Authority To Release God’s Power

[Acts 3:1-8; Acts 3:12; Acts 3:16; Lk 9:1-2; Mt 10:1; Mt 10:7-8; Isa 45:11]

There are some keys to releasing the miraculous power of God. One of the least understood keys, and therefore seldom practiced, is the fact that this power is under the authority of the believer. God has already provided His healing power and placed it on the inside of every born-again believer. It is up to us to release it. Understanding and using our authority is the key to seeing miracles happen.

Look at how Peter and John ministered healing to the lame man in Acts chapter three.

Acts 3:1-8 (NKJV) – [1] Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. [2] And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; [3] who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. [4] And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” [5] So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. [6] Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” [7] And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. [8] So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them–walking, leaping, and praising God.

Notice that Peter didn’t pray for this man. He also didn’t ask God to heal him. He said, “Such as I have give I thee.” This didn’t mean that Peter was the source of this healing. Notice what Peter said in Acts 3:12,

Acts 3:12 (NKJV) –So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

It was God’s power that healed this man, but that power was under Peter’s authority. Peter went on to say in verse 16 that it was faith in the name of Jesus that had wrought this miracle.

Acts 3:16 (NASB) –“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

What is a name? A name is a word that carries the characteristics of the person. Peter had been given the authority to act in the character, and the name of Jesus Christ.

But Peter didn’t ask God to heal this man. He believed the Lord had already done His part, and had placed that power within him. Now it was Peter’s responsibility to release that power, and that’s just what he did. Our words of authority release God’s power!

The Lord never told us to pray for the sick in the sense that we ask Him to heal them. He told us to heal the sick. There is a BIG difference between the two. It has to do with operating in the authority He has already given us. Look at these commands the Lord gave His disciples.

Lk 9:1-2 (ESV) – [1] And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Mt 10:1 (ESV) –And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Mt 10:7-8 (ESV) – [7] And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Jesus didn’t say to ask the father to cast out demons, He didn’t tell the disciples to beg God to heal this man! Jesus told them (and us) to heal the sick, not pray for the sick. What a radical statement! This will get you kicked out of most churches today, but these are the exact words of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is precisely why more people don’t see the miraculous results when they pray. They aren’t using their authority to release God’s power; they’re passively asking Him to do what He told them to do.

I know this goes contrary to popular preaching. We’re constantly told that it’s not us but God who is the Healer, and I agree with that. But, it is clear that God has placed His healing power under our authority, and it is up to us to release it. If we don’t take our authority and become commanders instead of beggars, God’s power will not be released. There needs to be a radical renewing of our thinking on this issue.

Unfortunately there are teachers pulling Isaiah 45:11 “…command ye me,” out of context for this topic, The Believer’s Authority. The original language had no punctuation, but context tells us that “…command ye me,” should end with a question mark (i.e. don’t question God about the work of His hands).

God wants us to use our authority to manifest His power. It is His power, but He has given us authority to allow it to flow.

A power company generates the power and delivers it to your house. It’s not your power, but it’s under your control. You don’t call the power plant and beg them to come down to turn on the light. No! They generate the power, but you have the authority to flip the switch on the wall. You have the authority to use the power.

The Lord has provided healing for everyone who will ever be healed. He did it two thousand years ago, “by His stripes we were healed” (1Pet 2:24). Then He deposited His resurrection power inside every believer (Eph 1:19-20). He’s done His part, and now it is up to us to do ours.

We need to apply the authority He has given us, and become commanders instead of beggars. This is a powerful truth that works, and it’s the reason we see so many miraculous healings. We aren’t just praying for the sick; we are healing them in Jesus’ name.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond