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Scripture references NKJV unless otherwise stated.

In our first session we talked about becoming an effective warrior in the last days army of believers, which God will use to establish His Kingdom. In this session we are going to take a look at the issue of authority in the Kingdom of God, and how we as individual Christians are to understand and function in it. Firstly, though we will look at Joel 2:7 & 8. They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down.

The whole passage of Joel 2: 1-11 is descriptive of a powerful and disciplined army which the prophet Joel saw in the Spirit. Historically, many believe this passage describes a real army which God was sending as judgment against Israel. Many scholars, however, also believe the passage prophetically describes the last days army of God. For our purposes in this study, we are concentrating specifically on verses 7 & 8, (given above). There are a number of things in these two verses which we need to understand in relation to Jesus' Warrior Bride.

These soldiers run like mighty men and climb a wall like men of war - that is, they run to battle, not away from it. They run with strength and determination. If an obstacle comes up in front of them, it does not stop them advancing - they find a way over it.

Every one marches in formation - each one knows the place the Lord has assigned to him, and does not try to march in another's assigned place.

They do not break ranks - they march as one, not as individuals. A key to their power is that they cannot be divided and isolated.

.These soldiers do not push one another - it is interesting that the literal translation of the Hebrew phrase, "push one another" used here, means "to oppress one's brother". The K.J.V. says "neither shall one thrust another". Even though this is a disciplined army, it is not an army where individuals "lord it over" their brothers and sisters. Christ's followers were first called "disciples" because they were known to be "disciplined ones". Discipling and discipline has nothing to do with control or abuse. Neither will there be place in this army for that type of behaviour on any level. Recently I heard a seasoned man of God state "the only type of control permissible in the church is self-control". I believe this is the type of discipline God is looking for in His church.

Each soldier marches in his own column (or path); that is, they do not change course, except as a unit, and they do not look back. This is an advancing army. Each one has his eyes fixed ahead and moves steadily towards the goal, along the path he has been given.

Finally, they lunge between the weapons and are not cut down or wounded - they are invincible, all the power of the enemy cannot stop their advance. They have learnt about the tactics and devices used by their enemy and have become skilled in deflecting them. for we are not ignorant of his devices.... 2 Cor. 2:11

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When I am teaching this study face to face with a group of Christians, I usually stop at this point and ask them to take a good look at me. I then ask them to tell me what they see - honestly! We can't do that little exercise on the internet, so I'll try to give you a description. Basically I am a short (5 foot two inches - well, nearly), Australian housewife who grew up in the Western (working class) suburbs of Sydney and raised four children. By nature I am known to be quiet and reserved, with a softly spoken voice. There is absolutely nothing in the natural about me that would cause you to look twice if you passed me on any street. In fact, most people who meet me, have trouble remembering my name! I am absolutely the last person on earth any general in his right mind would choose for military service. Why am I sharing this information with you? Well, doesn't it strike you as odd that someone like me should be called to teach and release the church in the area of "warfare"?

Praise the Lord for 1 Cor. 1:25-29: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. So if the Lord, in His wisdom, chooses to make me a living personification of His Word, I am learning not to argue with Him!

You see,.effective spiritual warfare has nothing to do with aggression, physical appearance or stamina, but has everything to do with authority. It has nothing to do with how much we shout or how much noise we make when we pray - and I'm certainly not against shouting or making a lot of noise, there's a time for that. Jesus knew how to shout when He was moved by the Spirit to do so: "Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" John 11:43. What I am saying is that those who walk in a true spiritual authority don't have to prove anything - even their whispers are heard in the heavenlies.

Now we are going to look at some specific scripture passages:

Mark 1:21, 22: Then they went into Capernaum and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:27: Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying ":What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

Matthew 21:23 - Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" But Jesus answered and said to them "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?"

The Greek word used for "authority" in each of these verses is "exousia", meaning "delegated influence, power, force, right, strength or jurisdiction". Think about that. The authority Jesus walked in was not assigned to Him by men, but it was recognised by men. In fact we see from Mark 1:22 that many of those who claimed to have
"official" authority, that is the scribes, and teachers, were not acknowledged by the people to have this same authority they saw in Jesus.

Furthermore, we are told in Mark 1:27, they were amazed and even questioned among themselves what it could all mean. Why were they amazed? Because Jesus was totally "unendorsed by leadership". He didn't carry the card, He didn't wear the name tag, He didn't have the title! "What new doctrine is this?" they asked. They were receiving a new revelation - that there was another source of authority other than the religious heirarchy! No wonder they were amazed - this Jesus walked in a "delegated influence" endorsed by the Father - and He didn't need the approval of men to exercise it!

Jesus Himself bought into the whole argument when He asked the chief priests and elders where they thought John the Baptist's authority had come from, heaven or men. His very direct question placed them between a rock and a hard place - they didn't dare answer. He was also telling them that His authority came from the same place as John's had - because they knew full well it hadn't come from them.

Here are a couple of important things we need to know about spiritual authority:

1) It is for edification, not for destruction. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction I shall not be ashamed .... 2 Cor. 10:8

2) Jesus has been given authority by the Father to exercise judgment, because He is the Son of Man, and because He judges righteously.

For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. John 5:26, 27;

...in righteousness He judges and makes war..." Rev. 19:11

Now there's an authority level which all believers attain when they are born again:

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6.

So we need to understand from the outset that our authority as believers is in Christ alone and we engage in spiritual warfare from an understanding of that position. This is a basic authority that is inherent in every Christian, though many do not realise it.

However, there are also increasing degrees of authority in God's kingdom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18

Here's the same verse from the Amplified version: And all of us, as with unveiled face (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit. Being transformed into the image of the Lord means we are taking on all of His nature, which includes His authority. And we are all at different stages of that process.

The Bible teaches that Satan's kingdom is also subject to different levels of authority: Colossians 1:16 speaks of "thrones, dominions, principalities and powers", and Ephesians 6:12 names "principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness". Because the enemy's kingdom is ranked in this way they recognise and have to respond to true authority.

In the Kingdom of God, there are specific authoritative anointings given by God to His servants for the work, or ministry, assigned to them. In Mark 13:34. Jesus described His Father's Kingdom this way: It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. When a believer is called to a certain work for the Lord, he/ she is given authority to carry out that work effectively.

The Apostle Paul understood this principal well: We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us - a sphere which especially includes you..... Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labours, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment 2 Cor. 10:13, 15 &16. Paul was saying to the Corinthians that he would not overstep the limits of the boundaries God had assigned him. He recognised that he had authority to carry out the work God had given him to do, but did not have authority to carry out the work assigned to other men. However, as he carried out his work faithfully within the sphere of his authority, his hope was that his sphere of authority would be enlarged. When God calls you to a certain ministry or work within His Body, He equips you for that work. But we need to be aware of the boundaries of our field of authority in His Kingdom and not step into an authority area that has not been given to us, but to another. This can only be discerned through the Holy Spirit. And as we are faithful with a little we are given more by the Lord and the sphere of our delegated influence enlarges.

We can come to a greater understanding of spiritual authority by tracing David's rise in authority through scripture. Firstly, though, let's look at 1 Samuel 17:39: "David fastened his sword to his armour and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.

We need to see here that David had come straight from the sheepfold - He only knew a certain level of authority that had been given him up to that point, and that's what he moved in. He knew how to use a slingshot, but not the armoury of a King. He didn't assume any more than he knew, even though at this point in his life he'd already been anointed for kingship. It's the same in spiritual warfare - we can't assume to go into battle with someone else's anointing - you need to know your own level of authority at that particular time. The Bible reveals six levels of authority represented in David's life:

1. With the Sheep - Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep. 1 Sam. 16:19 David's early life was spent as a shepherd. In that solitary place of the sheepfold, he came to know His God so intimately and so personally that the foundations of his faith were set firmly for the rest of his life. David learnt two important things during his years with the sheep. First - he learnt to love the sheep. We know he loved them because he fought both lions and bears to protect his sheep (1 Samuel 17:34,35). He carried out to the best of his ability the work he had been given. Second, he learned obedience to his father - David had seven older brothers who had gone off to fight the Philistines, but David stayed with the sheep until his father released him to the battlefield with food for his brothers. God will test us to see if we really care for His sheep, that is, His people, before He gives us greater authority in His Body. God will also test us to see if we have learnt obedience to Him, our Father, before He expands our sphere of authority.

2. Armourbearer - So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armourbearer. 1 Sam. 16:21. You may be called to be a leader; you may be anointed to do mighty things in the Kingdom of God as David was, but the Lord will test you under leadership until He's satisfied that you understand the principals of submission and authority that He has set in His Kingdom. Sometimes, as in David's case, the leadership God chooses to test us with is not without fault or error. However, God's greater purpose in such a situation is to mould our character into the image of His Son.

3. Over the men of war. - So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 1 Sam 18:5 Next, David is given a military commission; he advances from personal armourbearer to the king, to captain over hundreds . (In the Israelite army there were varying degrees of rank which included captains over hundreds and captains over thousands.) By this time David was learning wisdom (he behaved wisely); his anointing for leadership was being recognised by both his leaders and the people and he was being sent out on important assignments. With an elevation in authority and rank comes an elevation in responsibility.

4. Captain over a Thousand - Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

1 Sam. 18:13 Here David is given even greater freedom and authority; he becomes Captain over a Thousand with permission to both go out and come in at his own discretion, to make his own decisions. His arena of authority and responsibility is increased with greater trust. Though we may discern Saul's motives as evil, we need to recognise that these promotions in levels of authority came sovereignly from God to David, not from Saul.

Then comes a greater time of testing for David as he enters his wilderness experience. The man anointed to be King over Israel, running for his life, fleeing and hiding from King Saul who seeks to kill him. What a deep time of reflection and trial it must have been for David. But God is shaping and testing this man's character. There are more things God wants to do in him before He will allow Him to rule over His people as King.

It's a time when David begins to realise there must be more to his life than warfare, and he begins to seek out wisdom and understanding. He turns to Samuel the prophet for counsel. So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 1 Samuel 19:18 Now, we know that David already has the calling, we know he already has the anointing, but this verse reveals that David discovered that wasn't enough. I believe David was drawn to Samuel, (representing the prophetic), at this particular time in order that Samuel might impart deeper understanding of the ways of God to David. You might even say David attended his own School of the Spirit!

This is a time of breaking in David's life. Persecuted and driven to the wilderness because of the anointing on his life, it's a time when he begins to identify with and provide shelter for the brokenhearted and troubled. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. 1 Sam. 22:2. Captain over four hundred? Hey, but this man had lived in the King's palace and been captain over thousands! Anointed and called to be ruler over Israel, yet hiding in caves in the desert and surrounded by a group of outcasts!

I wonder if I'm hitting any nerves with any of you! Let there be no misunderstanding - for everyone who aspires to greater authority and levels of influence in the Kingdom of God, be aware that you will be led by God through your own wilderness experience and one of the purposes will be to break your heart for those who are hurting and wounded. You cannot speak powerfully into the lives of His people from a position of unbrokeness.

Another very important thing God was teaching David in the wilderness, was that there is an "appointed time". On two occasions he had the opportunity to kill Saul, seize the throne and put an end to his own suffering, but on both occasions in great anguish of heart he resisted the temptation. (1 Sam. 24; 26). There are seasons and appointed times in our lives decreed by God: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21 We know David came to understand this principal, because he cried out "My times are in your hand." Psalm 31:15 Don't pre-empt the Spirit, because you will not be ready for what you think you are ready for. Learn to wait on Him, no matter what the outward circumstances are, and what you know your calling or anointing to be, If it's not the Spirit's timing - stand and wait.

5. King Over Judah - Then the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.... 2 Sam. 2:4. The next level we see for David is his anointing as King over Judah. At this time the nation of Israel was divided into the Kingdom of Israel in the north and the Kingdom of Judah in the south. So at last David was King, but of only half the nation. David's calling was as King over all of Israel.

6. King Over Israel - Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 2 Sam. 5:1-3. Finally, seven and a half years later, David is appointed King over Israel as God had promised, uniting both the kingdoms. We need to understand that between "anointing" and "appointing" God will take us through a training process. For some it may be years, for others it may be much shorter. I believe that the time between anointing and appointing is becoming accelerated in these last days, but we can still hold up the process, even negate it. Friends, God is faithful to fulfil all He has promised, but if we don't recognise what He is doing in our lives and submit to His training and discipline, we can lengthen the process considerably.

Now did you notice that in both cases when David was made king, first over Judah and then over the entire nation of Israel, he was anointed by the people. - he did not pre-empt or promote himself to the title of king, even though the position was rightfully his. God had sent the Prophet Samuel to anoint David as King many years before, but he had waited on God for the appointed time and until the people recognised and acknowledged him. I believe there is coming a maturity to the Body of Christ when the Body will recognise and acknowledge true spiritual authority and government as already called and appointed by God, not by men.

The Pharisees asked Jesus "by what authority are you doing these things and who gave you this authority?" (Matthew 21:23.) They had a legal right to ask that question of him, and so does the enemy have a legal right to ask us that question of us.

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said "Jesus I know, Paul I know; but who are you?' Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded" ...and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." Acts 19: 13-17.

The seven sons of Sceva found out that assumed authority just won't cut it when dealing with powers of darkness. They took upon themselves an authority that was not theirs. Christians can do the same - some of us have reduced the holy Name of Jesus Christ to little more than a magic formula. We know there is authority in the Name of Jesus, so we try to use it like some password, or like our PIN numbers. It's a "quick fix" mentality that says if we push the right buttons we'll get the results we want. We need to learn how to magnify His Name, not minimise it. You can't use the Name of Jesus with power if you don't fear that Name yourself.. Words alone, no matter how religious, have no intrinsic power.

Our authority to use Jesus' Name is directly related to our relationship with Him. Spiritual warfare is not a game, and Satan and his troops will not yield to assumed authority. If we want to move in authority over the enemy, we'd better be walking in a truthful and close relationship with Jesus, or sooner or later we're going to be exposed and humiliated like the sons of Sceva. Too often we quote "resist the Devil and he will flee from you", but friends the whole of that verse in James 4:7 is Submit to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. So, we need to be under the authority of Jesus to move in His authority.

How do you grow to greater levels of authority? By overcoming. Every time you persevere through a situation thrown up at you by the enemy, and enforce the victory won by Jesus at the cross, your level of spiritual authority is increased and enlarged, and the Kingdom of God is extended. Whatever circumstances you may be battling right now, I can promise you if you persevere and overcome, you will come out of your experience with a level of authority in that particular area that will send the enemy running.

God has promised in His word that all the resources of His Kingdom are at our disposal. Isaiah 40:29 tells us He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. So if you're sitting there right now painfully aware of your weakness, your inadequacy, your failure, that's you that's talking about, isn't it? Because it's never going to be your strength, your ability, your knowledge, or even your anointing that gets you through. We're to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. God loves to display His wisdom, it's different to man's wisdom. It says in Ephesians 3:10 that God intends to use His church to make His wisdom known to the principalities and powers. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Hallelujah, that's US! That's our call, friends! (You can stop at this point and do a little praise dance with me if you like :-)

Remember 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise, by human standards; not many were influential, not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

Consider:

David, a lowly shepherd boy, the least in his family, who became Israel's greatest leader;

Esther, a despised Jewish peasant girl who became queen of one of the greatest kingdoms history has known, and was used to save her nation from annihilation;

Peter, a crude, impetuous Galilean fishermen, who became a leader amongst leaders in the first century church;

Jesus Christ, born in an animal stable, raised in Galilee, the most despised area of His country, executed in shame and humiliation as a criminal: Son of God, Saviour, Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

So if you're feeling a bit foolish, weak and despised - you're in awesome company, and you're a candidate for all the authority, power and wisdom of God to flow through you. God wants to show off through you! So find your position in His army, rise up in His authority and move out into the work He has assigned to you!