APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: EXOUSIA – YOUR AUTHORITY: PART 1

The greatest desire of any father on earth is for his children to be just like him, to enjoy the same privileges and authority he possesses and more. The same is true of our Heavenly Father. If you are to take a sample study all over the body of Christ worldwide and ask them whether God has authority over demons and can cast them out, the answer would invariably be YES. Again if you add a question in that study and ask the believers whether they have authority over demons and can cast them out, 90% would answer NO. Why do you think this variation comes about? I believe that the variation comes about due to the fact that the majority of the body of Christ has been religiously brainwashed. Religion has taught us to think that God has the power to do all things but we are just little powerless worms groveling in the dust, trying to survive and barely get through this world as we struggle through on our way to heaven. Do you think a God as wise and brilliant as our God would create human beings in His image and likeness, give them sonship in His family and leave them at the mercy of the devil for the full length of the time they spent on earth? I just can't imagine anything more stupid. I would rather hear our Great Dane dog bark at midnight than listen to such "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth" (1 Tim 6:5), no wonder Paul clearly tells us at the end of that verse that, "from such withdraw thyself." Certainly there is no better advice that one can use rather than flee and withdraw yourself from their company.

In most countries, the only person who is above the law is the President. This means that the President can not be arrested, whatever crime he commits in the land. If the president has this power or privilege of not being arrested, there is an implied authority handed down to members of his immediate family, namely his wife and children. I have never heard of a son or daughter of the president being arrested during his term of office. With this now said, would you believe that our Almighty God, who considers us perfect through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ His son would allow us to be imprisoned and bullied by the devil when all power and authority rests in His hands. Enough is enough of this "barely getting by" business, those are doctrines that need to be thrown into the dustbin, cast into the garbage truck and dumped into the main garbage dump to be burned. You have been called to reign, not just to "survive." “For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ)" (Rom 5:17). You have no place among the slaves and pigs! Your place is in the palace, get that right! This scripture clearly says that you shall reign in this life. Many times you have been told that the time when you are going to reign is in the 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth. I do not dispute that, however I believe that "once a king always a king." It does not matter whether the King is 1 year old or 100 years old, that King will still exercise the same authority.

Let's look at a number of promises in the scriptures to see the level of authority we have been granted as believers;

Authority Unlimited:

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER (exousia) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Mat 28:18-20).

Authority over demons:

"Behold, I give unto you POWER (exousia) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and OVER ALL the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luk 10:19).

"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them POWER (exousia) against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (Mat 10:1).

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues" (Mar 16:17).

Authority to forgive sin:

"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath POWER (exousia) on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house" (Mat 9:6).

"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (Joh 20:23).

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom 6:14).

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath MADE ME FREE from the LAW OF SIN and death" (Rom 8:2).

Authority over death:

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have POWER (exousia) to lay it down, and I have POWER (exousia) to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" (Joh 10:17-18).

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, that is, the devil; And DELIVER THEM who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb 2:14-15).

Authority over finances:

"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee POWER TO GET WEALTH, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day" (Deu 8:18).

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that YE THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BE RICH" (2Co 8:9).

Authority to impart Spiritual gifts:

"Saying, Give me also this POWER (exousia), that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost" (Act 8:19).

"For I long to see you, that I may IMPART UNTO YOU SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT, to the end ye may be established" (Rom 1:11).

Authority over Creation:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and OVER ALL THE EARTH, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Gen 1:26).

"My God hath sent his angel, and hath SHUT THE LIONS' MOUTHS, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God" (Dan 6:22-23).