Our God-given authority

In his most recent letter, Bubba, a Texas inmate pen pal of mine, responded to a concern I had about my daughter. He wrote:

"Andree, listen, the Word says you have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. For one thing it's not [your daughter]. Andree, have you stop confessing Scripture over her? You said it yourself in your letter, the Lord calls things into existence that are not. You been blessed with every spiritual blessing but if your not claiming your right's as a child of God, your just spinning your weels. The Lord Andree has given you authority over everything in the spiritual relm. … You must claim [your daughter] as a heir to God through Jesus! Death and life are in the power of your tongue! Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. The wise in heart draw from the wells of living water! Claim her, she is your daughter and you must claim it! … Ive been praying for [your daughter] and in my other letter I felt the Lord lead me to tell you-what are you confessing, doubt or faith?"

I am hoping this one is not for dissection. I just wanted to share how blessed I was by Bubba's Nathan-like question: "Andrée, have you stop[ped] confessing Scripture over her?" (The answer is no, sometimes I forget to pray for her along these faith-filled lines: "Lord, your Word says all things are possible for him who believes, and nothing is impossible with you. Change my daughter's heart. Bring her into situations where she will see Your glory.")

Bubba also reminded me of my authority in the spiritual realm. This is a much-neglected message. Jesus gives His disciples authority over demons (Luke 9:1-2), over the work of Kingdom-building (Mark 13:34), over everything under the sun for the Kingdom's sake (Mark 16:15-18). It is the "forceful" who take the Kingdom by force (Matthew 11:12).

How can puny man have such authority? Think of it like a policeman's authority. The man wearing the blue uniform is nothing in himself. But when he calls out to a suspect, "Stop!" he has the full authority of the law that is behind him. It is the same with us. We have been deputized, we are ambassadors sent to a country not our own, and the message we bring comes with the full authority of the King who sent us.