Psalm 91 - Study 32 - Our Authority
We read in Psalm 91:13, “You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes.” (ERV)
Our studies on Psalm 91 hitherto have described in detail the protection that is available to those who have made the Lord their refuge and dwelling place. Psalm 91 verse 13 makes clear the authority that is available for those who are God’s children, whom the Psalmist says will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes. To trample something under our feet implies that it is powerless to stand before us.
A similar verse is also found in the New Testament. These are the words of Jesus as found in
Luke 10:19, “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.” (ESV)
The Lord bestows this authority to those who believe in Him. We will study further to understand what this authority means to us.
The authority that Adam and Eve received from God
After Adam and Eve were created the first blessing that God endowed them with this special blessing.
We read in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth." (ERV)
God gave Adam and Eve the authority to rule over all of His creation. As long as Adam lived in submission to God’s authority, he was able to exercise this mastery over all creation. Adam was able to exercise this power over creation with the word of his mouth, until the day he disobeyed the command of God. The day Adam and Eve disobeyed, they lost this authority that God had bestowed on them.
Let me explain this with an example from everyday life. A government employee can exercise his authority as long as he or she remains subject to their higher authority. If they are insubordinate for any reason, they will most certainly forfeit the powers that was vested in them. The word authority is an important term which needs to be understood and also implemented in the proper way.
The centurion who understood this authority
We read in Matthew 8:9, “I know this, because I understand authority. There are people who have authority over me, and I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant obeys me."” (ERV)
In Matthew chapter 8 we read about a centurion who came to Jesus on behalf of his servant, who was paralyzed and suffering. Being a Roman Centurion he completely understood the true implications of what it meant to be in authority. He explained to Jesus the fact that he was a man under authority, but that he also had a hundred soldiers who were under his authority. This man had clearly understood who Jesus really was, the authority that was apparent in Him and therefore he knew a word from Jesus was enough to heal his servant. As one who exercised authority over his soldiers, the centurion inferred that the words of Jesus were so powerful that there was nothing that could not be accomplished just by His word. This was the reason why he exhibited such unshakable faith in Jesus and in what He could do. The result was that he received the astounding miracle of immediate healing for his ailing servant, who was paralyzed.
Interestingly all through the scriptures we note that those who perceived who God truly was, experienced the wonders of God in their lives. Often we miss out on overcoming the enemy, simply because we have failed to realize the power and authority of God in whom we believe. Many of us have not fully comprehended the power that is there in God and His word. If each of us can fully apprehend the authority that is in God and as to what He has lavished on us, we too can experience those miraculous interventions of God in our lives. If any of you are challenged with circumstances that are too difficult, complex and beyond your control, all you need to do is acknowledge the power and authority of God over that situation. As we speak words of faith over these situations, trusting in the power of God, we will certainly experience speedy deliverance and have victory in every area of our lives.
The authority that God had bestowed on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was usurped by Satan deceitfully. Satan craftily presented to Adam and Eve things that were not, as though they were and in the process cunningly deceived them into believing his lies. Satan is a liar and he will disillusion us to not see all that we have and will cripple us to believe that we are nothing.
We live in a place called Ooty in South India which is a hill station, where we have many wild elephants. Though an elephant has enormous strength, men are able to tame them and keep them shackled with a flimsy chain. The way this is accomplished is that the wild elephant when caught is kept confined to a cage so that it is unable to free itself. After a while the elephant is made to believe that it is weak and has no strength. Once freed, even though it is tied with a feeble chain, the elephant is conditioned to believe that it cannot break free. So also, Satan has filled our minds with his lies and has made man believe that he have no power or authority whatsoever.
The devil tempted Jesus when he offered this authority
We read in Luke 4:6-7, “and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”” (ESV)
In the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness, the devil showed him all the splendors of this world, and offered to hand over the authority and glory to Jesus, if He would bow down and worship Satan. Notice how Satan declared that all this authority was now in his hands and that he would choose to give it to whomsoever he wanted to give it to. Jesus did not condemn Satan at this point and call him a liar, but rather He rebuked him and charged him to get behind him. This authority which the devil cunningly grabbed from Adam and Eve, he was now subtly offering to Jesus Himself.
Jesus restored back to us this authority
In order for man to regain back this authority that he forfeited at the Garden of Eden, there was a necessity that another man should come who would help restore this power back to man.
We read in Philippians 2:7-8, “Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” (ERV)
This was what Jesus did when He came down from the Father, gave up everything that was duly His, lowered Himself to play the role of a servant and took on human form. Jesus humbled himself to this extent to reclaim this authority from the hands of the enemy and to restore it back to the hands of men. The Lord Jesus was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death on the cross. If we observe the life of Jesus while here on earth, it was a life surrendered to the Father in heaven, in complete dependence and obedience to His will. Jesus was in total submission right to the end, and willingly went to the cross, for it was only through this price He paid by His death, could all of mankind be redeemed from sin and death. It was this redemptive act of Jesus that gave back to man the authority that was his that he had lost in the Garden of Eden.
The authority that is given to Jesus
Just before His ascension, Jesus declared these words to His disciples.
We read in Matthew 28:18, “So he came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.” (ERV)
These are the words of the risen Lord Jesus, who affirmed to His disciples that all authority both in heaven and on earth were given to Him. This authority Jesus is willing to bestow on all those who walk in obedience to Him.
The authority that is available to us
We read in Ephesians 1:19-22, “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. God put everything under Christ's power and made him head over everything for the church.” (ERV)
Paul writing to the church at Ephesus, explains in detail that the mighty power that God demonstrated to raise Jesus from the dead, is freely available to us who believe in Him. He was praying that the people of God would have their eyes enlightened so that they could comprehend the incomparably great power of God that is available to those who believe in Jesus. This power placed Christ far above all rulers, authorities, powers and kings and subjected everything under His feet. God also gave Jesus the authority to rule over everything both in this world and in the next. The name of Jesus Christ has been exalted far above all other names and everything is under His divine control. Also God has made Christ the head of the church as well.
When surrounded by perils on all sides, we get bewildered and tend to forget this power and authority that God has graciously conferred on us as His children. Irrespective of how complex our circumstances seem, if we can fully fathom that this mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, we will overcome every hurdle with ease. If we are not aware of this authority that God has entrusted to us, we will continue in our weakness and won’t experience His mighty power that can be demonstrated through each one of us.
As Moses stood before the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in pursuit of them and the Red Sea ahead of them, he was in a dilemma. As he cried out to God, the Lord reminded him that He had already bequeathed His authority to Moses. He reminded Moses to use the rod in his hand and as Moses lifted the rod, the sea parted to make a way for the people of Israel. Like Moses, we need to constantly remind ourselves that God has through Christ restored this authority to us.
Christ, who is the head of the church implies that this authority that is in Christ has been entrusted to all of us who are members of the body of Christ. Let us not lose heart, but with oneness of heart and mind be willing to use this authority that we have received from the Lord.
Let me in conclusion remind us again of Psalm 91:13, “You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes.” (ERV) and also of the words of Jesus as recorded in Luke 10:19, “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.” (ESV)
I would like to explain this with an illustration from electricity. There are power plants where electricity is generated which are then distributed to various substations. This electricity is then delivered to our homes through cables. However, if we want to utilize this electricity, we have to turn on the necessary switches or use the suitable plug points in our homes to turn on the lights or other appliances. So also the power of God is available to us, but it is up to us to understand this authority that God has endowed us with, and to exercise this authority over the situations that seem to overwhelm us. Let us be encouraged to know that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus. Therefore, instead of living in fear let us in future exercise this authority over circumstances that seem to overwhelm us. As obedient children of God, let us walk by faith with the total assurance that nothing will defeat us, but rather that we will execute this authority and come forth triumphant over every trial and hardship.
Pastor F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
