The authority of the believer refers to the God-given authority and power that believers in Christ have through their faith in Him. As children of God, believers have access to the power and authority of Christ to overcome spiritual forces and walk in victory. Here is an overview of key principles regarding the authority of the believer according to the Bible:
Believers have authority through their position in Christ
When someone puts their faith in Christ, they become a new creation and are adopted into God’s family as His children (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:26). This new position and identity in Christ comes with great spiritual authority and privileges. Believers have access to the power and authority of Jesus Christ, which He demonstrated during His earthly ministry (Luke 4:18-19). As followers of Christ, believers can now walk in the authority that Christ has and do the works that He did by faith in His name (John 14:12).
The authority comes through the name of Jesus
A key way believers exercise spiritual authority is through the name of Jesus. As Philippians 2:9-10 declares, God has highly exalted Christ and given Him the name above all names. When believers pray, command, or declare things in the name of Jesus, they are invoking His supreme authority and power to manifest breakthroughs and victory (John 14:13-14). The name of Jesus is powerful and believers have the right to use it in their spiritual warfare against the enemy.
Authority to overcome the devil
A major arena where believers can walk in authority is overcoming the schemes and attacks of the devil. The Bible is clear that the devil and his forces are real and active in the world today, but believers have power over all his works (1 John 3:8, Luke 10:19). Through their position in Christ, believers have authority over demonic spirits and can drive them out through prayer (Mark 16:17). They also can take authority over spiritual strongholds and anything exalting itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Believers should walk in their authority to resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).
Authority to minister spiritual gifts
The spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifestations of God’s power working through believers. As vessels of God’s power, believers can release supernatural manifestations of the Spirit as God leads and empowers them to minister to others. Believers have authority to pray for others to be healed (James 5:14-15), to prophesy words of encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:1), and to release other spiritual gifts as God wills (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Operating spiritual gifts is walking in the believer’s God-given authority.
Authority over worldly systems
While believers are instructed to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1), they also have spiritual authority over worldly systems that exalt themselves against God. Jesus gave believers authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). This authority applies not just to spiritual forces but world systems influenced by those forces. Through prayer and speaking the word of God, believers can exercise authority over corruption, ungodly agendas, and anything opposed to God’s will on earth.
Exercising authority through faith
A key principle for walking in authority as a believer is that it must be exercised through faith in God’s Word. Believers have all authority in heaven and earth available to them through their union with Christ, but they must boldly exercise it through prayer, declarations of truth, and actions of faith (Matthew 28:18-20). Their authority is not accessed through personal power or worthiness, but through faith in the finished work of Jesus and what He has already accomplished (Ephesians 6:10). The more believers grow in trusting and acting on God’s Word, the more they will walk in their authority.
Authority is for building up the Body of Christ
While believers have authority over the powers of darkness, the purpose is not for selfish gain but for building up the church. Jesus said He has given believers authority to overcome the enemy and that nothing would harm them (Luke 10:19). But this authority is intended so believers can fulfill their purpose on earth to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The authority of the believer is the right and responsibility to use spiritual power to advance God’s Kingdom purposes on the earth.
Walking in Christ’s authority with humility
Because the spiritual authority believers have comes from their identity in Christ, they must walk in it with humility and grace. They have authority through being God’s children, not through personal power or abilities. There is no room for pride or arrogance (1 Corinthians 4:7). Believers are called to speak the truth in love and to look to serve others through the gifts God has given them (Ephesians 4:15-16). Jesus set the example of leading through humble service despite having all authority from the Father (Mark 10:42-45).
Authority exercised through intimate relationship with God
Abiding in Christ is key for believers to walk in spiritual authority. Jesus said apart from Him they can do nothing (John 15:5). As believers cultivate their inner life with God through prayer, worship, meditating on scripture, and other spiritual disciplines, they grow in intimacy with Christ. This empowers them to hear His voice more clearly and operate in greater spiritual authority as they follow His lead. Deeper intimacy with God aligns believers more with Christ’s heart, equipping them to exercise His authority on earth effectively.
Obedience and righteousness enable authority
Spiritual authority flows out of a life of surrender and obedience to God. Believers cannot exercise spiritual authority effectively if they are living in blatant sin or rebellion against God. As they seek to obey God’s word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, more spiritual power and authority will flow through their lives. Additionally, living righteously by applying God’s truth enables believers to exercise spiritual authority with greater effectiveness for God’s Kingdom purposes.
Authority is accessed by faith in God’s Word
The way believers practically apply and walk in spiritual authority is by faith in the promises and truth of Scripture. The Bible contains many promises about the authority believers have in Christ. As believers speak, pray about, and act on these promises, they are releasing their spiritual authority. Standing on the truth of God’s Word and boldly exercising the authority it promises are keys to walking in authority as a follower of Christ.
Praying in the Spirit activates authority
Praying in the Spirit empowers believers to walk in greater spiritual authority. When believers pray in tongues or by the leading of the Holy Spirit, their prayers are empowered by divine authority (Romans 8:26-27, Jude 1:20). As believers pray in the Spirit about situations, strongholds, and circumstances, it releases spiritual authority to bring breakthrough. Praying in the Spirit accesses heavenly resources and power to release God’s authority on earth.
United prayer multiplies authority
There is exponential spiritual authority released when believers come together in unified prayer. Jesus said when two or three agree together in prayer, it will be done for them by the Father (Matthew 18:19-20). As believers join their faith together in prayer, it compounds their spiritual authority. Believers can come together to exercise spiritual authority through corporate prayer over their cities, governments, schools, families, and any area needing breakthrough.
Children have authority through Christ
Children who have placed their faith in Christ also have access to His spiritual authority, despite their young age. The Bible makes clear that anyone in Christ is a new creation with access to God’s power (2 Corinthians 5:17). There are examples of children operating in gifts of faith and the Spirit (2 Kings 5:14-15, Luke 1:41-45). As children are taught who they are in Christ, they can learn to exercise their spiritual authority over fears, threats, nightmares, and other attempts of the enemy to oppress them.
Believers will reign and rule with Christ
The full manifestation of believers’ authority in Christ will be experienced in eternity. Scripture promises that believers who overcome will sit with Christ on His throne and be given authority to rule over the nations (Revelation 3:21, Revelation 2:26-27). Believers will even judge angels according to 1 Corinthians 6:3. God’s ultimate purpose is for believers to reign with Christ, which points to the immense authority believers have as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Walking in authority brings victory and breakthrough
When believers understand their rightful spiritual authority as children of God and boldly exercise it through faith, it brings victory and breakthrough in their lives and ministries. They can experience more victory in spiritual warfare, deliverance, healing, and advancing God’s Kingdom on earth. The authority of the believer is a precious gift God has given His church to establish His will in a world dominated by the enemy. As believers walk in authority together through intimate relationship with Christ, they can powerfully advance God’s purposes.
