Authority of the Believer: Dunamis

Authority means “the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine”.  This week Hurricane Florence came ashore on the coast of North Carolina. Even though the storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression there is still a threat of severe flooding in many areas. Before the storm hit I noticed a lot of prayers on Facebook and in the media. Prayers are good. What I want to convey in this post is how as a believer you have authority in the earth to speak to your situation and expect that situation to change as it relates to the Word of God. Mark 11:23-24 says ‘speak to the storms in your life and do not doubt’. In Luke 10:19, Jesus told the disciples “I give you authority over all the power of the enemy (the devil).  You have been made kings and priests to do in the earth what needs to be done and sometimes what needs to be done is for you to use your God-given authority.

Many years ago I read a book called The Believer’s Authority. This book changed my life and I believe it can change yours also. Did you know that we, as believers, have great authority in the earth? We can speak and change the course of history. Your words have power. As storms roll into your area, do what Jesus did while He was in the boat. He spoke to the storm and it dissipated. I have done the same countless times. Here in Oklahoma tornadic weather is the norm during the Spring. I do not wait for storms to form; I start speaking as soon as the possibility arises that something might happen. If I get caught off guard and tornados form near my house or neighborhood I speak to it and time after time I have seen these storms move away.

Not long ago the weatherman said a tornado was dropping on my street. I actually saw the tail of the thing start to rotate and drop to the ground. I immediately spoke to that thing and told it to get away from my house and my neighborhood. I watched it dissipate instantly before my eyes. Keep your homes, neighborhoods, and places where you work covered. Often there are tornado watches and warnings when I am at work. There is a designated Safe Room in our building and we are supposed to report there in the event of bad weather. I prefer to stay in my office and speak to the storm. I just say, “Not today devil” and go to my office and close the door.

As believers, we have the right, power, and authority to demand that satan release what’s ours. Whether it’s our kids, our money, our property, or our livelihood. Tell him to go back to the pit and take his mess with him. This authority is not something we can claim on our own. We must be crucified with Christ and filled with His Spirit. It is through the Spirit residing within us that we wield the power (dunamis) to defeat the enemy.  The word dunamis here is the same as our word for dynamite. Can you imagine how much power you have in your hands? Do not be timid or afraid (2 Timothy 1:7). God has already given you everything you need to defeat the enemy. So take charge and start using your authority. Speak to your circumstances in faith and doubting nothing and watch God watch over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).