Walking In Divine Authority by Pastor Anwinli Ojeikere: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Authority Is in Who You Are and What Christ Can Do

In Acts 3:6, Peter said to the lame man: Silver and gold I do not have. But what I have — in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Authority is not in currency. Authority is in who you are and what Christ can do.

When Goliath said to David in 1 Samuel 17:44: Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field — David responded. He could have looked at his physical size and been consumed by fear. Goliath was far bigger. But David said:

You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.

Until you know the revelation of who God is, you cannot do exploits. Until you know who he can be at his different expressions, you cannot exercise the authority that has been given to you.

Authority is not first about what you say but who you know.

The Sons of Sceva — Right Name, Wrong Identity

In Acts 19, God was working unusual miracles by the hands of Paul — handkerchiefs or aprons brought to Paul would heal the sick and evil spirits would leave. Some itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of Jesus over those with evil spirits: We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.

The evil spirit answered: Jesus I know, and 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.

Darkness knows light. Darkness trembles when it sees the one who carries genuine authority. The sons of Sceva knew the right name but had the wrong identity. They were imitating — and authority is not in imitation.

In the spirit world, vocabulary is not recognized. Relationship is.

Power does not respond to imitation. It responds to authorization.

You can call the name of Jesus and not know what he does, and it will not work. What you know about Jesus determines how much authority you can exercise in his name. When I know that he sent forth his word and healed — therefore disease has no place in my body. When I know that he delivered them out of all their afflictions — there is something I know that gives me standing.

You Cannot Manifest Authority Beyond Your Revelation

In Daniel 11:32 — The people who know their God shall be strong, and they shall carry out great exploits.

Two things happen to the people who know God: they are first strong, then they carry out great exploits. You cannot be timid and manifest divine authority. The revelation of God that you carry is the ceiling of the authority you can exercise.

Consider Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1: As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word.

It takes someone who understood authority to decree that there will be no rain for years. He was not just swearing. He was saying: I have walked with God so much, I have seen the expressions and manifestations of his power — I am standing with divine backing, delegated power, before the Lord of Israel. From that place, he decreed.

Walking on Water — Faith and Authority in Action

In Matthew 14:25-30, in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to the disciples walking on the sea. When they saw him, they were troubled, saying it was a ghost. Jesus immediately spoke: Be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid.

Peter answered: Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

He said: Come.

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. This is authority in action — not assumed authority, not imitated authority, but authority that is called forth by the word of the one who holds all authority. The moment Peter fixed his eyes on the one who gave the command, the water became a floor. The moment he shifted his gaze to the wind and the waves — back to the natural — he began to sink.

The lesson: do not look at your obstacles to determine your capacity. Look at the one who gave you the command.

How to Build the Revelation That Sustains Authority

• Study him in scripture — there is something you must know. Go deep into who God is, how he has acted, what he has promised.
• Pursue intimacy, not only information — the sons of Sceva had information. What they lacked was relationship. Relationship is what the spirit world recognizes.
• Speak from conviction, not convention — authority is not a formula to recite. It is a declaration that flows from deep knowledge and settled faith.
• Stand in your identity as a believer — in Luke 10:19, Jesus said: I have given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. That authority is already given — walk in the consciousness of it.

There is a new authority being bestowed upon you. You will command new territories. You will command new things. The Lord is healing bodies, removing pain, restoring what was lost. Receive it in the name of Jesus. And these signs shall follow them that believe — in his name, you will do great exploits.