In Mark 1:21-28, Jesus went into a synagogue and began to preach. The Scripture says, “Jesus taught as one having authority” and the people in attendance that day were astonished. The Bible doesn’t say Jesus was in authority but rather He HAD authority. There is a fundamental difference between being “in” authority and “having” authority. Being “in authority” describes a position while “having authority” describes a possession.
Having authority is often equated with titles and loudness but this is a false association. Just because a person is “in charge” or can shout the loudest doesn’t necessarily mean they possess authority. Countless times I have seen parents screaming at their children in public because of misbehavior. I pity the parent that has to scream at their child at the grocery store because it’s typically a sign they have NO authority over that child and that child is ruling them. I remember attending church as a kid and there have been services where my brothers and I were flicking each other on the leg and all it took was “the look” from mom and we stopped because we knew we were going to get it as soon as we got home. Mom possessed something intangible and it wasn’t the intimidation factor. Mom had authority over her children.
I know pastors and evangelists who can preach without a microphone but this doesn’t necessarily mean they possess authority. I have been in church services where demon possessed individuals sit comfortably in church, many times in the front row, and say “amen” to everything that is being preached behind the pulpit but they cause no ruckus because there is no authority behind the message nor behind the pulpit. The stench of hell is so repugnant in many churches today, it isn’t uncommon for me to discern hoards of demons in the vicinity of church buildings while I drive by! It’s a heartbreaking trend for the modern church but it isn’t something new.
Mark 1:23 records there was a demon possessed man in attendance while Jesus was preaching in the synagogue and most likely this wasn’t this man’s first time visiting that particular synagogue. The fact the demon possessed man was able to listen to the teachings of the scribes without causing a ruckus is an indication that something was terribly wrong. For one none of the scribes could discern what was in their midst but two the scribes had no power and no authority. Their teachings had no life, lacked Holy Ghost power and the anointing. The demons were drawn to this type of preaching because it was comfortable but something changed when Jesus showed up. While Jesus was preaching, the demon possessed man got uncomfortable and the demon manifested itself. This demon interrupted the service by crying out, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?” In Mark 1:25, Jesus rebuked the demon by saying, “Be quiet; and come out of him!” And the demon cried out with a loud voice and departed from the man. When Jesus did this, the people in attendance were amazed. They spoke among themselves saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
The authority Jesus possessed over all unclean spirits is indisputable but the amazing thing about this is Jesus later gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits. Each of the three synoptic gospels record this incident but I like the way Luke records it in his account,
“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1-2 NKJV
The disciples had power and authority over demons because Jesus gave it to them but something very unusual happens later in the same chapter. A man brings his demon possessed son to Jesus’ disciples but they are unable to cast it out (Luke 9:37-40). How could it be possible that Jesus having authority over unclean spirits cast out demons but a group of people who also had power and authority over demons not? Something is clearly not right with this picture!
After this incident, Matthew records a conversation between Jesus and the disciples (Matthew 17:19-21). They asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus reveals it was due to do their unbelief but Jesus also reveals there are certain kinds of demons that can only be fought with a greater form of spiritual authority. Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). It’s really easy to come to the conclusion that more powerful demons can only be combated with prayer and fasting but I’ve come to understand it has little to do with the method itself than it does with having intimacy with the Father.
In Numbers 11, Moses was feeling the burden of having to lead an entire nation alone so God instructed Moses to choose 70 elders to help alleviate the burden. God filled these 70 elders with the Holy Spirit and these elders began to prophesy (Numbers 11:25). Moses was the leader of the people because he heard from God and had the Holy Spirit. Up until this point, Moses was the only man that heard from God and had the Holy Spirit but now 70 others also heard from God and had the same Spirit. Shortly after the 70 elders were anointed by the Holy Spirit, Miriam and Aaron recognized Moses was no longer the only person with spiritual authority. They believed they were now equals with Moses because they too heard from God (Numbers 12:1-2) but God quickly shut down their pride with this reproving word,
“Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?” So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed.” Numbers 12:6-9 NKJV
Although it wasn’t apparent to Miriam and Aaron in the moment of their gossip session but Moses possessed a greater spiritual authority than them and any of the 70 elders. Miriam and Aaron knew God but they didn’t know God on the level that Moses knew Him. Moses was so close to God that his face shone from the glory of the LORD (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses’ relationship with God was the reason he possessed greater spiritual authority and this was the kind of spiritual authority Jesus possessed and His disciples lacked. Jesus possessed a greater spiritual authority because He had an intimate relationship with the Father. Jesus was a praying man and He also fasted. Often times while His disciples were sleeping, He was praying to the Father (Mark 1:35, Matthew 26:39-40). When Jesus was fasting, He was spending time with the Father. The reason Jesus possessed a greater spiritual authority was because of His relationship with and to the Father. Although the disciples had authority, they didn’t have the greater authority because they simply lacked an intimate relationship with the Father due to their prayerlessness!
We as believers can have greater spiritual authority but it isn’t something that is earned. Greater spiritual authority isn’t obtained by credentials or by popularity. It is the byproduct of having intimacy with God. A person with the greater authority is made on their knees and in the presence of God. A prayerless man or woman can never have true spiritual authority but those who intimately know their God are those who will do great exploits (Daniel 11:32). I don’t know about you but I believe we could use more of THIS kind of spiritual authority today.
Joshua Hawk 