You Have To KNOW Your Authority

Posted by Rev. Mark Slay

In Matthew chapter 9 we see the account of a paralytic that was brought before Jesus to receive healing.  It says, “And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’” Notice it says here “seeing their faith”. In the spirit realm, faith is a tangible substance and Jesus could see that they had faith that this man would be healed. Before they ever brought him to Jesus, they knew that he would get well.

There has to be times that our faith speaks and it is evident by what we do. If you have genuine faith it will show up in what you say and what you do.

Well, we can see in the next verses that some of the scribes had a problem with Jesus saying, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” They said He was blaspheming. It goes on to tell us that Jesus knew their thoughts said to them, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, pick up your bed and go home.’” And the man got up and went home.

Verse 8 tells us, “But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” This tells us something about our authority. A lot of times we can forget how powerful we are that our voice IS heard in Heaven. We need to start exercising our authority and stop taking stuff off of the devil.

Isaiah tells us in chapter 54 this, “’In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. ‘If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. ‘Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin. ‘No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the Lord.”

Notice it says, “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord”. That means it’s your right. It means we have authority. Don’t be so timid when you’re praying. When you read these verses, does it sound like He’s not listening? Do you understand that thinking that God is not listening will hurt your prayer life?

I john 5 tells us, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” If you cower under in your prayer life, then you don’t have any confidence and we have to ask in confidence know that He will hear us. You have to know that He hears you or the answer will be no.

So whatever it is, believe God to do big things this year. He hears you and He will answer you.