In many religious circles, authority is viewed as something you must “earn” through years of fasting, long hours of prayer, or reaching a certain level of “spiritual maturity.” This is a performance-based error that treats the power of God like a corporate promotion. Under the New Covenant, authority is not a reward for your labor; it is a legal right granted to you by your birth into the family of God.
To reign in life, you must stop trying to attain authority and start learning how to enforce the authority that was given to you the moment you were seated in heavenly places. Here are five steps to walking in your ruler anointing.
1. Recognize Your Seated Position
You cannot exercise authority while you are spiritually “standing” or “toiling.” True authority flows from a position of rest. Ephesians 2-6 (NKJV) reveals that God has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
- Above, Not Beneath: You are currently seated far above every principality, power, and system of lack.
- Perspective of Victory: Authority begins when you stop looking “up” at your problems and start looking “down” at them from the throne.
- The Finished Work: You are seated because the battle is over and the victory is won.
2. Understand the Legal Basis: The Name of Jesus
Authority is not based on your “holiness” or how “powerful” you feel. It is based on the legal power of attorney given to you in the Name of Jesus. When you speak in His Name, the spirit realm does not see you; it sees the One who defeated death and hell.
- The Deputy Mindset: A police officer doesn’t stop a truck because he is physically stronger; he stops it because he stands in the authority of the law.
- No Self-Reliance: Your authority is 100% based on Christ’s performance, which means your mistakes do not disqualify your “badge.”
3. Transition from Begging to Decreeing
One of the greatest hindrances to walking in authority is “beggar-praying.” This is when a believer asks God to do something He has already given them the power to do.
- The Word of a King: Ecclesiastes 8-4 (NKJV) says: “Where the word of a king is, there is power.”
- Command the Mountain: Jesus did not say “pray to Me about the mountain”; He said “say to this mountain, ‘Be removed.'”
- Enforcement: Prayer is for fellowship; decrees are for enforcement. You must speak to your body, your bank account, and your atmosphere and command them to align with the Covenant.
4. Enforce the Wealth Transfer
The “rich rule over the poor,” and God has called you to be the ruler. Part of your believer’s authority is the right to command resources to flow into the Kingdom.
- Breaking the Poverty Spirit: Poverty is a curse that was broken at the Cross. You must use your authority to rebuke lack and command the “wealth of the sinner” to be released into your hands for the sake of the Gospel.
- Managing the Inheritance: You are a son managing an estate, not a servant begging for a crumb.
5. Maintain a Righteousness-Consciousness
The enemy’s primary tactic to strip you of your authority is to make you feel guilty. If he can make you “sin-conscious,” you will drop your shield and stop using your sword.
- The Breastplate of Righteousness: Your protection in the spirit realm is the knowledge that you are perfected forever.
- No Legal Ground: When you know you are righteous, you realize the enemy has no legal ground to touch your life. This confidence is what gives your commands their “weight” in the spirit realm.
Conclusion
Walking in authority is the natural lifestyle of a New Covenant son. It is not about how loud you shout or how much you “wrestle” with the devil; it is about knowing who you are and where you are seated. Stop trying to get God to do what He has already empowered you to do. Take your seat, open your mouth, and start reigning in life through the abundance of grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I decree something and nothing happens immediately?
Authority is often a matter of persistence. Just as a king’s decree might take time to travel to the ends of the province, your spiritual command may take time to manifest in the physical realm. Do not cancel your decree with words of doubt; stay in rest and keep standing.
Can I lose my authority if I sin?
Your authority is based on the Name of Jesus, not your behavior. However, sin will cloud your confidence and make you stop using your authority. The “badge” is still valid, but you have to believe in it to use it.
Is authority only for “full-time” ministers?
No. Every believer has been given the same Name and the same seated position. Whether you are in a boardroom or a pulpit, you have the right to exercise dominion over your environment.
How do I “stir up” my authority?
By speaking the Word and praying in the Spirit. As you remind yourself of the Finished Work, your “faith-muscles” begin to flex, and you will find it easier to speak with command.
This article is part of a series answering difficult questions about grace and the New Covenant.