Picture someone walking into a bank to manage an estate that isn’t theirs. They’re not the owner of the assets, and the money doesn’t belong to them. Yet they sit across from the bank manager, sign documents, make withdrawals, give instructions, and everything is honored.

No one stops them. No one questions their right to act. Why?
Because they are acting on behalf of another.

This is made possible by a legal document called the Power of Attorney (POA) that authorizes one person to act on behalf of the actual owner. Once it is granted, the person holding the POA can sign documents, make decisions, and execute actions as though the original authority were present.

This is how authority in Christ works for the believer.

Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬ ‭
New King James Version‬‬
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

When Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected, scripture makes it clear that all authority had been given to Him. He defeated death; he conquered principalities and powers.

Paul, in the letter to the church in Colosse, says:
Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭
New King James Version‬‬
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

By what Jesus did on the cross, all powers in heaven and on earth were given to Him. But it does not end there; that authority was given to you as well.

Let’s look at two scriptures that talk about how this is made possible.
Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬
‭New King James Version‬
19 …and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭
‭New King James Version‬
6…and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

When you read these two texts, you will see that there are similarities. It is the same experience that Jesus had that was accounted to you. When He died on the cross and was buried, it wasn’t just Him being crucified on that cross, it wasn’t just Him that was buried, and it wasn’t just Him that was raised.

Everyone who has believed in what He did experienced it with Him. When He died, we died; when He was buried, we were buried, and now that He was raised to glory to be seated in power and authority, we were also raised to life, and we are now seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; in authority!

So, the theology that proves the authority of Jesus also proves our authority as well. Hallelujah!

Luke 10:19
New King James Version
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The authority Jesus has in His victory over sin and death has been given to you. You now have power and authority through Jesus.

But how would you wield this power when you don’t know you have it?

That is why the next most important thing after salvation is growth in revelation knowledge, where you get to know and understand what has already been given to you in Christ Jesus.

That is why Paul prays for believers in Ephesus in Ephesians 1:18-19
‭New King James Version‬
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

When your eyes are open to all the things God has provided for you in Christ, you will be able to work effectively in them. 

And the way you can understand the authority you have in Jesus is by the word of God. You have to give yourself to the teaching of the word.

Also, meditate on all the realities of who you are in Christ. Take scriptures that talk about it and say them out loud to yourself. “I am full of the spirit of God.” “I have seeing eyes.” “I heal the sick!” Declare these words over yourself.

From today, refuse to live beneath what Christ has accomplished for you. Give yourself to the Word daily. Meditate on who you are in Christ. Speak the realities of scripture over your life.
When opportunity comes, stand in the authority that has already been given to you.

Prayer Point
Father, strengthen me to walk boldly in the power You have made available to me. From this day forward, I refuse to be passive. I exercise the authority You have given me.