Awakening to Your God-Given Authority

Have you ever felt powerless in the face of life's challenges? Do you find yourself constantly asking God to intervene, wondering why He seems silent? It's time for a paradigm shift in how we view our role as believers. The truth is, we've been given far more authority than many of us realize or exercise.

Consider this: When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He didn't say "If you go," but "As you go." This wasn't a suggestion, but a command. He instructed them to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. The most striking part? He told them, "Freely you've received, freely give."

This commission wasn't just for a select few. It's for all believers. We've been given the divine nature, the fullness of Christ dwelling within us. Yet too often, we play it safe, thinking evangelism or healing is someone else's calling. We say, "It's not my nature," forgetting that we're no longer limited to our old nature.

The Bible is clear: "These signs will accompany those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18). This isn't reserved for special Christians—it's for all who believe.

But here's where many of us stumble. We pray for things and don't see immediate results. We let our five senses determine what's real, rather than standing firm on God's Word. Remember the story of Lazarus? When Jesus heard of his death, He told His disciples, "This illness does not lead to death." Even as everything around them screamed otherwise, Jesus stood firm in what He knew to be true.

We need to adopt this same mindset. When faced with sickness, financial struggles, or any other mountain in our lives, we have a choice. We can either tell God how big our mountain is, or tell our mountain how big our God is. It's time to stop waiting for God to do what He's commissioned us to do.

This doesn't mean we disregard medical science or practical wisdom. But it does mean we don't place these things above our faith. God uses doctors because many Christians would be in serious trouble if they had to walk purely by faith. Yet, this provision isn't meant to replace our faith—it's meant to work alongside it.

Consider how Jesus prayed before raising Lazarus. He didn't plead with God to do something. Instead, He simply said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me." This prayer modeled for His disciples—and for us—how to use the authority we've been given.

You see, God isn't holding out on us. Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us He "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." Notice that last part—"according to the power at work within us." God's ability to work in our lives is directly connected to our recognition and use of the power He's already placed within us.
This truth should radically transform how we approach challenges. Instead of constantly crying out for God to break in, we need to realize that He's already given us the authority to be the breakthrough. We're not waiting on God; He's waiting on us to step into what He's already provided.

Now, this doesn't mean we'll always see instant results. There will be times when we pray and don't immediately see the outcome we desire. In these moments, instead of letting doubt creep in, we need to ask God if there's anything He wants to shift in us. Is there any seed of doubt in our hearts? Are we learning to believe for this thing in a new way?

Remember, we're meant to go from faith to faith, not from unbelief to more unbelief. Even in tragic moments, our faith should grow. If we find ourselves moving further away from belief as time goes on, we're not processing our experiences biblically.

It's time to revisit those old situations where our faith may have faltered. We need to be brave enough to go back and reclaim our faith. Like David, who recovered all when he went down to Ziklag, we can recover our faith from past disappointments. We can break the power of fear that tried to come upon us and choose to grow instead.

This awakening to our God-given authority isn't about hype or false bravado. It's about humbly recognizing what Christ has already accomplished and stepping into it by faith. It's about being "ruined for the ordinary" and expecting God to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think."

As we awaken to this truth, praise becomes our natural response. We're no longer praising God to get Him to do something—we're praising Him for what He's already done. We're recognizing that our breakthrough isn't just around the corner; it was accomplished 2,000 years ago on the cross.

Today, you only need a mustard seed of faith to tap into this reality. It's not about getting better or earning God's favor. It's about acknowledging what's already inside you. As you do, you'll find that power over temptation becomes easier, not because of anything you need to do, but because of what God has already done.

So let's step into the kingdom right here, right now. Whether you're facing sickness, financial struggles, or any form of oppression, it's time to use your God-given authority. Exchange your heaviness for a garment of praise. Let God turn your mourning into dancing, your night into day.

Remember, you're not a "I'll believe it when I see it" person. You're filled with faith, ready to see God do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think—according to His power at work within you. It's time to let your faith soar, to go beyond what you've previously believed for.

Today, choose to believe not just that Christ is your Savior, but that He's your healer, your deliverer, your wealth. Believe that He has given you authority. And then, step out and use it. The world is waiting for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed. Will you be one of them?