The Power and Authority of the Believer*
We need to understand the power and authority we have as believers, paid for with the blood of Jesus. It is not traditions, doctrines or denominations that are the source of this heavenly power and authority that is manifested on earth through the believer in Christ. In fact, scripture tells us that our traditions make void the Word of God. (see Mk. 7:6-7, 13).
In His last words before His ascension into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for that power from heaven to come upon them: "But ye shall receive power (dynamis - strength, power, ability, power for performing miracles, moral power and excellence of soul), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.' And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:8-9).
As the disciples stared after the ascending Jesus on Mount Olivet in Jerusalem, two men in white apparel stood by them and said: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (v. 10-11). When Jesus returns, the prophets say that His foot will touch the Mount of Olives. Until then, the two men in white were saying, "Get busy doing as you have been told!"
The dynamis power of which Jesus spoke is from the Holy Spirit. Some churches' doctrines and traditions have limited or denied the need for the Holy Spirit to display power in a believer, but Jesus makes the need for the Spirit very clear. It is the same power by which Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 that in His name signs would follow those who believe. Do you believe?
On the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, the believers in Christ were gathered together with one accord in one place, which is now called the Upper Room: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4).
Devout Jews, originally from nations all over the world, were in Jerusalem and heard the sound of the believers speaking in the languages of their nations. The hearers were amazed because they knew that these believers were Galileans, not from foreign nations like themselves. They didn't know what this phenomenon meant and some mocked thinking the believers were drunk. (v. 5-13).
Peter, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit, began to explain to these foreign-born dwellers in Jerusalem what they were witnessing. It was the fulfilment of the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Joel, Peter said. (v. 14-16, and see Joel 2:28-29). Peter began to tell them that this was about Jesus, whom they were familiar with, including His death and His resurrection as prophesied in psalms of David, whose tomb was nearby. (v. 22-31). Peter concluded: "This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear...Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. " (v. 32-33, 36-38). The receiving of the Holy Spirit was not just for the apostles, but it is for any who will receive the gift through Jesus, and His sacrifice for our sins.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a prophetic promise of God, which He fulfilled on the Feast of Pentecost because of the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, and the investiture of His authority in His Son, as God exalted Jesus to His right hand.
Afterwards, Peter and John went to the temple during the hour of prayer and encountered a lame man who was begging for alms. He had been lame from birth. He looked at the disciples expecting to receive something from them, when Peter said to him: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lift him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God...and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which happened unto him" (Acts 3:1-10).
The church of believers in Christ had begun walking in the commission that Jesus had given them by the dynamis power of the Holy Spirit. However, the sensation created by the signs done, in this case, the healing of the lame man, caused great concern to the traditional religious hierarchy, especially because the disciples were preaching the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. About five thousand came to believe in Jesus at this time. The high priest and religious rulers and elders seized Peter and John, and the healed man, and asked them: "By what power (dynamis - see above), or by what name, have ye done this?" (Acts 4:1-7). Scripture says that Peter did not answer them from his own understanding, but as he was filled with the Holy Ghost. (v. 8).
Peter answered by this power from heaven in him: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (v. 10). He then began telling them how scripture bore witness to this, concluding: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (v. 12).
The traditional religious leaders were amazed that these untrained men could know scripture like this, "and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." (v. 13). Ultimately the leaders decided to forbid, under threat, Peter and John from speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered them: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (v. 15-20).
It is only the Word of God, and not the word of men, to which the Holy Spirit attests and guides us, to give us power to witness the saving truth to others.
This power given by the Holy Spirit to believers in Christ is necessary for the purpose and calling of the Church in the belief in, and the commands of, Christ. In Acts 19, we see the difference between ministry by the Holy Spirit, and ministry without the belief in Christ or the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul, with Holy Spirit power, ministered effectively: "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." (v. 11-12). This Chapter of Acts continues to tell of seven Jewish exorcists who were sons of the chief priest who tried to expel an evil spirit, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. The evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" (v. 13-15). The man whom the evil spirit inhabited jumped upon the seven exorcists and wounded them as they fled from him. (v. 16). This account spread to all of the Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) of Ephesus, "and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds." (v. 16-18).
The exorcists didn't know Jesus for themselves, however, belief in Jesus must be genuine and personal. Do you know Him? He promised in Revelation that He knocks at the door, and if you invite Him in, He will come in and sup with you. Demons are real, and they know the difference between a genuine believer filled with the Holy Spirit, and those who don't believe and are not filled with the dynamis power of the Holy Spirit poured out from heaven.
There is another Greek word that is translated as "power" in scripture, that we receive from our belief in Christ. It is found in John 1, as Jesus is described as The Word that was with God and created all things in the beginning. This Word of God became flesh and dwelled among us. (v. 1-5, 14): "He (Jesus, The Word) came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (exousia - liberty, permission, the power of authority, one who possesses authority, regal authority, a crown) to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (v. 11-13).
Exousia power is the power of the authority of the believer, given to them by Jesus Christ. It is an authority that has nothing to do with traditions or doctrines. Hebrews says: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines...We have an altar; whereof they have no right (exousia, above) to eat which serve the tabernacle." Our sacrifice offering for sin, Jesus, is far superior to the animal sacrifices that were offered before His offering of Himself, and He stays the same forever. (v. 8). He does not change with the doctrines of men.
Jesus spoke of His own exousia authority of life over death received from His Father in heaven: "And other sheep (speaking of the Gentiles) I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power (exousia authority - see above) to lay it down, and I have power (exousia authority - see above) to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (Jn. 10:16-18).
Paul wrote of having this exousia power/authority/privilege regarding the rights he has in the same manner as the other apostles and brethren, although some questioned his apostleship. The proof of his apostleship, however, was found in the churches of believers that he established throughout Asia Minor and Greece. (see 1 Cor. 9:1-6). He also wrote of the exousia authority he had to choose to be an example for the Church to follow regarding his own labor. (2 Thess. 3:7-9).
The believer has received both the dynamis power of the Holy Spirit and the exousia power/authority from Jesus Christ to become the sons of God. The Church sings about this power, but does not walk in it, and often ridicules those who do! If you receive Jesus, these things have been promised to you.
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