In the 21st chapter of St. Matthew Jesus is in a teaching mode with His disciples. He taught through several parables and it is within this chapter that we find Jesus speaking about and clearly demonstrating His authority. It is within these lessons that the disciples are being prepared to operate in the authority that will be theirs when their Lord is no longer present with them.

There are aspects about our Lord that we seemingly adapt easily but I am convinced that there are other aspects that we do not as easily embrace. Specifically one of these is our God-given authority as His children. Just as with our natural fathers, there are some things that just come with the territory, that come with relationship! Because of who our father is, it comes to us naturally because of birth or adoption.

The authority that we are given to operate in this world is ours to exercise to bring into reality all that God has destined for us. This same authority is for us to use to combat the plots of the enemy that are established to frustrate and block our success. Just as our achievements for God are strategic in their process, the enemy is strategic with his process of working against us. That process of challenging our authority most often begins with his inflicting us with doubt and fear.

In St. Matthew 21: 23 the chief priests and elders question Jesus about the source of His authority for the things He is doing. In the two previous verses Jesus is teaching the disciples that if they have faith and do not doubt they can “say to this mountain, be though removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Although that declaration of authority is conditional, it is not limited to a certain number of occurrences. If God has given us His authority to perform that which is His will, we place limitations upon ourselves when we fail to act whether the task be great or small.

Most often it is not our desire that is lacking but rather the boldness that must be executed to act. Ephesians 6: 12 says “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It is the enemy’s methodology to wrestle with us to weaken and discourage us. He questions why we do what we do, and why we feel we would even have the audacity to try! But if we are knowledgeable of the enemy’s tactics, we are then able to go into the battle well suited and prepared knowing that the battle is ours to win. We win because of the authority that we possess and the authority that is backing us.

I must be honest with you this writing is designed to be an encouragement to me as much as it is to you. I recognize the tremendous assignment that is on my life literally enrages the enemy and his agents. But I serve him notice that I will continue to accomplish that which is assigned to my hands to do and it will be accomplished in the power and authority which is given by my Lord Jesus Christ.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55: 11)