The Authority of the Believer in Light of Scripture

When I was caught up in the Word of Faith prosperity gospel movement, I genuinely believed that I possessed the authority to control my circumstances, shape my destiny, and command spiritual forces through the power of my words.

Thanks to the church I was attending at the time, I believed that because Adam was given dominion over the earth, as a believer, I too had dominion over my circumstances. All I needed to do was to use my authority to “speak life” into whatever negative situation I was in.

Without a doubt, the idea of having such immense authority was both appealing and empowering. But what I didn’t realize is that it was based on a misunderstanding of what the Bible truly teaches about the authority of the believer.

So later on, as I began to study the Scriptures more deeply and examine the teachings I had embraced, I realized that while the authority of the believer is a biblical concept, the Word of Faith movement takes it to an unbiblical extreme. Therefore, in this blog post, I will explore the four aspects of the believer’s authority that the Word of Faith movement misunderstands and what the Bible really says about them.

1. Authority to Make Disciples

Proponents of the Word-Faith often cite Matthew 28:18-20 to support the idea that believers, can exercise authority over their circumstances. It reads:

"And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’" (Matthew 28:18-2)

Using this passage, they argue and conclude that since believers are in Christ, they share in His authority and can use it as He does. They interpret this passage to mean that being born again elevates believers to a status where they can exercise Christ’s authority, almost as if they are at the same level as Him. However, this interpretation misses the crucial point of the passage.

Authority Subject to Christ, Not as Christ

First of all, Jesus declared that ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Not to us. And nowhere in this passage does He say that we possess this same authority in its totality. What He does command us to do, however, is to go and make disciples of all nations. The authority that Jesus grants to believers is, not autonomous. It’s an authority that flows from our union with Him, empowering us to fulfill the mission He has given us. Which is to proclaim the gospel, baptize believers, and teach them to obey everything He has commanded.

Moreover, we are supposed to exercise this authority in submission to His greater authority and will. This means that our role is not to exert Christ’s authority for personal gain or to exercise control over circumstances. But to advance His kingdom through the Gospel. 

2. Authority  Over the Enemy

Luke 10:19 is another verse Word-Faith teachers cite. It reads:

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

They often use this verse to claim that believers have authority over all harmful spiritual forces and physical dangers. They argue that this passage grants believers the ability to rebuke Satan, demons, and even command protection from all kinds of harm or misfortune. According to their interpretation, Christians have the power to declare freedom from illness, poverty, and suffering simply by using their faith to speak against these negative realities.

Related: Examining the Practice of Binding and Rebuking Satan

Misunderstanding the Context

However, a closer look at the context reveals that Jesus was speaking specifically to the 72 disciples. The authority He gave them was for a particular time and purpose; proclaiming the kingdom of God and demonstrating its power through signs and wonders. (Luke 10:1-12).

Furthermore, in the very next verse (Luke 10:20), Jesus clarifies where the true focus of our joy should be. He says:

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

This shows that the emphasis of this passage was not so much on the authority the disciples possessed, but they were supposed to delight even more in their salvation. Unfortunately, Word of Faith teachings often skew this passage by ripping it out of context and focusing solely on the “authority” aspect, while neglecting the greater context of Christ’s message; the joy of salvation.

3. Authority to Perform Signs

In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus says:

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." (ESV)

Similarly, Word of Faith proponents see this passage as evidence that every believer has the authority to perform miraculous signs and wonders. Especially, healing the sick. They interpret these verses to mean that believers can always exercise this power as long as they have enough faith. As such, failure to overcome adversity is seen as a result of a lack of faith or neglecting to exercise the supposed authority of the believer.

However, the signs in Mark 16:17-18 were intended to confirm the message of the gospel as it spread in the early church (Hebrews 2:3-4). The Book of Acts records many instances where miraculous signs confirmed the message of the apostles (e.g., Acts 2:4, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 28:3-6), but these signs were not normative for every believer at all times.

While God still performs miracles today, it’s not a guarantee that they will happen for every believer in every situation. Even from Scripture, we see that believers did not experience healing or miraculous protection at all times. For example, Paul speaks of his “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he left Trophimus sick in Miletus in 2 Timothy 4:20, and Timothy dealt with recurring illness in 1 Timothy 5:23.

Note: It’s important to also know that Mark 16:9-20 is a debated section of Scripture because the earliest and most reliable manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark do not include these verses. While many translations still include this passage, many of them will note as much because the authenticity and originality of the passage are still in question.

4. Authority to Have Dominion over the Earth

If you’re familiar with the Word of Faith movement, you know that Genesis 1:26-28 is often a cornerstone for many of their teachings. They use this passage frequently as a prooftext to support various unbiblical doctrines. The verses read:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26-28)

They often argue that since God made us in His image and likeness, we are like Him. Or as they like to refer to it, we are “little gods”. They claim that this likeness implies that we possess god-like abilities, such as the power to create or alter reality through our words. However, this interpretation is a significant distortion of what it means to be God’s image bearers.

Being made in the image of God does not mean that we are duplicates of Him or mini-gods. Rather, it means that we are His representatives on earth, reflecting His character and attributes in ways that no other created order can.

This is evident in our ability to reason, create, love, exercise moral judgment etc. But it does not elevate us to a divine status.

Thus, having “dominion” in this passage refers to man’s role as a steward of God’s creation. It does not imply that God has handed over sovereign control of the earth to us, and therefore, allowing us to exercise god-like power. Instead, dominion means that, as mankind, God has entrusted with the work of managing and caring for the earth in a way that honors Him while acknowledging that He remains the ultimate ruler over all creation.

Psalm 24:1 reminds us of this by saying:

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)

Therefore, the idea that believers have been given god-like authority is a misunderstanding of the biblical teaching on dominion. God never transferred or diminished His authority and sovereignty. Instead, in giving us dominion, He calls us to faithfully steward what He has entrusted to us under His sovereign rule.

Suffering and Trials

One of the most concerning aspects of the Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel movement is its denial of the reality that Christians will experience suffering and trials. In my opinion, this is why their understanding of the authority of the believer is so appealing. Because it promises believers that they can use their authority to decree and declare their way out of any difficulty. 

Biblical Example of Suffering

However, the New Testament has many examples of faithful believers who endured suffering as part of their Christian walk. A great example is the Apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, He speaks of a “thorn in the flesh,” a form of suffering that he had to endure.

Now, if we were to reason like Word of Faith proponents, then Paul should have used his authority as a believer to rebuke the “thorn in the flesh.” Which he actually described as a messenger of Satan sent to torment him. However, Paul did not respond in this way. Instead of declaring or commanding the thorn to leave, Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it.

The other important thing to note is that God’s response to Paul was not to remove the suffering but to assure him that His grace was sufficient:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

This clearly shows that God doesn’t always respond to our suffering by removing it. Instead of offering an escape from suffering, God promises Paul the sustaining power of His grace while using the thorn to keep him from becoming conceited. This stands in sharp contrast to the Word of Faith teaching, which claims that faith should eliminate all forms of suffering and hardship.

Suffering as a Part of the Christian Life

Paul’s experience is not unique. The Scriptures consistently presents suffering as an integral part of the Christian life. Jesus Himself said, ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world‘ (John 16:33). The apostles faced persecution, imprisonment, and even death for the sake of the gospel, yet they counted it as joy to suffer for Christ’s name (Acts 5:41).

Thus, the idea that believers should expect to live a life free from suffering is unbiblical. Romans 8:17 reminds us that if we are children of God, ‘then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’

Similarly, 1 Peter 4:12-19 addresses the reality of suffering for believers saying:

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Suffering, therefore, is not something abnormal, but something we should embrace as part of our identification with Christ

Please check out our post on A Christian Perspective: What Does the Bible Say About Suffering? for an even broader understanding of suffering within the framework of God’s sovereign plan.

Faith in God’s Sovereignty

At this point, I feel that it’s also important to mention that true biblical faith is not about manipulating circumstances to align with our desires but about trusting in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even when His will is hard.

The Apostle Paul had to rest in God’s sufficiency, even when his prayers for relief were not answered in the way he had hoped. This is the kind of faith God invites us to have. A faith that deeply trusts in His character and submits to His will.

The call of the Christian is not to avoid suffering at all costs but to remain faithful to Christ through it. Trusting that He will use our trials for His glory and our ultimate good. As James 1:2-4 reminds us, ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.‘

Conclusion

In conclusion, the teaching of the authority of the believer as presented by the Word of Faith movement is unbiblical. This is because it distorts Scripture and elevates believers to a god-like status over circumstances, suffering, and even demonic forces.

While Scripture does affirm that believers have authority in Christ, this authority is always delegated, limited, and subject to God’s sovereign will. It is not a tool for avoiding trials or manipulating outcomes, rather it’s for advancing God’s kingdom through faithful obedience.

To learn more about the Word of Faith movement. The movement behind what is widely known as the prosperity gospel, please check out our post on The Damning Theology of the Word of Faith Movement.