📌Authority is Not Borrowed and Is Given to The Children of God

I want to talk plainly today about authority—specifically, authority in the name of Jesus.

There is a difference between using a name and being authorized to use it.

Jesus made that distinction very clear.

In Luke 10:17, the seventy returned with joy, saying:
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Why did it work?

• They belonged to Jesus
• Jesus was their Lord
• He sent them
• They were covered by His authority
• They used His name lawfully

They weren’t experimenting.
They weren’t imitating someone else’s faith.
They were operating under delegated authority.

Now contrast that with Acts 19:13–16.

Some itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to cast out demons using the name of Jesus—“whom Paul preaches.”

The result?

The evil spirit answered,
“Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Then the man overtook them, overpowered them, and sent them fleeing wounded and exposed.

Why?

• They did not belong to Jesus
• Jesus was not their Lord
• They were not sent
• They had no covenant relationship
• They had no authority

They tried to borrow authority that can only be received.

Authority in Jesus’ name does not come from words spoken—it comes from relationship established.

Scripture makes this unmistakably clear:

John 1:12
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Authority flows from sonship.
Sonship flows from receiving Christ.

This is why an unsaved person has no authority to operate in spiritual warfare—even if they use correct language.

It is not harmless.
It is not neutral.
And it is not safe.

They may not be publicly humiliated like the sons of Sceva, but the cost will show up—in confusion, oppression, loss, or spiritual backlash.

Too often I have watched people insist they have authority in areas where God never gave it. They proceed anyway. And later, when things fall apart, they never connect the damage to their disobedience.

Here is the simple truth:

If you do not know Jesus, do not try to do Jesus-things.

And if you do know Jesus, then walk in humility, obedience, and alignment—because authority is exercised best under submission.

Jesus didn’t just give us His name.
He gave us position, covering, and commission.

Stay in your lane.
Stay under His Lordship.
And when He sends you—you will not be overpowered.

Stace, In His Service

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✿⊰ B e l i e v e ⊰✿
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