What is Kingdom Authority and How to Release It
You have Kingdom authority through Jesus. But what does that mean? And if you have Kingdom authority, how do you activate or release it?
What Is Kingdom Authority?
In Hebrew, the word authority means “having dominion, the ability or power to do something based on a higher power, or to multiply.” The Bible is clear that you are given Kingdom authority through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit…
- “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”—Luke 24:49
- “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”—John 14:26
- “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”—Acts 1:8
- “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”—Acts 4:31
As a born-again Believer, you have been filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit. This gives you Kingdom authority as a child of God, adopted through the blood of Jesus.
- “…we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”—Romans 8:16-17
Kingdom authority is given to you because of the covenant relationship you have entered into with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Jesus. Kingdom authority can only be released to and through those in relationship with the Creator who submit to His ways.
God has ultimate Kingdom authority. He gave Adam dominion or Kingdom authority in the Garden. Adam had authority because the One in ultimate authority gave it to him. As we know, Adam gave his authority away, which led to the fall of man.
The good news is King Jesus has given His Kingdom authority to those who accept and follow Him…
- “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”—Luke 10:19
Jesus wants us to activate and release Kingdom authority with wisdom, love, boldness, and humility. We do this through the King-Priest anointing!
When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, He modeled how to walk in Kingdom authority with these attributes and submission to the Father.
- “…Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”—Matthew 6:9-13
Takeaway: Jesus has all authority and has tasked His followers with understanding and releasing it on earth according to God’s Word. This is why Jesus said, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
- “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”—Jude 25
What Kingdom Authority is Not…
Sadly, many misunderstand Kingdom authority and equate it with earthly power. Remember, in Luke 10:19, Jesus said He gave His disciples Kingdom authority over all the power of the enemy.
- “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
He went on to say…
- “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”—Luke 10:20
We should never want Kingdom authority more than the King. Kingdom authority is a result, a fruit of walking in the Spirit, not the motivation of our faith. Jesus reminds us that when we “lose our life” for Him, we will find it (see Matthew 16:25).
Kingdom authority is a question of who rules in your heart: Jesus Christ or you? Your rule results in a loss of life and Kingdom authority.
Understand Your Identity to Understand Your Authority
As we’ve discovered, Kingdom authority comes from positioning the King on the throne of your heart. This authority is transferred to you through His Spirit. But to release it, you must embrace your Kingdom identity.
As a co-heir with Christ, as a child of God, you carry a King-Priest anointing. Everything you do flows from your identity–this includes the way you see situations. Will you see them from a heavenly perspective or an earthly one?
In other words, when you are facing new territory, new places to exercise your Kingdom authority, will you see Goliaths or will you see God’s promises? How you see your identity determines how you see your circumstances.
For Kingdom authority, you must activate both the King and the Priest anointing. King David did this. After slaying Goliath, he became a king but also operated as a priest. He was a leader of the nation and unapologetically worshiped the Lord with all his heart.
The King-Priest anointing is about unity between divine authority and grace–Kingdom authority and worshiping the King.
Three Principles to Position Yourself for Kingdom Authority
- Seek God’s Kingdom First
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”—Matthew 6:33
When you seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first, He will give you Kingdom authority over the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear is one of Satan’s greatest tactics.
- Focus on God’s Presence
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”—Psalm 23:5-6
When you feel surrounded by the enemy, your first reaction is to focus on the enemy’s presence. The Word says that God has prepared a place for you in the midst of your enemies. Turn your eyes to God. Focus on how He has anointed and blessed you and that you will dwell with Him forever.
- Remember Who Gave Your Authority
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”—Deuteronomy 8:18
The enemy tends to go after those who walk in Kingdom authority. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he uses the spirit of pride to attack those in authority. Pride is a counterfeit of Kingdom authority, and he wants to see you come into agreement with it. The way to fight it is to remember Him who gives you the power to get wealth.
Three Ways to Release Kingdom Authority
- Approach God with a Repentant and Humble Heart
The Bible says that God resists the proud. Throughout scripture, we see those who humbly come to God in faith, trust in who He says He is, and receive healings and breakthroughs.
The Bible says you are healed when you confess your sins to one another. Humble yourself, turn from wickedness, and seek God. He will respond and release healing throughout the land.
Kingdom authority that partners with the Spirit that brings healing to the soul and the body must be preceded by repentance and humility.
- Know Your Identity in Jesus
Your identity in Jesus is the starting point to everything. Your spiritual identity speaks of lineage, protection, provision, covenant relationship, Kingdom authority, and eternal destination.
Satan will always attack your identity, just as he did to Jesus in the desert. “If you are really the Son of God…” These were Satan’s words to Jesus then, and he uses the same words to attack you. If he can get you to question your identity, he knows you will not activate the Kingdom authority you have.
Kingdom authority comes from knowing who you are in Jesus Christ. Make daily declarations of your identity in Jesus.
- Speak in Accordance with God’s Word
Just as Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus used God’s Word to battle. He proclaimed, “It is written…” over and over. God’s Word is a two-edged sword capable of splitting bone from marrow, good for pulling down strongholds, able to teach, and powerful to cut down lies of the enemy.
This is why God’s Word is the offensive weapon in the armor (see Ephesians 6:17). We are to pray it and speak it in the Spirit: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:18).
If you want to release Kingdom authority, start speaking the words of the One in ultimate authority.
In Summary
Kingdom authority means having dominion, the ability or power to do something based on a higher power, or to multiply. The Bible is clear that you are given Kingdom authority through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Kingdom authority only comes through a relationship with the One who has ultimate authority.
To release Kingdom authority, you must…
- Have a repentant and humble heart
- Know your identity in Jesus
- Speak according to God’s Word
If the enemy can get you to come into agreement with pride, not stand firm on your identity in Jesus, or speak according to your own desires rather than God’s Word, he knows you cannot activate the Kingdom authority you have in Christ.
Stand in your Kingdom authority in this season. God is looking for those who will do His will on earth as it is written in Heaven.