On Saturday night I had the chance to attend an open worship for Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI) which is a new type of ministry school. It’s not the typical seminary where you learn about the theory of the Bible, but it is a school that also deals with strategic impartation and activation. I’ll try to explain what I heard that night which should explain what “strategic impartation and activation” is.
Power Does Not Equal Authority
If you a believer of Jesus, you have always had the power and authority to do what Jesus did in his ministry.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases (Luke 9:1)
But first, there is a difference between power and authority. We must not confuse earthly power with divine power. Power does NOT equal authority.
| Worldly Power | Worldly Authority |
| Ability | Power |
| Strength | Adjudicate |
| Money | Enforce |
| Reputation | Having the right |
| Control | |
| Manipulation | |
| Divine Power | |
| Divine Power | Divine Authority |
| Ability | Permission |
| Having the blessing |
As an example, if I handed you the keys to my home and asked to look after it while I’m away on holidays, I’ve given you the power and the authority to enter and make yourself at home. However, if you decided that you didn’t want the responsibility and gave it to someone else, that person has the power to enter my home but not the authority. Our definition of power is not authority.
Christ has given us the power (ability) and the authority (permission) to heal the sick and raise the dead. But I’ve never raised the dead because I’ve always questioned both power and authority bestowed upon me. I’ve always asked myself and even prayed to God, “who am I for you to consider worthy?” “who am I to be able to raise the dead?”. By asking these questions, all this time I’ve been questing the authority of God.
Everyone has Power and Authority
As a regular church goer, I’ve always had the misunderstanding that the pastors and people in full time ministries had the full anointing, power and authority. However, the Bible states that Jesus gives us all the power and authority.
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:27)
We all believe in the same Holy Spirit. There are no different versions of the Holy Spirit. He does not categorise people into “can” and “cannot doers”. It’s our doubt that hinders us from accepting and utilising the full potential of the spirit.
Raising the Dead
You may not believe me, but there are dead people coming back to life. In Kenya, the Middle East and other parts of the world that is not “civilised”, these native people, who have only known God for 6 months at most, declare in the name of Jesus and miracles happen. I’ve never seen it myself nor have I been there, but I have heard countless testimonies from a wide variety of sources and I believe.
What To Do With Power and Authority?
My notes and thoughts give injustice to the powerful message I heard yesterday but I hope to apply it. I wont be looking for dead people to revive, but more in simple ways. Like all things, I have to learn to walk before running.
To start things, I’ll place my hands on my wife whenever she is feeling sick and declare in the name of Jesus to be healed. Then I hope to move onto prophesying in the name of Jesus.
God has given us these gifts. Why waste it? We’ve received impartation by the Holy Spirit and we just have to activate it. Unleash the power! Amen.
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