The Power and Authority of Every Believer
Matthew 28:18–20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Introduction: The Authority Behind the Commission
Family, notice how Jesus begins.
He doesn’t start with “Go.”
He starts with “All authority has been given to Me.”
The command to go only makes sense because of who is sending us.
And yet, before the disciples went, Jesus told them to wait. In Acts 1:8 He says:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”
So, here’s the pattern:
We are not sent in our own strength. We are sent in His authority and empowered by His Spirit.
1. Jesus Was Commissioned — and So Are We
In 1 John 3:8 it says:
“For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Jesus came with a mission:
Through His death and resurrection, He didn’t just forgive sin — He disarmed the enemy.
Colossians 2:15 says He “disarmed the rulers and authorities… triumphing over them by the cross.”
That means the enemy operates from defeat — not victory.
And now here is the incredible truth:
The One who was sent now sends us.
Just as the Father commissioned the Son, the Son commissionsHis Church.
2. The Pattern of Power in Jesus’ Life
Before Jesus began His public ministry, something significant happened.
Notice this:
Anointing was followed by testing.
In the wilderness, Jesus defeated Satan not with emotion, not with force — but with the Word of God.
Then His ministry began — and it was marked by power:
Jesus didn’t negotiate with darkness.
He exercised authority over it.
And through the cross and resurrection, the victory became complete.
Ephesians 1 tells us Christ is now seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.”
All authority is His.
And here is the miracle — He shares His authority with His body.
3. Authority vs. Power
Let’s make this simple.
A police officer has authority because of the badge.
But that authority only works because there is power backing it.
Jesus said in Luke 10:19:
“I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy.”
And in Acts 1:8:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
Authority comes from your position in Christ.
Power comes from the presence of the Spirit.
You don’t generate either one.
You receive both.
Authority is not arrogance.
Authority is alignment.
We exercise authority when we live submitted to Christ.
You cannot stand in authority if you are not under authority.
4. What Is This Power For?
This is important.
Power is not for ego.
It’s not for platform.
It’s not for spectacle.
Power is for Kingdom purpose:
Jesus did not say, “Pray that I will heal them from heaven.”
He said, “Go.”
There is a difference between begging and believing.
We are not trying to win a victory.
We are enforcing a victory already won.
5. The Encounter Changes Everything
The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years.
They had seen miracles.
They had heard the teachings.
They had witnessed the resurrection.
But they still waited.
Then came Pentecost.
In Acts 2, the Spirit fell.
And timid disciples became bold witnesses.
They didn’t receive better strategies.
They received power.
And here’s something we must understand:
They did not live off one encounter.
Jesus regularly withdrew to pray.
The early church prayed continually.
Romans 8 tells us the Spirit helps us pray.
Ephesians 6 tells us to pray in the Spirit.
Power flows from presence.
You cannot walk in authority publicly if you are not cultivating intimacy privately.
6. Why Many Believers Live Powerless
Let me speak plainly.
Many believers today are like bodybuilders who train daily but never lift anything meaningful.
We know scripture.
We attend church.
We understand theology.
But we rarely step out in faith.
Sometimes we stay in the safety of our homes — our routines — our comfort.
Authority requires action.
When I have ministered in places like Romania and other nations, I have seen something:
When you step out in obedience, God meets you with power.
Not because I am special.
But because the mission belongs to Him.
Power is released in obedience.
7. A Call to Alignment
Spiritual authority is not about shouting louder.
It is about standing firmly in who Christ says you are.
All true authority belongs to God.
We do not fight flesh and blood.
We are not battling people.
We are standing against spiritual forces — and Christ has already triumphed.
So what does this mean for us today?
Not because of your name.
But because of His.
Conclusion: The Authority Is His — The Mission Is Ours
Jesus said:
“All authority… therefore go.”
He didn’t say:
“Go if you feel ready.”
“Go if you feel powerful.”
“Go if you are confident.”
He said go — because He is with us always.
The same Spirit who descended upon Jesus…
The same Spirit who filled the upper room…
The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead…
Dwells in you.
The question is not:
“Do we have authority?”
The question is:
“Will we walk in it?”
Let’s not be spectators.
Let’s not be passive.
Let’s not be believers in theory but powerless in practice.
Let us live aligned under His authority,
filled with His Spirit,
and bold in His mission.
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