[CHAPTER 9] THE BELIEVERS AUTHORITY BY ANDREW WOMMACK

Chapter 9
Such As I Have
God has given us a huge authority. As born-again believers, Jesus has given
us more authority than even Adam and Eve had. They had authority over this
earth. However, after Christ rose from the dead, He had authority in heaven,
authority on earth, and authority under the earth—meaning the demonic realm
and hell. (Phil. 2:10.) After Jesus resurrected, but before He ascended, He turned to His disciples and said:
All power [authority, power of rule] is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.
MATTHEW 28:18-20
Since therefore refers to “in light of what I’ve just said,” Jesus was basically
telling His followers, “The authority and power I have, I now give to you. Go,
and continue doing My work, the work that I have begun.”
The authority we have as believers in Christ today is superior to the authority
Adam had. We have everything back that he lost, and much more. We now have
authority over the demonic realm. (Matt. 10:1,7-8.)
OLD VS. NEW
Compared to the Old Testament, there is a huge difference in the way the
New Testament talks about Satan. Although the Old Testament hardly mentions
him, the New Testament reveals that Satan is the one who caused different kinds
of sicknesses, seizures, convulsions, and blindness. The New Testament reveals
many things as being demonic in origin.
Why did God give us this knowledge in the New Testament, but not in the
Old? Simply put, even if the Old Testament saints would have known these
things, but they couldn’t have done anything with this knowledge. It wouldn’t
have done them any good to know that Satan was behind this or that because
they didn’t have authority to rebuke the devil or bind him.
Basically, the Old Testament people were told, “Just submit to these laws.
With your actions, do these things and don’t do these others.” By yielding their
actions to God in this manner, He was empowered to move in their lives. It also
limited what Satan could do. Basically, this was the approach in the Old
Testament.

In the New Testament, we now have an authority that has been given to us
that enables us to go beyond the surface level. Since we’ve been given authority
over demons, we can go behind the scenes and deal with the demonic powers
that are causing sicknesses and diseases and inspiring people to act a certain
way. We can see results that Old Testament people could never have seen.
However, along with this superior authority we’ve been given comes
responsibility. This means that since the Lord gave us such power and authority,
if we don’t use it, then we stop Him from intervening. God flows through us.
GOD’S POWER
Jesus gave us power and authority over the devil.
Then he [Jesus] called his twelve disciples together, and gave them
power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
LUKE 9:1
Power here means that we have the ability and the might. We also have the
authority to use that ability and might. But with that authority comes
responsibility.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
JAMES 4:7
That means if we don’t resist the devil, he won’t flee from us. Although this
is very simple, few believers understand it.
Many Christians aren’t using the authority that’s been given to them. When
Satan bothers them—maybe it’s through some sickness, disease, poverty,
tragedy, or other demonic attack— they approach God as if they don’t have any
power or authority. They beg God, saying, “Oh Lord, please change this
situation. Please get the devil off my back.” They don’t realize that this isn’t
within God’s authority—He’s given that to us.
This is exactly what the Scripture says. We have been given power and
authority over all devils.” (Luke 9:1.) God gave us authority over the devil. If
you’re fighting a demonic force, you have the authority to do something about it.
Now, you do have to be spiritual enough to discern its origin. Is it truly spiritual,
or just something completely natural? If it’s truly a demonic attack, then you are
responsible to get rid of that demon. You do so using God’s power, but that
power has been placed under your authority. If you don’t use it, it won’t be used.
WE MUST USE IT
Many Christians who come to me for counsel and prayer are just powerless.
They don’t understand that they have any authority. They’re begging God to,
“Please remove this sickness and prosper me financially. Please save this
person.” They are begging God to do things that He told them they have the

authority to do.
When God said, “You resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” that means
that if you don’t resist the devil, he won’t flee. God isn’t going to take care of the
devil for you. He’s already defeated Satan and stripped him of his power. God
gave you authority, and if you don’t exercise it, He’s not going to come and
rebuke the devil for you. The battle isn’t between God and the devil directly; it’s
between the devil and us. God has equipped us with authority and power, and we
have to use it.
You may wonder, Well, if it’s God’s will for us to be healed, then why did
this person die? God gave us the power to heal. It’s not our power. It’s His
power, but it’s under our authority. Jesus never told us to pray and ask God to
heal people. He told us to go and “heal the sick” (Matt. 10:8).
In the Gospels, Jesus never commanded His disciples to pray for the sick, but
He did command us to heal the sick. (Luke 9:2; 10:9.) The way it’s being done in
the church today, we basically pray, “Oh Father, we know that You can heal this
person. If it’s Your will, please—pretty please—do it.” We come as beggars,
asking. And if we don’t see something manifest, if we don’t see an instant result, then we wonder, Why didn’t God heal them? No, God has already released all the healing power it takes for every person on this planet to be healed of every sickness and disease. Jesus took the stripes on His back for our healing, and now He’s given us the power to heal the sick. He gave us power and authority over all demons to cast them out and cure diseases. Jesus gave that power to us, and it’s up to us to use it.
WALKING, LEAPING, AND PRAISING GOD
Consider Peter and John at the temple gate.
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s
womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is
called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who
seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter,
fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed
unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took
him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and
ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and
entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
ACTS 3:1-8
Notice in verse 6 that Peter said, “Such as I have, give I unto you” (authorparaphrase). Peter and John would be kicked out of most churches around the world today for saying, “I have the power to heal you.” It’s become fashionable for us to say, “Oh, it’s not me. I couldn’t heal a gnat.” Well, the truth is none of us can heal a gnat in our own human power. But we aren’t only human, we’re born again! God gave us power and authority—the right and ability to use that power. So Peter was absolutely correct when he said, “Such as I have, give I unto you.”

Notice in this instance that Peter never even prayed a prayer. Most people
would think that was terrible. How dare him heal someone without praying and
asking God! I don’t know about you, but I’m after results—and Peter got the
right results. His approach to this situation is the proper approach. Peter said, “Such as I have, give I unto you.” Peter knew he had power.
He knew he had the authority to use that power. So he took responsibility
and used that power. Because of it, that man was healed.
This is the very reason many people aren’t seeing healing today. They’re
coming to God and begging Him. They don’t understand that the power doesn’t
reside in heaven. God has placed the power to heal on the inside of every born- again believer. He’s also given us the authority to use it, which makes us
responsible. If someone isn’t healed, it’s not God who didn’t heal them—it’s us
not using our authority and power.

IT’S OUR TURN
Of course, there may be some other dynamics involved. It’s not always the
individual’s fault receiving the prayer. It could be the fault of the other people
around them. Jesus operated in absolute faith, but He had to put out scoffers and
unbelievers. Christ operated in faith perfectly, yet…
He could there [in His hometown] do no mighty work…because of their
unbelief. MARK 6:5,6
The limit wasn’t in Him, but in the people around Him. The limit isn’t always
in the person receiving the healing. There could be other factors round about.
However, it always comes back to some person or group of people who are
limiting God because they aren’t taking the authority God has given and
exercising it. We are shirking our responsibility, and we’re trying to put all the responsibility off on God, saying it’s His fault whether or not this person gets
saved, healed, or prospered. That’s absolutely wrong.
We need to understand and recognize that it’s not God’s turn to heal. It’s our
turn to believe that He’s already healed. We must accept that power, take that
authority, and use it. We need to speak to our problems and command things to
change.
If we could get this truth down, it would make a huge difference in the way

things happen today. The vast majority of the body of Christ believes that God
can do whatever He wants, but they don’t believe that He’s already done it. They
don’t believe that He’s given us power. So, they don’t feel any responsibility to
take and use their authority. This is where the system is breaking down. God has already done His part. He’s placed the power and authority on the inside of us, which makes us responsible.
For additional information about what God has already done and what He’s
placed inside of you as a born-again believer, I recommend Spirit, Soul & Body, and You’ve Already Got It! These two teachings of mine are foundational, and will really help you receive and experience God’s best.
WE WERE HEALED
Through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, God has already done His part. Now it is up to you to respond in faith and receive His
provision. It’s totally your responsibility to get healed, prospered, and delivered.
It’s God’s power, but He’s placed it under your authority.
Although I’m strongly emphasizing our responsibility, there’s no need to
come under any condemnation. (Rom. 8:1.) The Lord loves you and wants you
to understand these truths so you can enjoy the abundant life He’s provided.
That’s why it’s so important to understand our responsibility.
You may be asking, “So do I have to make all this happen?” Not out of your
self—your human ability. The born-again part of you— your spirit—has God’s
power within. All things are possible to those who believe. (Mark 9:23.) If you
would understand and believe that God has already done His part, and then
exercise your authority, you could make things happen.
Since I’ve understood and applied these truths, I’ve seen a huge improvement
in my life and ministry. I’ve prayed for people to be healed for many years. In
the beginning, I’d see someone healed every once in awhile, but I didn’t have a
clue what I was doing. Even an old blind squirrel will come up with a nut every
once in awhile if he just keeps trying. I just prayed for so many people that every once in awhile something would happen and we’d see healing manifest. Since then, I’ve come to realize that it’s not me petitioning and asking the Lord to heal people, but rather that God has already healed us of all sickness and disease.
The Word says that by His stripes we were—past tense— healed. (1 Pet.
2:24.) Now I understand that God has put His power in me, and it’s up to me to
release it. God has done His part, now I must take my authority, speak to the
mountain, and command people to be healed. Of course, the individual I’m
ministering to must believe and cooperate too, but I’ve seen hundreds of times more people healed than I used to.
JOHN G. LAKE

John G. Lake had a healing ministry back in the early 1900s. He was so
effective in ministering healing that the state of Washington actually gave him a
medical license. He opened up a hospital in Spokane where he lived, and saw so
many documented cases of people being healed that they literally closed one of
the other hospitals in town.
In Lake’s hospital, they didn’t administer medicine. They just came around
with the Word, anointed patients with oil, and prayed with them until they saw
the healing manifest. He trained others how to minister healing and called them
“practitioners.” For cases that couldn’t come to the hospital, Lake sent out his
practitioners to make house calls. Based on James 5:14-15, he’d give them a little
bottle of oil and tell them, “Don’t come back until they’re healed.”

This kind of boldness just startles people today. They think, How could you
do that? You don’t have any control over this. You don’t have that kind of
authority. You don’t have any responsibility. Just go out and ask God to heal them. He might, He might not. Whatever will be, will be. It’s all up to God, you see. Not true.
John G. Lake and his practitioners knew that God had already done His part
to provide healing and that it’s our turn now to take our authority and use it. The
longest time any of those practitioners stayed out ministering was about thirty
days. Sometimes they would literally move in with the people and teach them
the Word. They’d build them up in faith, minister to them, and see them healed
because God has already done His part.
There’s a huge difference between us healing the sick and praying for the
sick. As a whole, the church has believed God can heal, but not that He has already done it. They don’t believe that He has
already committed the power and authority for healing to us. So when they have a need, they approach God like a beggar. They ask Him to heal so-and-so when the truth is that He’s already done His part to produce that healing. God has
placed supernatural raising-from-the-dead power on the inside of every born-
again believer (Eph. 1:19-20), and it’s up to us to command those healings to
come to pass. Instead of passively pleading with the Lord and asking God to do it, we need to become a commander—someone who stands up in faith, takes our authority in Christ, and commands the power of God.