Power And Authority

[Edward]

Scripture says we are given authority as believers. Scripture also says we are given power.

What's the difference between Power and Authority?
Is one higher than the other or more to be desired?

 

[Milk-Drops]

I would say authority is a form of power where you have say over others, where power in general can range over different types of control and resource access.

 

[D-D-W]

In Greek they are very different words.

Power = dunamis (from where we get dynamite) and it is a dynamic force.
Authority = exusia (from where we get execute) meaning to carry out a plan or procedure. It is executive power (like the president)

 

[tim-from-pa]

Power, as the previous poster stated, is also the Spirit of God, his very energy. But it's not enough to have the Holy Spirit. You have to USE (authority) that power stating (and executing) truth in accordance with the Word. Here's a mundane example. Most doctors will say "stay out of the sun; you'll get cancer". God's Word says otherwise thus by the Spirit of God you proclaim this as untrue and bask in it thanking Him for the nice sunshine while others who stay out of the sun still get the cancer and are otherwise still living their lives miserably and in fear. Thus, one is living a life of healing by the power and authority. At the expense of sounding cliche, it's otherwise, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it."

 

[Edward]

I would say authority is a form of power where you have say over others, where power in general can range over different types of control and resource access.

Those two posts after yours already beat me to it, that's exactly where I was going with this. Lol, that was fast!

Here's another analogy.
The Government has power in their military to accomplish almost any conquest.
But if military personnel do not exercise the authority of the government, the power is useless.

 

[for_his_glory]

Power and authority is given to us by the grace of God to carry on the commission of God to take his word out into the world for the hope of others as Gods Spirit draws them into his salvation. This power gives us victory over the wicked forces of Satan and his dominions that are in the world trying to defeat us in our quest for the Lord if we take authority over him in the name of Jesus. There is no reason we have to fight Satan for God has already given us the victory over him in our life and if we fight him in the flesh he will mock us and destroy us. Authority is what gives us the power to teach the doctrines of Christ no matter what other teachings comes against his word as we are Gods influence in the world as his Spirit works in us and through us to let that light of Christ shine out to the world. Never worry about the persecutions of this world as we might have to live in it, but are no longer a part of it and we must be about our Fathers business in all things.


There are fourteen definitions of the word authority listed below found in the Strong's Exhausted Concordance in the Greek Dictionary. I have listed each definition with scripture to show you the strengths we do have by taking action on Gods word to unleash the Holy Spirit in our own life to be an effective servant to those who need Jesus in their lives to bring that faith that is Jesus which is the life changing promise of Gods word.

Greek definition: (exousia, ex-oo-see'-ah) freedom, influence, delegate, jurisdiction, ability, control, force, privilege, strength, liberty, mastery, competency, power and right

I could give all the definitions with scripture, but would have to do that within three different post. But you can take each definition and look them up in scripture.

 

[eddif]

The authority defines the area we have the right to deal with.
The power: is the amount of particular power, the placement of said power and the execution time of said power.
The spiritual gifts and the positions using the spiritual gifts:
The Father defines the diversity of the gifts.
Jesus is lord of directing the Gifts.

The Holy Spirit chooses who gets the gifts.

And I absolutely see through a glass darkly.

eddif