What is all this about “taking authority?” - Part 1

One year ago, the Holy Spirit gave a word of knowledge to a young lady about God’s desire to heal my poorly repaired, spiral fracture of the right wrist that occurred in 2005.  As Chantal declared her authority in Christ and prayed for God to bringing healing, the warmth of the Spirit flooded into and down my wrist.  The bone, that had been twisted for ten years, heated up.   Chantal held the wrist in perfect alignment as she prayed, and the wrist became straight.  Well, 80% straight, with increased flexibility.  Chantal said she believed the Lord wanted me to go home and continue to pray for full healing, so that “I could learn to take authority in his name.”It’s a year later, and I am growing in the idea of “taking authority.”  What does that really mean?  Jesus gave us, as his disciples,  authority to “trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy.”  Because of the authority he had, Jesus passed it on to us, and said, “When you use this authority I give you, nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19.)”In Greek, the word “authority” is exousia (x-oo-see’-ah) which means the right of privilege, the power of authority and influence, and the power of rule so that you will be obeyed. By our simple act of faith in Jesus, God gives us the right to be his child, and the power or authority to inherit his kingdom and all that is connected with it. (John 1:12)From the beginning in the Garden, our Creator, the Great I Am, breathed into us, giving us life. At that point, the flow of authority began.  After the Fall, God gave all authority to Jesus. John the Apostle wrote that Jesus has ALL authority given him from the Father. (John 17:2).  When challenged by the Pharisees, Jesus told the Jews the confirmation of his authority was that the temple would be destroyed and raised again in three days. Our Lord was referring to his body being resurrected on the third day.When we declare our belief in Christ crucified and resurrected, the Holy Spirit gives each of us the authority to become a child of God. We move into a position of having delegated authority through Christ. What are we supposed to do with that?  Certainly Jesus wants us to do with that authority what he did, heal the sick, cast out demons, and bring people to repentance. Paul suggests we are to use that authority to build up others (2 Cor. 10:18.), to be God’s instrument to impart salvation, healing, and deliverance.Are we taking that authority to fulfill this commission?In Christ,