Policemen in a certain town were called to a house where people were found to be stealing possessions from that house. Surprisingly, the policemen stayed on the footpath outside of the house and began to sing about the authority that had been given to them to arrest lawbreakers. As they declared their authority to one another, the robbers completed the task at hand of robbing the house of all its possessions and departed the scene.

This illustration is taken from a book written by YWAMer Dean Sherman called Spiritual Warfare For Every Christian. He goes on to say how we in the Christian world talk about authority and sing about authority, but often fail to exercise that authority that has been given to us. For there is a great difference between having authority and exercising authority. Even Satan knows of our authority but hopes we will stay ignorant of the resources we possess. It has been said that Satan’s primary area of attack on Christians is to prevent them from discovering who they are and the resources that have been entrusted to them.

Whenever Jesus sent His disciples out on mission, He always entrusted them with two resources. Without them it would have been impossible for them to live out the words of which He spoke to them at the last supper. “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask for anything in My name and I will do it.” John 14:12-14
There are three recorded occasions in the gospels where Jesus entrusted His followers with these two indispensable resources when He sent them on a mission.

SCENE 1
“When Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave them POWER and AUTHORITY to drive out all demons and to cure all diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”  Luke 9:1

SCENE 2
“After this the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them out two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go……. And they came back and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.’ Jesus replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have AUTHORITY to overcome the POWER of the enemy.’”   Luke 10:1, 17-18

SCENE 3
“All AUTHORITY in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20……….  “But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

On each occasion Jesus gave His followers two indispensable resources, AUTHORITY which is the right to use power and POWER itself and he told them that “as the Father sent Me, so I am sending you.” John 20:21 They went with the same authority and power He had possessed in His ministry on this earth. Jesus only promised His power and authority to His followers who were obedient to that which He asked them to do. He gave authority to those who came under His authority. Could this be a reason why many of our best efforts lack power and relevance today and why we choose to depend on the latest marketing techniques and corporate models of doing ministry? The New Testament missional church had none of these things.

The apostle Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of POWER.
1 Corinthians 4:12
He explained that the gospel came not simply with words but also with POWER, with the Holy Spirit and with conviction. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 And it didn’t take long for Jesus’ disciples to step out in the authority and power of Jesus, following Jesus’ ascension to His Father in heaven. So much so, that just as with Jesus so the religious leaders were amazed at what happened when Peter and John were going to the temple to pray one afternoon. They came to a man who had been crippled from birth who asked them for money. They responded by not giving him what he asked for, but by giving him what he needed. Peter replies with a command of a person with authority; “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” And we read, “Instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:6-7 The command of authority released the healing power of the Holy Spirit and the man was healed.

The religious leaders were offended at the display of authority and power that these two uneducated ordinary men had displayed. And notice when they questioned Peter and John, what was it that attracted their attention?  “By what POWER or what name (AUTHORITY) did you do this? Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit (POWER) said to them, ‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (AUTHORITY) whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you today.’” Acts 4:7,10

Peter and John were walking in obedience and intimacy with the Father, conscious of the fact that the Father was always at work. They were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and stepped out to obey His prompts in the name of Jesus. They understood their true identity and were living out the words of Jesus, “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”

And nothing has changed. Jesus’ purposes for us are just the same as they were for Peter and John. Wherever we go we are to take the two indispensables that Jesus gave His disciples to do the same things that Jesus did. Nothing excites me more than hearing from people who in their normal daily lives are living out the authority and power that has been entrusted to them. I close with a letter from one such person.

“Dear Rod,
A few weeks ago, my son John had a relief teacher for the day. The following day as I took him into his class, he hesitated at the door when he realised that the same relief teacher was there again. As the bell rang and I was leaving, he held on to me and burst into tears, saying that he did not like this teacher and that she was mean. I was able to discern that something had happened in class the previous day but was unable to gather any further details as he was clearly very upset. As my protective instinct rose up within me, it was all I could do not to take him home with me there and then, but I knew that this would only be teaching him that when things get too hard, you just run away. I knew that he had to stay and face this even though as a parent, I wanted to protect him from this. I hugged him and told him not to be afraid and that I would pray. I also told him to pray and then I left. I went to my car, got inside and began to pray, leaving the situation in God’s hands. When I picked John up from school, he was able to talk to me, telling me what had happened the previous day. Apparently, he had made some mistake in some work and the teacher had called the entire class to attention and said that John was lazy, as she held up his work. I remember learning about how words can be used to attack one’s self-image. In the week that followed, John had the same teacher and as before, he hesitated upon entering the classroom. This time, however, I was able to pray, not to take away the teacher’s authority but that Satan would not be able to use the words that she spoke to in any way harm or hurt John. It was a very specific prayer of authority and I said it over where he sat in class. I also prayed for protection over him. Later that day, when I picked him up from school, he was all smiles. His whole demeanour had changed. He was confident and happy. He is no longer afraid of this teacher.
I have no doubt that praying in Jesus’ name makes a difference. Children are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we, as parents, take charge, however, we can significantly limit the damage that can otherwise result. Children with healthy self-images result in adults with healthy self-images, not rendered hopeless and defeated, and thus are able to live far more productive and powerful lives.”

This mother was sure of the authority and power that had been given to her when she became a Christian and had stepped out in faith in her son’s school situation. She didn’t just sing about her authority but had realised that with the authority given to us comes the responsibility to use it for God’s purposes. Satan knows of our authority but hopes we will stay ignorant. We must be convinced of our authority just as he is.

So, wherever you go, don’t forget to take the two indispensables that Jesus gave His disciples.