May 25, 2025 — Dr. Nana Boadum closes out the Believer's Authority series (Luke 10:19; Matthew 28:18): after weeks of establishing that all authority has been given to us, the final charge is to exercise it — take the sword of the Spirit off defense and onto the attack, refuse to accept what does not carry God's signature, and pray from the seated place of authority in Christ.
The seven movements
- The recap — know your verses. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19); all authority has been given (Matthew 28:18); resist the devil steadfast in the faith (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9). Like the officer's uniform, the authority is vested — the enemy has to comply.
- Seated with Him. Christ is the image of the invisible God, head of the body; He disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them — and we were raised and seated together with Him, so His body has to exercise what the Head possesses (Colossians 1:15-20; 2:12-15).
- The handwriting wiped out. Every requirement, verdict, diagnosis, and declaration against you was nailed to the cross. Hide in the blood of Jesus and the sentence that was "signed and mailed" is wiped away — you stand accepted, without guilt (Colossians 2:14).
- The armor is for offense. Belt of truth (an understanding of the word that holds everything together), righteousness both received and obeyed, the shield of faith — but the sword of the Spirit is not for blocking. A team with every player in the goalpost never wins: stop playing defense with sickness, fear, depression, and financial meltdown, and start taking territory (Ephesians 6:13-17).
- Whatever you permit is permitted. When you call the attack "normal" — flu season, just the economy, just my depression — you have accepted it, and what you accept God will not override. Assess everything: does this carry the signature of God? If you cannot say "this is the Lord's doing," attack it with the word (Matthew 18:18).
- No room for the devil. Give no place to him, or the little headache encroaches and fear gets raised to the power seven. God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind — arrest the spirit, speak the word, and demand what is yours (Ephesians 4:27; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 12:43-45).
- Authority starts at surrender. The authority belongs to the believer — not to the religious church member without a relationship with Jesus. Surrender first; the authority is given the moment you are saved, not after ten years. Then the guided prayer: Psalm 91 declarations ("it will not come near me, my household, our church"), joy instead of heaviness, reigning in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Mark 16:17-18; Psalm 91:7; Romans 5:17).
Walk away with this
You have the authority; the question is whether you exercise it. Take the sword out of the sheath every day — not only on fasting days — assess every situation against God's signature, refuse what isn't His, and advance: the dream God gave you is bigger than your budget on purpose.