“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” – Mark 16:15-18
LIGHT FOR NOW: Authority that is available but not exercised remains useless. Hence, in exercising your authority as a believer, you must speak.
It is important for the believer not just to know he has authority in the name of Jesus but more importantly to know how to use it, that is, how to use the authority. Whatever was written in the bible was first spoken. It was written so that it will be spoken. Hence, words are a symbol of authority. Observe when Jesus was tempted, Jesus spoke the scriptures. The words of the scriptures are for us. Jesus on several actions spoke who he was. He consistently said “I am…” John 14:6 is an instance, it reads “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me”. Similarly, John 6:35 says “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst”. Jesus in the four gospels was spoken of as one with great authority. Matthew 7:29 has this to say “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. Similarly, Matthew 21:23 says “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?” He was bold to put the words concerning him in his mouth.
Jesus in Mark 11:22-23 shows us something important, it reads “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”. Jesus uses the fig tree scenario here to explain the use of authority. That is, He took authority over the fig tree by speaking. Authority is exercised by speaking. When you have authority over something, you speak to it. It is what you say and how you say it that defines whether you are using the authority or not. As I speak, I am using my authority. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Speak from the place of authority.
CONFESSION: What I have in Christ is what he has done for me. What he has done for me is now my position and possession, in Jesus Name, Amen.
QUOTE: Words are authority symbols.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 8; EVENING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 17
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 