our authority in God and position in Christ.
Weapons not antiques: Faith
The truth is, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you ~ Mark 11:23 ERV
I once read an article that likens faith to our body muscles. It stated how faith, like our body muscles, grows when exercised! Faith, has in it the ability to grow but only when put into action! One of the ways to activate our faith is by speaking and confessing the word of God. Like we mentioned in the previous article,you cannot confess what you do not know. Only the Word of God brings us to knowledge of what to confess when faced with different circumstances in life. When we understand the Word and the power of God therein,we can speak life to difficult situations, impossible conditions and challenges with authority and they will just but listen. Peter spoke by faith and the authority of the Word and healed a crippled man at the gate Beautiful!
Peter and John looked at the crippled man and said, “Look at us!” He looked at them; he thought they would give him some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold, but I do have something else I can give you. By the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth—stand up and walk!” Then Peter took the man’s right hand and lifted him up. Immediately his feet and legs became strong ~ Acts 3:4-7 ERV
Our influence and authority in the spiritual realm has the ability to manifest. But just like Kings, we have to exercise it by speaking to impossibilies by faith in the name of Jesus.