Walking in Spiritual Authority

Is spiritual authority something you get after being a Christian for 30 years? Is it only the pastor or missionary who has real spiritual authority? No. Learn how to live your life walking with the authority that Jesus gave you. It is time to step out and engage in the spirit realm. Read more below.

​You have been commissioned by Jesus to walk in spiritual authority.

Mark 3:14-15

Jesus called his disciples to spend time with him and to send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. In our day, we understand the concept of preaching. We speak with our mouths, and people listen with their ears. It is visual and aural. We understand these things as people who live in a physical world. What do we do, though, with the authority that we have been given in the spirit realm? Do you operate in the spirit realm, or only in the physical realm?

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The apostle Paul says that he also preached the good news. But his preaching was not centered around wise and persuasive words. Rather, he demonstrated the Spirit's power in his messages. He recognized that transformation happens when we communicate by the Spirit to people's spirits. It is not simple eloquence that will bring life-change. Demonstrating spiritual authority will bring great change into people's spirits, which will then manifest in their physical lives.

Jesus wants to train us in walking with spiritual authority. This is what he trained his disciples in, and what he imparts to us now. Do you remember what Jesus said to his disciples just before ascending into heaven. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore [you] go and make disciples of all nations…." Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus has all authority (granted to him by his Father). He shares this authority with us so that we can go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus doesn't first and foremost give us courage or a pep talk. He gives us authority. So, how do we walk in spiritual authority?

Remember Your Position
Ephesians 2:6 says, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." According to God, where are you? You have been raised with Jesus and are seated with him in the heavenly realms. This position of being seated is a position of authority. Colossians 3:1-3 makes it even more clear, saying that you are seated in Jesus next to your Father, the King. Do you have authority in Jesus? Yes. But this is not often where you live. You live among the physical world of grocery stores, movie theatres, family conversations, and bus rides. How is it that you are seated in the heavenly realms with authority?

Colossians 1:16 says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." Jesus created not only the physical realm, but also the spiritual realm. Both are real. Therefore, we need to operate in both realms. It is in this very real spiritual realm that you are seated on a throne and anointed with authority. When you activate your authority in this realm, you will see the implications in the physical realm.

We are reminded in Ephesians 6:12 that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." It will take spiritual authority, not aggressive physical authority, to deal with the spiritual forces of evil around you. The spiritual authority we have is full of divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 When spiritual strongholds have been demolished, you quickly see a turn-around in your physical situation.

Open Your Spirit
If you have eyes and can see, it would make sense for you to open them and use them. You can't get very far in your day with your eyes shut. But, walking with authority requires more than physical eyes being opened. You can't get very far if your spirit (or spiritual eyes) is not open. It is with your spirit that you perceive what is going on around you in the spiritual realm. You may observe physical situations, but it is your spirit that will pick up on many driving factors behind the physical realm.

Example: you observe with your eyes and ears a tense conversation between two co-workers. With your physical mind, you might come up with a logical solution to their problem. However, if your spirit is open to God, he can show you the spiritual factors involved. You can engage in the spirit realm through prayer and intercession and see the problem solved. You can talk and talk through a problem with no resolution, because you are spiritually blind. As Christians, you choose this blindness. Open your spirit to what God is perceiving, and solutions come. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Activate your Spirit
Ask God to reveal to you what is going on behind physical situations you encounter. You face tensions in relationships, a need for finances, fragile family members, and entertaining nights out. Instead of walking around with your spiritual eyes closed, ask God to open them in the moment. Earnestly go after God to let you see what he sees.

As your spiritual eyes are opened, then ask God how to engage in what you are seeing. In other words, ask God how to pray. For "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16 In these moments of intercessory prayer, you are activating your authority. Satan is being pushed back and rendered ineffective. The Holy Spirit comes into a situation… simply because you asked. There is so much hinging on your decision to take up authority through prayer. The spirit realm actually responds as you pray.

Use your mouth to activate your spirit. There is so much power in your declaration. We are repeatedly told in Scripture to use our mouths in the activation of our spiritual authority. "Resist the devil." James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9 "Sing spiritual songs." Ephesians 5:19 "Take your thoughts captive." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10. Speak out with authority. Don't live with the enemy. Deal with him, as you speak out loud in Jesus' name.

Engage in active worship and thanksgiving. This keeps your spiritual eyes open. Do not be passive in this area. To be passive in worship and thanksgiving is making a choice to walk around with spiritual blindness. The authority of Jesus begins pouring out of you when you have surrendered yourself to him in worship. When he has all of you in worship, he can finally use you with authority.

Do not be lured into gaining worldly authority. Walk with Jesus in great spiritual authority. He has shared it with you. You are in position to exercise this authority. But, will you activate it? He is waiting on your next move.