We Have Authority… But What Does That Mean?

Many of us have heard it said from the pulpit, “We have authority in Christ.” And that’s true — but only when it’s rightly defined.

If by that statement we mean that in Christ we have victory over sin, boldness in prayer, and confidence to stand firm through the Word of God, then yes — that is biblical. But if it’s left undefined, it can easily be misunderstood.

Too often, “We have authority” gets used as a slogan for self-assertion rather than submission. It can sound as though authority lies within us, as if believers possess a kind of divine power to command or decree spiritual realities. But Scripture never teaches that.

Context is everything — not to change truth, but to reveal which truth applies.

When Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” — Matthew 28:18

He made it clear that all authority begins with Him, flows through His Word, and operates by His Spirit. Any authority claimed apart from that order is not biblical authority — it is spiritual presumption.

So yes, believers have authority — but it’s delegated, not self-generated. It’s authority to obey, not authority to command. It’s the authority of servants who stand under the Word, not above it. That’s why this study matters so deeply — to restore the biblical understanding of Authority in the Word, Not Within Ourselves.

Christ Alone Holds Authority

All true authority begins and ends with Jesus Christ.

Christ’s authority is not shared in essence; it is extended in stewardship. We do not possess divine power independently — we operate under His lordship. Every claim of authority apart from Christ’s Word is borrowed without permission. Authority never originates from man’s words, declarations, or emotions. It flows from the eternal, unchanging Word of God.

Authority Is Always Derived, Never Independent

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” — Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 anchors the principle that all authority — civil, spiritual, or personal — is derived from God. Whether in heaven or on earth, none exists apart from His sovereign appointment.

This means any claim to authority detached from God’s Word or God’s order is illegitimate. The believer’s posture, therefore, is one of willing submission — first to God, and then to the authorities He ordains.

This truth guards us from two opposite errors:

• Rebellion, which rejects God-given authority.
• Presumption, which assumes authority God never gave.

Romans 13:1 shows that authority is vertical before it is horizontal — it flows downward from God, not upward from man.

The Word Is God’s Voice of Authority

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.” — Psalm 119:89

The Word of God is the extension of His authority. When believers stand on Scripture, they stand under heaven’s rule. When they speak apart from it, they step into presumption.

Our “power” is not found in tone, volume, or decree but in submission to what God has already spoken. To walk in authority is to walk in obedience to Scripture — never in self-assertion.

Pastoral Authority Is Functional, Not Personal

Pastors and teachers are entrusted to lead, instruct, and guard the flock, but only within the boundaries of the written Word. Their authority is ministerial, not personal — it serves the Word, not themselves.

Although I don’t agree with all doctrinal views of John MacArthur, he says this very well: “The preacher has no authority outside the Bible—none.” The pastor’s strength lies in proclaiming “Thus says the Lord,” not “I declare.” The message, not the man, carries divine weight.

The Believer’s Authority Is Positional, Not Possessive

Believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), sharing in His victory but not in His sovereignty. Our authority over sin, the world, and the enemy comes through submission to God’s Word, not possession of supernatural power.

“Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7

Resisting the devil is only effective when submission comes first. Authority flows downward—from God, through His Word, to the life that obeys it.

Calling Down Fire: A Misguided Zeal

Some believers use the phrase “calling down fire” or “sending the fire of the Spirit.” Though passionate, this language is unbiblical when used as a command.

When James and John wanted to call down fire on unbelievers, “Jesus turned and rebuked them, saying, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.’” — Luke 9:55

Fire in Scripture represents judgment or divine purification, never something man controls. On Pentecost, the Spirit descended as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3), but it was God’s initiative, not man’s invocation.

To command fire or spiritual power is to imitate the disciples before they understood grace. The Spirit’s fire sanctifies, empowers, and purifies — it is received, never summoned.

When We Act Outside Authority: The Doorway to Deception

Stepping beyond God’s delegated authority is not harmless zeal; it is spiritual presumption. The moment we act or speak as if divine power originates within us, we create a vacuum the enemy is eager to fill.

In Acts 19, the sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ name as a formula: “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The result was disastrous — the demon answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” — Acts 19:15

Operating outside submission exposes believers to three spiritual dangers:

1. Counterfeit power — The enemy imitates spiritual results to draw hearts away from truth (2 Corinthians 11:14).

2. Spiritual retaliation — Demons exploit self-appointed authority, just as they did with the sons of Sceva.

3. Doctrinal confusion — When experiences outweigh Scripture, discernment erodes and false manifestations replace genuine faith.

Satan is not threatened by human declarations; he is defeated by divine truth. Acting outside God’s order invites deception, pride, and even demonic interference disguised as “spiritual victory.”

The Danger of Internalized Authority

The world insists that power lies within: “Speak your truth, manifest your destiny.” Tragically, that same spirit has crept into the church through declaration theology. When Christians treat their words as creative forces, they exchange dependence for dominance and imitate the oldest rebellion in the universe.

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend…I will exalt…I will make myself like the Most High.’” — Isaiah 14:13-14

Any theology that shifts authority from God’s Word to man’s will echoes that original lie. Self-declared authority is not maturity; it is mimicry of pride.

True Authority Is Found in Obedience

Christ displayed His greatest authority through perfect obedience:

“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death.” — Philippians 2:8

Real power is not found in commanding heaven but in conforming to Christ. The believer who bows to the authority of God’s Word stands in the power of God’s will. Authority is not seized; it is surrendered.

The moment we step outside the Word of God, we step outside the authority and protection of God. The Spirit’s power never follows self-assertion; it follows submission.

Faith finds its authority not within, but in the Word — and bows before it.

“The authority of the believer is not in what he declares, but in what God has already decreed.”