FAITH AND AUTHORITY
By: John Parault

One aspect of the nature of faith being relational is we are to trust and submit to the authority of our Father and the Lord Jesus in knowledge.

Faith and authority are relational terms. For in authority one must relate in faith and submission to the authority that is above Him. Therefore we must relate to the Lord Jesus who has delegated authority in faith and obedience. Faith in His authority is not an option it is a must. If The Lord has given us authority to exercise according to His purpose, way and truth; why don’t we? That is where things happen. Authority is not in talk, it is an exercise of it in faith. But where there is no authority given, faith is not authorized to be exercised. But where there is authority given we are authorized to believe and do what is to be done in that authority given.

Knowledge and authority as well as faith go together and can never be separated. We are to act in that authority in true knowledge. We must understand that authority, and know what to do, in order to act rightly in the use of it. Authority and pride, and ignorance are dangerous. It can lead to presumption, and therefore to serious problems. One can overstep the bounds of his authority and do much damage, and that has been done many times in the church. Remember authority is always for the good of others. Authority is for man, and not man for authority. We must never abuse our authority as ministers. 2Cor. 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

I want to call your attention to a very important thing concerning faith in the matter of authority. Note the following words of a centurion to Jesus.

Matt. 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Note:

The word authority in Matt. 5 9 is the translation of the Greek word exousía #1849. Exousia is divinely given or delegated authority. It is therefore executive power. It implies freedom to do something, the ability or capability or the right to take action, to use power and do a certain thing, but under the authority of another. We see this meaning in Acts 26:12. The word has other meanings, but delegated authority in which there is power and the right to act is the one that pertains to this verse. Not the use of that word in John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power [exousia] (privilege or right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

The centurion knew and recognized for Jesus to speak would be an action of authority that He had (the right to act) and that healing would the result of the action of the authority. Whether He knew from where He received it is not known. We know that His father gave it to Him and that He would have to exercise it in faith. Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. See Matt. 21:23. Look at the scope of that authority Heaven and earth. Do we grasp the magnitude of that? That leaves nothing out.

We see the centurion’s recognition of the Lord’s authority in the words I also in Lk. 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under me, and I am saying to this one 'Go,' and he is going, and to another, 'Come,' and he is coming, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he is doing it."

The centurion here compares the Lord's position with his own. The Lord Jesus had authority over disease. That is the grounds for the centurion’s faith to act and for ours also. The centurion also had authority over his soldiers. The centurion had only to say to a soldier “Go!” and he went, so Jesus had only to say to disease “Go!” and it would obey him. The centurion was saying, I am “prepared,” therefore, to believe that your command to disease to go will be obeyed concerning my servant sickness. Do we look at it that way, and respond that way? Does the church believe it has authority to do the same?

Mk. 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The great faith of the centurion was the response to the authority that he knew Jesus had. Therefore He knew that true faith is manifested when faith and obedience to a higher authority is exercised. So faith is the response to Divine authority, and therefore to God’s word! Do we just have the doctrine of Jesus’ authority, are do we know for certain and believe that He has all authority? Do we really know it like the centurion did? Jesus did not find that certainty in all Israel. That is hard to conceive. Is this faith among us today?

By his authority Jesus Christ released the sick and demonized people from the power of Satan Matt. 8:8-10; Mk. 1:27 and instructed people in the truth of God Matt 7:29. By that same authority he forgave people their sins Matt 9:6, gave them eternal life John 17:2, made them children of God John 1:12, and gave them the authority and the power to carry on the work of his kingdom Matt. 10:1; 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 13:10.

Jesus’ whole ministry and life was under that authority, and so was His faith in that authority. Everything He did, all His works and words was in faith under that authority. What a difference there would be if the church walked that way. Jesus ‘own words are given in

Do we know what authority we do have in order to exercise it with faith? In unbelief authority is never exercised, and therefore what should be done, which is to loose, deliver, set free and established is never done. If we do not know that we have authority we cannot exercise authority, therefore faith cannot be exercised. You cannot exercise faith in what you do not know or disbelieve. Do we have authority to cast out demons, to heal the sick and to speak into situations and change them? Yes we do! Then let us do it!

When you are under authority, subject to authority you serve the higher authority. That is our way of life and God will work out His will in us and through us as we believe Him. So again we see that authority is relational. Now do you see this in this verse as you read it again? For I also am a man [who serves] under the authority [of others], and I have soldiers [who serve] under me. I can say to this one ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this,’

Note other scriptures speak of authority in relation to Jesus.

Matt. 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, [exousia] and not as the scribes. Teaching must be in authority or it will be dry as the teaching of the scribes.

John 12:49 seeing that I speak not from Myself, but the Father Who sends Me, He has given Me the precept, what I may be saying and what I should be speaking. Note that Father is not under authority, He answers to no one, for there is no one higher.

John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Jesus has authority to give eternal life John 17:1-2. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power (exousia) over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. He has all authority in heaven and earth. Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mk.11:27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 28 And say unto him, By what authority [exousia] doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus. We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus was saying here that His statements about the law (torah) and His right to interpret and reinstate the truth concerning it are without reference to anyone else’s verdict or opinion. He offered no justification. That is the accent of authority. He acted knowing he had the right to act. That is the action of authority in faith. We need to know that we have authority in order to act or exercise faith. Others will sense the authority of the man who walks in authority in faith.

Being under authority as Jesus was, He only acted according to what His Father told Him to do. This is clear and plain to see. Jesus was in a subordinate position with the right to act in authority given; therefore the power given of Father was released in the exercise of that authority in faith. He had faith in His Father’s words concerning what He could say and do and did so.

John 5:19 Jesus, then, answers and said to them, "Verily, verily, I am saying to you, The Son can not be doing anything of Himself if it is not what He should be observing the Father doing, for whatever He may be doing, this the Son also is doing likewise."20 For the Father is fond of the Son and is showing Him all that He is doing. "And greater works than these shall He be showing Him, that you may be marveling.