John 12:49 (NLT), “I don’t speak on My own authority. The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.”

Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He made it clear He was under the authority of His Father. He came to reveal the true nature of God to mankind, and to demonstrate the inseparable relationship we can have with the Father, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus showed how we are able to live in partnership with God, where we are His workmanship, created to follow His lead and demonstrate His goodness, by His power! (Ephesians 2:10) In Acts 10:38, Jesus demonstrated this partnership: “…God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.” Then, in Luke 10:19, we see Jesus delegating that same authority to His followers: “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.” In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus declared that there would be signs that follow those who believe and dare to walk in His delegated authority: “And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.” Praise God! Before Jesus left the earth to go to His Father in Heaven, He made it clear that the same authority He was given by His Father, for His earthly ministry, He was giving to everyone who believes in Him, to carry-on His work until the day He returns! (Matthew 28:18-20). We have inherited the same authority Jesus delegated to the disciples. We are under the authority of God to carry out His good works, expecting to see the same results they did - because we believe!