Authority of Believer

We need to understand what "Authority of the Believer"  means.  There was no punctuation in the Greek, the language in which the New Testament was originally written. The punctuation that is in our Bibles was added by the translators according to their own judgment.  Mark 16:17 reads,

 And these signs will accompany those who believe...

 This passage could just as accurately be translated,

 And these signs will accompany those who believe in my name...

Jesus said it is important that we believe in His name. We must understand the authority that is ours in the name of Jesus. We must boldly release that authority in faith when we use the name of Jesus. When we boldly speak and act on our belief in the name of Jesus, we will drive out demons. We will place our hands on sick people, and they will get well.

An Awesome Right

Prior to the completed work of Jesus on the cross, no one would even dare to speak the names of God. They were considered too Holy to be spoken aloud. They were inscribed inside the Most Holy Place and were only known to the High Priest.

When Jesus gave believers the right to use His name, it was an awesome privilege, and should never be taken lightly.

Releases Jesus' Authority

1.  Because Jesus was the Son of God,
2.  He had all authority in heaven.
3.  Because Jesus was the Son of Man,
4.  He had all authority on earth.

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

When we use His name, overwhelming authority and power are released. It is as though we are standing in His place and using His authority.

A Power of Attorney

Then Jesus gave us the legal right to use His name, He placed His up-most trust in our control. In legal terms, He gave us the Power of Attorney to use His name.  In our judicial system, a Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives a person the right and privilege to use another's name. When the person who has been so entrusted, signs a contract on behalf of the person and attaches a copy of the Power of Attorney to that contract, it has the same legally binding effect as if that person had signed the contract in person.

Hearing from God

When Jesus was ministering on this earth, He was acting on behalf of His Father.

 John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

 Now as we minister on earth, we are to act on behalf of the Son. We must not use the name of Jesus to accomplish our own desires without first taking the time to listen and hear from God.