Your authority is directly connected to your identity

By Menkato V Awomi



When we hear the word authority, it is often defined in general terms as “the legitimate, socially approved power or right to make decisions, give orders, and enforce obedience.” In the natural world, authority is tied to position, title, or recognition. A leader commands because he has been appointed; a ruler governs because he has been given jurisdiction.

But when we shift from the natural to the spiritual, authority takes on a deeper and far more powerful meaning.

Biblically, authority for a believer is not self-earned, it is delegated.
It is the spiritual power and right given by Jesus Christ and established through His Word, enabling believers to walk in victory over darkness, sickness, sin, and every circumstance of life.

Delegated Authority—A Gift, Yet Not Fully Experienced

As children of God, we all have this authority through Christ. This is not a selective privilege: it is a divine inheritance. Jesus Himself declared:

“I have given you authority… to overcome all the power of the enemy.” (Luke 10:19)

Yet, despite this truth, many believers continue to live defeated lives. The problem is not the absence of authority, it is the absence of understanding how to walk in it.

Many Christians attempt to exercise authority while still thinking like slaves. They know the Word intellectually, but internally they still carry a mindset of fear, guilt, and unworthiness. This creates a disconnect.

YOU CANNOT FUNCTION IN AUTHORITY WHILE LIVING IN AN IDENTITY CRISIS.

Authority Flows From Identity

One of the most important truths often overlooked is this:

Authority is not activated by knowledge alone, it is established through identity.

You may know every verse about authority, but if you do not know who you are in Christ, you will never walk in the fullness of it.

Your authority is directly connected to your identity.

·        If you see yourself as weak, you will act weak.

·        If you see yourself as unworthy, you will hesitate.

·        But if you know you are a child of God, you will walk boldly.

 The question then becomes: Which identity are you operating in?

TWO IDENTITIES: THE OLD MAN VS. THE NEW CREATION

Before salvation, every person lives under the identity of the old man, a nature separated from God, bound by sin.

But Scripture declares: If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When you receive Christ, your identity changes completely. You are no longer defined by your past, your failures, or your weaknesses.

You are now:

·        A child of God

·        The righteousness of God in Christ

·        A new creation

Yet many believers still try to operate spiritually using their old identity. This is why they struggle.

YOU CANNOT WALK IN NEW AUTHORITY WITH AN OLD IDENTITY MINDSET.

The Danger of Identity Ignorance

Acts 19:13–15 gives a powerful illustration. The sons of Sceva attempted to cast out demons using the name of Jesus—but they lacked relationship and identity.

The result? “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about—but who are you?”

They were overpowered because they tried to exercise authority without identity.

This reveals a crucial truth:

AUTHORITY IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM CANNOT BE FAKED.

The devil is not afraid of symbols, rituals, or appearances. He is not intimidated by crosses worn on the neck or displayed in homes. What he responds to is the authority of Christ expressed through a believer who knows who they are.

YOUR AUTHORITY IS CHRIST’S AUTHORITY

The authority you carry is not your own, it is Christ’s authority delegated to you.

This is why identity matters so deeply.

“I have been crucified with Christ… Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

When you understand that your old self is crucified and Christ now lives in you, everything changes. You stop striving and start standing.

Even when you fail or make mistakes, your identity does not change. The enemy will try to accuse you, reminding you of your failures, but you must respond with truth.

You are not the old man anymore. And when you stand firm in that identity, the devil has no ground to stand on.

THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND

Spiritual authority is not just exercised outwardly, it is established inwardly.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Your mindset determines your manifestation. This is why in Numbers 13:33, the Israelites saw themselves as grasshoppers and consequently lived defeated, even though God had already given them victory.

Their problem was not the giants. Their problem was their identity perception.

Today, our “giants” may look different sickness, poverty, addiction, fear—but the principle remains the same.

If you see yourself defeated, you will live defeated. If you see yourself as victorious in Christ, you will walk in dominion.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND DIVINE AUTHORITY

The Bible reminds us: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world… they have divine power.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)

We are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from victory. God has already given authority to mankind from the beginning:

“The earth He has given to mankind.” (Psalm 115:16)

Through Christ, this authority is restored and elevated. We are not God, but we are His sons and daughters, created in His likeness to walk in dominion.

The Role of Consciousness

What you are conscious of determines how you live.

Are you more conscious of:

·        Your weaknesses?

·        Your failures?

·        Your past?

Or are you conscious of:

·        Christ in you?

·        Your righteousness in Him?

·        Your identity as a child of God?

“The righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

A lion does not run from a deer. If it does, something is wrong with its perception.

Likewise, when believers run from the enemy, it is not because they lack authority, it is because they lack awareness of it.

THE ENEMY’S STRATEGY: ATTACK YOUR IDENTITY

The devil’s primary strategy is not just to tempt it is to confuse your identity.

He will wait patiently minutes, hours, months, even years to plant doubt.

Just as he said to Jesus: “If you are the Son of God…”

Every attack was aimed at identity. And Jesus responded with: “It is written.”

This shows us the key the Word of God establishes identity.

ESTABLISHING IDENTITY THROUGH THE WORD

Your identity in Christ cannot be discovered through feelings, experiences, or human reasoning.

It is revealed through:

·        The Word of God

·        The work of the Holy Spirit

You must meditate on the Word consistently. Not occasionally but continually.

Because instability in identity leads to instability in authority.

James calls this double-mindedness—trying to operate as both the old man and the new.

And a double-minded believer cannot walk in authority.

THE KEY TO WALKING IN AUTHORITY

The victorious Christian life is not complicated, but it requires intentionality.

To walk in authority, you must:

·        Believe who God says you are

·        Confess your identity consistently

·        Meditate on His Word daily

·        Reject every lie that contradicts your identity

When your identity becomes your reality, authority becomes your lifestyle.

Authority is not about shouting louder, trying harder, or performing religious acts.

AUTHORITY FLOWS NATURALLY FROM IDENTITY.

When you truly know who you are in Christ:

·        You will walk in boldness

·        You will stand in victory

·        You will reign in life

Because the authority you carry is not yours—it is Christ’s.

And when a believer stands in that truth, darkness has no choice but to flee.

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