Clearly Defined Unauthorized Authority

Are there limits to man’s authority on this Earth? Are there consequences if we step outside our authority? For many years I believed that “all authority” was given to me because so many big preachers were saying that. Recently, God has shown me that statement is not supported in the Word of God. When we try use authority God hasn’t given us, this is wielding Unauthorized Authority.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

This verse says that there is no condemnation for Christians. To find out what it is speaking about, we must continue reading:

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11)

Paul was speaking about the consequences of sin by which we are sent to Hell when we die. Christians were being persecuted: hung on crosses and fed to lions. He was reassuring them that, in the end, all would be okay if the clung to their faith in Jesus.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;  (Romans 8:17)

Many people use this verse to state ALL authority has been give to us. However they always leave off the last half of the verse:

...if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

Paul is still talking about enduring suffering for what is to come because we are “heirs with Jesus.” You inherit something and receive your inheritance when you die. Many Christians were giving their lives so Paul was encouraging them of their future: When they die they would inherit eternal life in Heaven.

Many times this verse is combined with being “co-laborers” with Jesus. The entire verse reads:

“For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building… (1 Corinthians 3:9)

We are what God uses to do His work on this Earth. A field cannot plant crops or do things on its own. God is the one directing what needs to be done, not us. We need to be sure that we are doing what God wants us to do.

Another common reference to our authority is that we have been given “all authority.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we have been given all authority.  In Luke when Jesus sent out His disciples, they were to preach the Gospel and prepare the way for Jesus by breaking Satan’s authority to ready the people to receive from Him. They returned, so excited at the power and authority they wielded in His name. Jesus explained:

Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The words "power" in this verse are actually two different Greek words:

1. power to tread: (exousia) This can mean the power of rule (authority), specifically over mankind because of the power of judicial decrees.
2. all the power of the enemy: (dynamis) This is the same root word for dynamite. It is the creative power to do miracles, the power and influence that comes with wealth, the power of an army.

Before the Lord sent out the disciples to a specific place for His purpose, they were given power over the enemy. He dispatched the them with specific tasks: to prepare the way for His coming and He empowered His devoted followers to get the job done. Both serpents and scorpions are metaphorical because we don't need to actually walk on these deadly creatures.

• Serpents: earthly, sensual wisdom; crafty and cunning people. Jesus and John the Baptist referred to Pharisees as serpents.  
• Scorpions: these hold poison in their tail. A tale is a story. These are people who weave deadly and poisonous stories with their mouths.

The authority to walk over or overcome these types of attacks from people was given to those the Lord sent out for this particular task. The disciples were able to conquer the enemy because Jesus gave them power to perform miracles by healing the sick and casting out demons (from Matthew). This not only proved they were from God, but it moved Satan out of the way.

Did the disciples continue casting out all demons and performing miracles after they returned? There are zero accounts of the 70 people He empowered going around the country doing miracles until the disciples were empowered at the Feast of Pentecost. After that, Paul reports when the Lord equips us with this type of authority:

For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me [as an instrument in His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, [Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:18-19)

Gentiles, by definition, are those who do not know or have a relationship with God. The authority to overcome ALL the power of the enemy with signs, wonders, and miracles is given when Jesus sends us out to preach the Gospel to those who haven't heard it yet. This is to confirm God's love by delivering those oppressed by the Devil. We have not been given all authority to use whenever WE want, for whatever WE think should be done. We must be sent out by our Lord.

How this authority applies to believers today can be seen in the Book of Matthew. After Jesus rose from the grave He said:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” (Matthew 28:18)

If we continue reading, in the rest of that passage, the Lord tells us to go and make disciples. He never says, “I give you all authority.” Jesus states clearly what authority we have been given in the Great Commission:

Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]... And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe:

1. In My name they will drive out demons;
2. they will speak in new tongues;
3. They will pick up serpents
4. if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them;
5. they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

This entire list is comprised of things that are affecting men on this earth:

1. Demons reside in men
2. You speak with your physical body
3. “Pick up snakes”
4. What we ingest will not harm us - in this world
5.  Healing happens to people's physical body

Every one of these is something that is afflicting us in this physical world - it is touching our physical realm. All power was given to Jesus, our Lord, and He gave us authority in these areas, not “all authority.” Nowhere does it actually state that we have authority in the Heavens because this would contradict God's Word:

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth hath He given to the children of men.” (Psalms 115:16)

Notice that everything in the heavens are the Lord’s and things on this Earth are what we have authority over. The Bible never tells us that we have authority in the heavens, Earth is man's' domain and Heaven being God’s.

To further explain number three: In Strong’s Concordance the Greek word “αἴρω” for “take up” can also mean to “remove from thy place.” Serpents are earthly animals and often used to describe Satan and his forces as they act upon this earth. We are to remove them from their place here on Earth. How do we do that? By removing their authority in the Courts of Heaven.

There are three ways we transgress concerning authority that hasn't been given to us:

1. Taking authority over principalities, powers, and wickedness in high places.
2. Commanding the heavenly hosts &; specific angels.
3. Taking authority over Leviathan.

Let's look at each one of these in detail:

Principalities, Powers, and Wickedness in High Places

Many people quote the verse, “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...” (Ephesians 2:6)

It is making a huge leap to say that because we are seated with Him , that we have the same authority He has. No where in the Bible does it say anything about us having ALL the authority He has. We only have what our Lord gives us, what is stated in the Bible and what He did on this Earth. You must keep reading to find out what this verse is speaking of:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God... (Ephesians 2:7-8)

The position we hold in Christ isn't saying that we have all the authority that He has, it is saying that God's grace is being displayed in our right standing in Heaven by what Jesus did! To add to that verse and say we have all the authority He has, is very presumptuous.

If the millions of Christians on this planet could actually see what all the demons, principalities and dominions were doing in the heavens, would we really know what to do with them? If everyone had the right and began to bind and loose them, there would be total chaos. Our authority is here on the planet earth. We must remember that and stop trying to take authority over what we don’t fully understand. Many people pair the previous verse with this one:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)

Many people claim that this is proof that we occupy the same position with God as Jesus does, so we need to take authority over things in the Heavens. The chapter before this one in Ephesians and all five verses prior to this one talks about submitting to those in authority over us on this earth. There is nothing that speaks of us attacking anything. Quite the opposite. It says to walk in love, knowing that our battle isn't with flesh and blood. If you keep reading, the next verse gives the context:

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. (Ephesians 6:13)

We are just supposed to stand, not to attack. After it describes the armor of God it shows how to stand: by praying in the Spirit (heavenly language) and praying that our spiritual leaders are granted wisdom. That is it. Those are our instructions.

Where is there an example in the Bible of a man taking authority over things in the Heavens? Did Jesus ever do it when He was acting as a man on this Earth. Did the disciples? The Bible says no such thing! If the disciples could have prayed and dispersed the evil powers controlling Israel, wouldn't they have done that when they were being crucified? Yet nowhere in the New Testament is there an example of them attacking principalities, pulling down strongholds in Heaven or loosing the hosts of Heaven to come and battle on their behalf.  Here is a New Testament verse warning us about such things:

Nevertheless in like manner, these dreamers also corrupt the body, scorn and reject authority and government, and revile and libel and scoff at [heavenly] glories (the glorious ones). 

But when [even] the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about the body of Moses, he dared not [presume to] bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, The Lord rebuke you! (Jude 1:8-9)

The word translated “glories” in the Amplified and “dignitaries” in the King James Bible is the Greek word, doxa which can mean “of the angels.” We know this is the right translation because it goes on to give an example of Michael not condemning Satan but instead asking the Lord to do so. This is an example of how we are to act and it is after Jesus had risen. He has been given all power, we have not.

Jesus clearly gave us power to cast out demons. If we are “casting out” it must be “in” someone. Some are claiming the “legion” of demons inside the man that Jesus cast out into the pigs (Matthew 8) would constitute a principality because it was a military unit. So this proves we can move against principalities. We need to stick to the facts stated in the Bible instead of presuming:

• The Legion was in a man - we have authority to cast out what is inside someone
• “Principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in High Places” - the High Places are in the heavens, so principalities are in the heavens.

We cannot mix the two things together. If the spirit is affecting

1. an area - neighborhood
2. a business, or school
3. a city
4. a country

We do not own these and do not have authority over them. These are principalities operating in the heavens and it is not ours to control. Unfortunately, people are still commanding things in Heaven:

• Individuals reading prayers from books or saying “amen” to prayers online
• in group prayer meetings 
• in prayer marches around cities

Some examples of what they are wrongly commanding are:

• the spirit of abortion
• spirit of violence
• spirit of adultery

What if you see these things? A woman, let’s call her Tammy, was shown a dragon over her daughters school and insisted that this was revealed so she could cast it down. Since there is no example of someone on Earth casting down a principality, that is a direction that the Bible does not support. Tammy was also given a vision as she was praying over a nation:

“I suddenly had a vision of myself in the heavenlies looking down on the earth with this demonic principality. As I prayed in the spirit, I saw angels being dispatched from heaven. While continuing to pray over this situation I saw the Lord several steps behind me…”

The Holy Spirit was trying to show her the right way to handle the situation according to the Word of God. If a principality over an area is revealed, pray as the Bible tells us to, in the Heavenly language. When we yield our tongue to the Holy Spirit, we are not praying, God is speaking. What we say is authorized by God because the Holy Spirit is the one speaking: God is speaking through our mouth!

Unfortunately, Tammy believed that God was telling her that she had all authority, that she had been given special authority over principalities. We can hear from God and we can hear from the enemy who loves to imitate God (read about that CLICK HERE). We must ALWAYS test what we hear by comparing it to the Word of God. If you don’t find it in His word, then it isn’t from Him. Was there ever anyone in the Bible, even Jesus Himself, that took authority over principalities? Then it is a bit prideful to think you have more authority than He did.

What about the verse that says those that believe “will do even greater things than these,” (John 14:12). Couldn’t that refer to tearing down strongholds and principalities in the Heavens?

Absolutely not. God is always the same. He will never contradict what He has already said. The Earth is man’s, the Heavens are the Lord’s. Pray in the Spirit, let God say what He wants done through your mouth. This is what the Bible says about Principalities.

Leviathan

Leviathan is not a single demon. The Bible labels the armies of Egypt as Leviathan. Satan's network in the spirit realm, hovering over the Earth, called by the same name in that realm. There are 7 heads or strong leaders who are his generals controlling his army - they have different categories of abilities. (Revelation 12:3)

When we say an attack of "Leviathan" we are saying that it is a coordinated attack by the armies of Satan. The Bible tells us there is only one who can deal with this: The Lord is the one who can battle Leviathan.

In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent... (Isaiah 27:1)

The 41st chapter of Job tells us the most about this army.

Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle [with him]; you will not do such [an ill-advised thing] again! Behold, his [assailant’s] hope and expectation [of defeating Leviathan] is false; Will not one be overwhelmed even at the sight of him? No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dares to stir up Leviathan; Who then is he who can stand before Me [or dares to contend with Me, the beast’s creator]? (Job 41: 7-10)

If you sense a multi-pronged attack upon your life, cry out to your Lord who can free you! Do not try to attack Leviathan who is the army of Satan in the Heavens.

Commanding Angels

There is a very popular wrong teaching out that we can “command our angels” to do things. I believed this for many years. However when someone asked me what verse I was standing on, I searched many books by well-known ministers to see where their Biblical support was. This was all I found:

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

When we examine this in the Amplified version which goes back to the original text to give a fuller meaning, this is what we find:

“Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?”

This makes it clear that our angels are in God’s service to help us. They are not our servants to command.

Heavenly Hosts:

There is a certain female minister who has been declaring that we can release or command the heavenly host to tear down strongholds. She quotes this verse:

Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. (Psalm 103:20)

However if you listen carefully to her video on this topic, she has changed a couple of words to say, “The angels hearken to YOUR words.” This is not what the Bible states. “His” is capitalized, so it is referring to God. It is clear that the heavenly host heed God’s words not mans!

When Jesus was being arrested He said,

“Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)

If our Lord had to ask His Father and wasn’t commanding the angels, what makes us think we can command instead of ask? The Bible also tells us that the angels are God’s servants and the ones assigned to the “little ones” have their face turned toward God. Angels are commanded by God the Father, not us.

In the first visit in the Courts of Heaven where we address these issues, many people are instantly healed, some wake up the next morning healed of things we had no idea they were suffering with. Clearing the charges is as easy as saying, “I am sorry, God, that I took authority in the Heavens that wasn’t mine. I know now that my authority is with things on the Earth and I won’t take authority in the heavens again. I plead the blood over these things and ask that all cases against me for these things are dismissed in Jesus name.”

Consequences of Unauthorized Authority

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—  (John 14:15)

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:14)

These two verses should always be foremost in our thoughts. How do we know that we belong to Jesus and that we love Him? We keep His commandments: to love one another and to love God. By doing this or being willing to start doing this, we receive the Holy Spirit.

We know we are loving one another when we have evidence of the Holy Spirit being in our lives. This is known as having the “fruit of the Spirit:” love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you are struggling with these things, the Courts of Heaven may help set you free of the enemies influence so that you can begin growing in these things.

Now that you know what it looks like to have the Holy Spirit in charge of your life, we must always remember that “those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” Yes, Jesus gave us His name, but did the Holy Spirit tell you to use it? We must be led by the Spirit in order to be operating as in our authority as a child of God.

There is a danger in trying to take authority that isn’t ours. God is fair and just. When we attack the enemy illegally, he gets to attack us back - illegally. We have discovered in the Courts of Heaven that bogus charges will appear that the petitioner cannot place in their lives when they have stepped outside their realm of authority. Only by repenting of the above can these charges be removed. We have found that God’s mercy is new each and every day: the bogus charges are dismissed the next day.

Unfortunately, we have had people come into the courts and repent for these things but not understand that taking authority over the spirit of violence in the neighborhood is attacking a principality. This isn’t repentance because they didn’t see their actions as wrong. Because of this, bogus charges appeared again: Charges came that couldn’t be placed either against them or their ancestors. Under the urging of the Holy Spirit, I went over unauthorized authority and found where the misunderstanding was.

Once you ask for charges in the Courts of Heaven, you are confessing before all of Heaven that you understand that the enemy may have a right to inflict you or keep God’s blessing from showing up in your life. If you begin demanding, declaring, decreeing in Jesus’ name without the strong prompting from the Holy Spirit showing that the way has been clear, you may receive charges for “abuse of authority.” Often people are using prayers or decrees in books that have been effective for others: formula prayers.

These prayers may be inspired by the Holy Spirit, but they were for a certain time and a certain purpose. Are there cases against you in the Courts that would give the enemy rights to hinder you from having what you are decreeing in Jesus’ name? You are abusing the Name and power given to you by not waiting on the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit to tell you this prayer is for you at this particular time. This may lead to an abuse of authority charge against you.

We also find that people will come back after receiving victory in the Courts because they have come under assault again. They may have an issue that wasn’t fixed in three visits, so they choose to go to a healing revival or a deliverance ministry. Sometimes they actually feel better for a brief time, but then it will return with additional issues such as a cold or flu or the issue itself may be worse.

In these cases, words received will describe a ministry they have gone to for healing or deliverance coupled with “scattered” or “random.” This means that an attack was done at “random” and “scattered” because they had not received the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were relying on a book that said, if these are the issues, then say this prayer. Other times the charges will talk about “circumvent” or “abuse,” meaning they circumvented the courts and have abused the power given to them. In both cases, the original charges giving the enemy access are still there.

Leaders and Unauthorized Authority

Through studying about the Courts of Heaven, we have discovered that God is a just and righteous Judge. He may give the enemy rights to afflict us if we continue in sin. Well-meaning leaders are actually leading a rebellion against God’s decisions as Judge of Heaven and Earth by wielding unauthorized authority and abuse of authority. If a child of God is leading others to overthrow God’s rightful rulings, they will be in contempt of court.

The Lord told our ministry to take leaders before the Judge to confess and repent for unauthorized authority. I was obedient, even though I didn’t understand why until one petition asked for help. He had confessed for unauthorized authority but saw no change in his situation so he began a fast. During the fast, the Holy Spirit said, “Did I tell you to fast? Go to the Courts.”

As our team took him into the Courts, I clearly heard, “He is barred from the Courts.” I approached the Judge and pleaded for mercy, asking for Him to hear the petitioner because I knew he had accepted where he had stepped outside of his authority.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18 ESV)

And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15 AKJV)

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2 AKJV)

When we lead others in rebellion against God’s just judgments which give the enemy certain access to places or people, God can turn His face from us so that He will not hear us. This is why the Lord instructed us to intercede for leaders in the Courts. We must be careful when we intercede and make sure they have understood where they have gone wrong.

Do not be in a hurry in the laying on of hands [giving the sanction of the church too hastily in reinstating expelled offenders or in ordination in questionable cases], nor share or participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22 AMPC)

The Amplified Classic Version of this scriptures shows how to apply the fullness of the translation. We must not be hasty in petitioning God for those who have rebelled against God’s ways, lest we be found guilty by association. If you have led others in the battlefront for the kingdom and have found that you or your family are under attack, we have created a Leaders, Teachers, Intercessions course which contains the classes that contain what allows the enemy to attack that group most often.   

There are many posts here about how to operate in the Courts of Heaven and Agape Christian Fellowship has a free COH Academy where you can learn about all that Jesus has done for us and how to fully appropriate His blood. 

https://www.cohacademy.com/

Find the Courts of Heaven Academy - Worldwide on Facebook, CLICK HERE.

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