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The Authority Of The Believer
Topic Started: May 10 2007, 01:48 PM (313 Views)
Stace4Jesus
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Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim were on Victory Broadcast a couple of weeks ago speaking about the authority of the Believer. Billye refered often to an old book that can be found online: Authority of the Believer, by John A MacMillan.

It is pretty good.

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Quote:
 
Chapter 1
Authority Defined

THERE are few subjects relating to the Christian life concerning which there is so little exact knowledge as that of the Authority of the believer. This is not because such authority is the property only of a few elect souls. On the contrary, it is the possession of every true child of God. It is one of the "all things received in Christ. Its reception dates from the soul's contact with Calvary.

Probably because of the extreme importance of a correct under standing of its privileges and responsibilities, and because of the power which they confer on a militant believer, the enemy has specially sought to hold back this knowledge from God's people. He has been successful through the employment of the "blinding" tactics which he has found effective in the case of the "lost" and of those who "believe not" (2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4). For it is strangely true that, although its principles are set forth in a definite way to this epistle to the Ephesians there is very little grasp of them by the majority of even spiritual believers.

That there is such authority is recognized, but it is confounded with other aspects of the life of faith, and thereby loses its distinctive value and power. Every doctrine of Scripture, while correlated closely with others of the same class, has features peculiar to itself. Only as these are clearly understood, and held in their right relationship, can there be the fullest benefit from their reception. The constitution and laws of the spiritual world are perfectly orderly and logical, and must be adhered to and carefully obeyed if the desired and promised results are to be gained.

In making this statement it is not intended to suggest that a logical and intelligent mind can of itself grasp spiritual values, or gain possession of spiritual blessings. Were that possible, the deepest phases of the Christian life would be the possession of the most intellectual. Whereas, it is very definitely asserted by the Spirit of God that, in the apprehension of divine truth, "the wisdom of the wise" is destroyed, and "the understanding of the prudent" brought to naught. Thank God, there is an inner spiritual understanding, conferred through the enlightenment of that same Spirit, which enables' "the foolish things of the world to confound the wise"-this principle being established by God "that no flesh should glory in his presence."
Wrong Conceptions

The Authority of the Believer is by some confounded with the fulness of the Spirit. It is taught that the coming of the gracious Spirit of God into the soul in His divine fulness gives authority. But ' the believer's authority exists before he seeks or realizes in any special way the Spirit's presence. It is certainly true that the fulness of the Spirit empowers and enlightens the believer. By this alone he is enabled to exercise authority. But the fulness is not the source of the authority, but something apart from it.

Nor can authority be regarded as some special gift conferred, whereby the recipient is endued with power, by virtue of which he performs mighty acts, such as the casting out of evil spirits. Discernment of spirits and miraculous powers are mentioned among the charismata of the Holy Spirit, but they differ from authority.

By others, the Authority of the Believer is looked upon as nothing more than prevailing prayer. We have heard men on their knees, when under a special urge, giving thanks to God for the gift of prayer conferred at the time. But, later, there has been no result seen from the agony or enthusiasm of intercession through which they have passed. Personal blessing has resulted from the intense seeking of God's face, but a specific answer to their supplications has not been manifest.
What Authority Is

Let us, first of all, define the difference between "authority" and "power." In the New Testament the translators have not been uniform in the rendering of many words, and these two words have suffered among others. One notable instance is in Luke 10: 19 where "power" is twice used although there is a different Greek word in each instance. To have translated the first of these by the English word "authority" would have given a clearer idea of the meaning of the passage. Perhaps our good old English tongue is at times to blame in not providing sufficient synonyms to meet the demands of the original. But a little more uniformity in rendering the same word from the original by the same English equivalent (a thing usually, though not always, possible) would have given greater clearness of understanding although in places it might not have been so euphonious.

One stands at the crossing of two great thoroughfares. Crowds of people are surging by; multitudes of high-powered vehicles rush along. Suddenly, a man in uniform raises a hand. Instantly, the tide of traffic ceases. He beckons to the waiting hosts on the cross street, and they .flow across in an irresistible wave. What is the explanation? The traffic officer has very little "power." His most strenuous efforts could. not avail to hold back one of those swiftly-passing cars. But he has something far better. He is invested with the "authority" of the corporation whose servant he is. The moving crowds recognize this authority and obey it.

Authority, then, is delegated power. Its value depends upon the force behind the user. There is a story told of the late Right Honorable W. E. Gladstone, Prime Minister of Great Britain. On one occasion, he brought in to Queen Victoria, an important measure for her signature, in order that it might become law. The Queen objected to it, and, after some discussion, refused to sign. The Minister of the Crown was unusually urgent: "Your Majesty," he said, respectfully but firmly, "you must sign this Bill." She turned on him haughtily: "Sir, I am the Queen of England." Unmoved, the Statesman answered quietly: "Your Majesty, I am the people of England." After a little thought, she accepted the situation, and affixed her signature to the document.

This story may be apocryphal, but it illustrates the question of authority when two opposing powers are in conflict. The Believer, who is fully conscious of divine Power behind him, and of his own authority thereby, can face the enemy without fear or hesitation. Those who confront him bear the specific names of power and authority: "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (archas, the first or preeminent ones), against powers (exousias, the authorities)." But, behind the "authority" possessed by the believer, there is a "Power" infinitely greater than that which backs his enemies, and which they are compelled to recognize.


http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/macm...uthority-01.htm


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goodshepard55
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Interesting article...God is so funny at times..I just went to a training course on Prayer Ministry and that is the main thing that is talked about. The authority of the believer; if you don't know your authority in Christ Jesus, then you can't be effective in prayer ministry.
It is so amazing how many people think the authority the Lord gave us when He returned to the Father was only for that time. The Lord Jesus gave us authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. Of course, I have never met anyone who raised the dead, but I have seen demons cast out of people, and healing.

Mark 16:
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Luke 10:
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Thank you for the article, confirms what the Lord has been teaching me, and Thank you Lord Jesus for sending me here to this forum that I may learn more about You.

Barbara
Yours Truly,
The servant of the Lord
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Stace4Jesus
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We've got to understand this authority, and then apply it, and become confident in it. I remember the first time I ever experienced the fruit of this type of authority, I was amazed, shocked, so much so that I was upset that I never knew before.

There is much to learn still. Hagin Sr. said that we have only just entered the door of this authority, and if that is so.. then I wonder what it is that we are missing. I know one of the hang ups I have had with walking in this authority has been 'not understanding my righteousness in Christ.' That is another thing that we need to grasp, that it is not our own righteousness, but Jesus' righteousness that gives us this place of standing authority.


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