What can we do about all the problems we face? Not feeling well in our bodies, Finances are drying up; People are opposing us.

Remember when Jesus spoke to the storm?

Matthew 8:24 And a great storm arose on the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Two things to note here. Firstly, Jesus was not concerned about the storm. He was asleep and enjoying the movement while sleeping. Then he stood up and spoke to the storm.

Matthew 8:26 And he said to them, Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Jesus used authority to quiet the storm.

Do we also have such authority? Yes, He has given us keys of authority.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you will bind on earth will be bound in heaven: and whatever you will release on earth will be released in heaven. [GBMV]

I want to speak today on authority and power. They are not exactly the same thing. Every believer has been given the authority to use the name of Jesus. But our authority is limited.

When it comes to ministry involving others, we need additional authority. We have no authority over other people, but that authority can be increased.

In the Old Testament, Elijah came to the king and told him, “It will not rain again until I say so.” His successor, Elisha was being taunted by some youths, so he cursed them, and bears came out of the woods and attacked them.

This is a whole new level of authority. This is the authority Jesus used to command the storm to cease. Now, in Scripture, authority is usually symbolized by a key. A key opens or locks doors. It allows or blocks things.

Keys of Authority

We already have the keys of the kingdom as believers. But a prophet is given a much higher level of authority. When you qualify for the prophetic office, you receive a golden key, which provides you with a much higher authority.

When you rise up higher into the apostolic office, you receive even more authority. Firstly, it is symbolized by a scepter placed in your hands and then by a jewel-encrusted key.

Most people are confused about what constitutes the prophetic office. It is not a capability to prophesy more accurately. It is an added level of authority, which must be earned through training and passing tests.

The primary function of a prophet in office is not to prophesy over people or predict the future but to send a decree into the earth to accomplish God’s purposes.

The apostolic authority is even higher. Peter used it to judge Ananias and his wife for lying to the Holy Spirit, and Paul used it to blind Elymas the sorcerer.

If you have been placed into a Prophetic or Apostolic Office, you have a higher level of authority. But do you know how to use it?

When I first received the authority of the prophet and apostle, I learned to use that authority to demand certain things. You are like a king giving an order. There are angels waiting to carry it out.

The danger is that you could use that authority to harm someone when you are angry with them. That is why there is intensive training, including going through a huge death process before you are given that authority.

Nevertheless, this authority does lie in your hands - or your mouth rather. When Jesus sent His disciples out He gave them some of His authority. And this enabled them to go and bring blessing to those who received them and judgment on those who rejected them.

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called to himself his twelve disciples, he gave them authority [over] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. [GBMV]

Often, when Jesus performed a miracle, the people remarked on His authority. But it takes more than authority to bring effects like healing. Authority allows us to come against every demon power, from Lucifer downwards.

And we have also the angels to help us assert that authority. Many think they must pray and then wait for God to do this. But He has given us the authority to bind and release.

With demons, authority is the only thing needed. And if a spirit of infirmity has been causing a sickness, they can be rebuked and told to leave. And this often results in healing, as the body is then released to heal itself.

Necessity For Power

But it always takes two actions to complete this. When God created the world, he spoke authority and commanded - Let there be. But it was the power of the Holy Spirit that formed the earth.

When we use authority, we release the angels to help enforce the authority

We also bring God into the picture since we do it in His Name.

But then we need His power to come in and make it happen. You can rebuke a sickness and tell the spirit of infirmity to leave. But it takes additional power to repair the body's damage.

So sometimes, even when you have asserted your full authority, you do not see the healing manifest yet. I found this frustrating at times because I knew my authority and used it effectively. But still did not see the full results.

I opened the door to let the devil out, but he did not go. I tried to lock him out, but he was already inside.

The Lord showed me that I needed more than the keys of the Kingdom. I needed more than authority. I needed a manifestation of God’s power.

This looks a bit different to the authority. You can use a key to lock and unlock, but you cannot attack with a key. You need another object.

Ephesians 6:17 And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the [spoken rhema] word of God: [GBMV]

You Need a Sword

In Greek, they had different words for these two kinds of power: one for the power of authority and another for dynamic raw power.

I have often used the illustration of a traffic cop using authority to stop the traffic. He stands there and raises his hand to show stop, and all vehicles are required by law to stop. But if a big truck decides to ignore the command, it can run right over that little cop.

So what the cop needs is some weapon, like a bazooka or a tank to enforce his authority. And he can blow that truck right out of the road if he refuses to stop.

Well, this is how it looks when you combine a key and a sword. But the question is, how do I get my hands on both?

Well, as I said, you have to earn the right to the key by passing the tests in your training. This usually means sacrificing your own abilities. But the sword is received in a different way.

Paul shows us how in this passage: 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue [agape] love, and passionately desire spiritual [gifts], but mostly that you may prophesy. [GBMV]

Two Kinds of Sword

You see, two kinds of swords must accompany the keys. Elijah and Elisha had these, and they did far more than prophesy—they also performed miracles.

Paul speaks of two things that are needed. The first is love, and the second is spiritual gifts. If you like, these are like two different kinds of swords. The one is a fiery, aggressive sword. The other is a sleek, penetrating sword.

When you combine these two swords with the key, you will always get results.

So, how do you get the swords?

It is not the same way you get the keys. There is no intensive training or death process involved. The sword of love is something to be followed. It is already living inside of you - the agape love of God.

The other sword is the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in the gifts of the spirit. And this sword is obtained by having a core desire to be used by the Lord. You must be driven with a desire to be used by the Lord, where you are ready to pay any price to be used by Him, and you find yourself nagging him and crying out each day for more of His power.

Until He says yes, He grants you this desire by giving you a new mantle of ministry. Then, when you come to minister, you come first with your key of authority, and you assert it on behalf of the person you are ministering to.

Then, you pick up the two swords and wield them. Firstly, the sword of love carries an invincible power that Satan cannot resist. Then, the sword of God’s power.

Two Swords Crossing Over

This brings whatever is needed. It could be a prophetic word, a word of healing, or a decree. And where the two swords intersect, there is a spark of power.

Peter did this when he healed the man at the temple. He gave a word of authority and command - in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. Then he grabbed him by the hand and lifted him up, and together this resulted in a full healing.

I hope to do a complete teaching on some of this soon, but I wanted to share the main principle with you tonight because the Lord only gave it to me last night.

How can you increase the level of your authority?

By increasing your faith. Jesus told His disciples they needed more faith to deal with a demon where they failed. And if your prayers are not bringing results, perhaps your faith level is still too low.

Faith is always based on words, so the key is to fill yourself with the Word more. Then, the swords will come as you fellowship with Jesus in the Spirit just as He did with His father.

See Him putting these in your hands

Or He may use someone else to release them into you. This is a good time for all of us to move to a new place in the Lord, in preparation for the New Year. I already told you about my book A New You For a New Era. I am planning to publish this shortly and then give it to every one of our contacts as a Christmas gift.

It details how to tap into those inner resources and develop spirit, soul, and body, including healing in all parts of our being. Just to let you know, also ahead of time, we will be taking a short break between Christmas and New Year.

So there will be no weekly chat on the Monday before New Year. We are planning to make 2025 a year to be remembered. The Lord has promised great things, and we are going all out to make this ministry more visible to the world

Thanks for your support over the past year.

We look forward to seeing each one of you rise up to your full potential. Have a wonderful week of blessing, and start practicing using your authority and seeking the Lord for the swords of power.

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