Presenter: Dr. JoAnne P. King
Date: August 10, 2025
Praise the Lord and Good Morning Saints. All throughout the New Testament, Jesus used Command Authority. The Hebrew word for spoken is debar. It means “to speak so that the universe comes in order the way you want it to;” that is authority!
Heb. 1:14 says: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” The ministering spirits are angelic apostles. [Gr. aposello, to send forth as a messenger with a commission, the sender remaining behind. The noun, apostle, denotes one thus sent. Here angels are sent like apostles to minister to the heirs of salvation. Not only do the angels minister to the heirs of salvation; they minister for the heirs of salvation.] [Additionally, Psa. 120:3 says: “Bless the Lord ye his angels, that excel in strength; that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”]
The following topics will be covered during this sermon: We can use the Command Authority as a follower of Jesus Christ. The book of Philippians is a partner letter. Examples of Jesus and His Disciples using Command Authority. The events of the Last Supper were described by John.
- We can use Command Authority as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul was in a terrible prison; but he used the word joy 19 times. [In the book of Philippians, Paul uses the word “joy” or related terms like “rejoice” and “gladness” a total of 19 times. This book is often referred to as the “Epistle of Joy” because of Paul’s emphasis on finding joy even in difficult circumstances, such as his own imprisonment.]
We are given this example of Paul being in prison in terrible conditions, yet he could speak words like rejoice, and gladness. Just think about different situations that you have found yourself. Are you rejoiceful or whining and complaining about everything and not understanding why you are in this situation? You have probably said, Why Me? Jesus told us in His Word “that we would suffer persecution? But to be of good cheer, that He had overcome the world.” You will overcome the world as well. He has promised: “…I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (Jn. 10:28-29)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:5-6).
[Gr. morphe means the outward form that strikes the vision; the external appearance. The passage should read, “Who, subsisting in the form of God (by which He from eternity had appeared to the inhabitants of heaven), yet not thinking that this equality with God should be clung to or retained, He emptied Himself of it, so as to assume the form of a servant and become like man.”]
You have to let the mind of Christ Jesus rule you. We have rights because we are joint heirs with Christ Jesus. Jesus has given you His Command Authority, Use it!
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[Christ humbled Himself from the divine form to human form, and from sinless humanity to sinful and corrupt infamy – even the death of the cross bearing the sins of all men (Phil. 2:8).]
1 Pet. 2:24 Amp. says: “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.”
This is a key to life: Humble yourself. Humble yourself so that your routine is an expression of humility. Every morning, say “Praise God! I say as Pastor Joyce taught us: “I love you Jesus more than anyone else does and more than anything in this world!” This is a covenant statement. By this statement, I am telling God because I love Him more than anybody else, I am willing to do any and everything He tells me to do. I am willing to sacrifice my all and surrender all to Him. As Evangelist Wigglesworth has said many times, “You are nothing to God unless you are willing to venture into the impossible!” Saints, we are to be “living epistles.” How? By humbling yourself and using your God given Command Authority.
Jesus’ identity came from an unconditional covenant made between God and Abraham and later Moses, etc. In this Abrahamic covenant, God tells Abram: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:2-3)
Based on this promise, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (“father of a multitude”). God’s promises to Abraham’s descendants will be fulfilled literally. The Abrahamic Covenant included the promise of land (Gen. 12:1). It was a specific land, an actual property with dimensions specified in Gen. 15:18-21. In the Palestinian Covenant, the territory was expanded in Deut. 30:1-10. You know that they are fighting over parts of this land right now. However, in God’s timing, there will be a time of holiness and restoration (see Ezekiel 20:40-44 and 36:1-37).
The Abrahamic Covenant promised Abraham many descendants and would rival that of “the dust of the earth” (Gen. 15:16). Additionally, nations and kings would proceed from him (Gen. 17:6). Abraham was justified by his faith (Gen. 15:6), and he and his wife welcomed Isaac, the son of promise into their home when they were 100 and 90 years old, respectively.
The Abrahamic Covenant was reiterated by God to Isaac and to his son Jacob, whose name God changes to Israel. King David, one of Abraham’s many descendants, is given the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-16), promising a “son of David” who would one day rule over the Jewish nation—and all nations—from Jerusalem. Of course, this was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! All of the above covenants used Command Authority.
- The book of Philippians is a partner letter and is used by many ministries.
The book of Philippians is used as a partner letter by many ministries, because Paul and Timony ministered to the Church of Philippi, as he states:
“To all the saints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
“Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I thank my God in every remembrance of you. Always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you,
“[thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now” (Phil. 1:1b-5).
Everything Jesus did was for the praise of the Father, not the praise of men. Philippians 1:11 says: “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” [Fruits of that justification which comes by faith and the new creature experience (Rom. 5:1-11).]
2 Cor. 5:17-18 Amp.: says: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. He has given us the “ministry of reconciliation.”
Jesus humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and was obedient to the will of God. Because of that, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name (Philippians 2:6-9).
God gave Jesus His Name which is above every name.
“That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11). [This is known as the “Sevenfold Exaltation of Jesus.”]
Names in heaven, names in earth and names under the earth are all under the Name of Jesus and must bow to His Name.
This scripture gave a command. Here’s the Command Authority, Every knee will bow at the Name of Jesus.
- Examples of Jesus and His Disciples using Command Authority.
The beggar expected to receive something from Peter and John; because every time Jesus and His disciples came by, Jesus instructed Judas to give him money.
Acts 3:4-8 Amp. says: “But Peter, along with John, stared at him intently and said, ‘Look at us!’ And the man began to pay attention to them, eagerly expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: ‘In the Name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ of Nazareth-[begin now to] walk and go on walking!’” Peter and John were using [Command Authority].
Peter made sure that the people knew that Jesus healed this man (Acts 3:16). Peter and John were carriers of the Name and the Anointing of Jesus. Therefore, they used that Name, and this man was set free. This miracle was done, not by Jesus, but by the apostles using the authority and power of Jesus.
Jesus used Command Authority throughout His ministry:
- When He told the lame man by the Pool of Bethesda to “take up his bed and walk.”
- Jesus applied mud to a blind man’s eyes, and told him “to go wash in the Pool of Siloam.”
- Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus what he wanted. He said his sight. Jesus commanded, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”
- When Jesus raised the dead girl, He told her “to rise Tabitha.”
Additionally, Jesus sent 70 disciples before Him, two by two, into every city where He would come and gave them Command Authority.
Jesus said to them: “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. “Go your ways, behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. “Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. “And if the Son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it:
if not, it shall turn to you again. “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: “And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them. The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, “Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: not withstanding be ye sure of this that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke 10:2-11
When the seventy disciples returned with joy after using Command Authority and said Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Jesus said to them: “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. “Not withstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you: but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
This was before Jesus went to the cross and gave His life so that all that would accept Him, as Lord and Savior, would be saved.
Now that He is seated in heavenly places on the right hand of God the Father and we are seated with Jesus in heavenly places, also. Just think, how much power we have in our Command Authority now!
We are told in the scriptures to imitate Jesus. To imitate Jesus, means that we are to do the things that Jesus, did heal the sick, cast out devils using Command Authority, and love as He has commanded us.
- The events of the Last Supper were described by John in (John 13-16).
In the events of the Last Supper, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded” (John 13:3-6).
The reason for washing the disciples’ feet demonstrates louder than a thousand words. This was regarding their argument about who would be “the greatest” among them (Luke 22:24). Before He had rebuked this kind of spirit by setting a little child in their midst and stating that they had to become as little children and not seek to lord it over each other (Mt. 18:1-10). He had also rebuked this spirit on other occasions (Mt. 10:20-28; Mk. 10:35-45). Years had gone by now and they had not yet learned their lesson on this point. He was seeking to get rid of this passion for worldly honor and dignity, which would have wrecked the foundation of the church after His death if He had not succeeded.
Peter is touched by such lowly service from His Master and said: “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” [Command Authority] Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head.” (Jn. 13:9)
[He that is bathed, as they no doubt had been to prepare themselves for the Passover (on that occasion Jews bathed twice), need only to wash his feet of the dust on them from walking between the bath and the supper.]
“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”
“So, after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them. Know ye what I have done to you?”
“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” [Command Authority]
Why? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than He that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (Jn. 13:13-19)
In Jn. 13:34 Jesus gives a new commandment: “A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
In reading the following scripture, you probably never thought of it as a commandment but it was! Jesus gave a command-ment: “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus is letting us know that we have control over whether we let our hearts be troubled or not. As well as the following, which is a Godly demand that we make of Him. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). The purpose of the Christians’ power of attorney is it glorifies God to answer all prayers, save, heal, and bless all men materially. But He cannot do so unless, they ask in faith, nothing wavering. Jas. 1:5-8 Amp. says: “If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of our [benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. “But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. “For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].”
[Command Authority] The Greek word for ask also means “demand.”
That’s what Peter did. “I command you in the Name of Jesus, rise and walk.” Jesus delegated that power to His disciples.
As believers under our power of attorney, we are given power. In Matt. 19:18 which says: “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
As believers under our power of attorney, we are given unity in prayer, it only takes two! “Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven”
(Matt. 19:19). Additionally, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 19:20).
Praise God, you don’t have to be in a large congregation, for God to be in the midst, Hallelujah!
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak” (2 Cor. 4:13). [What we are speaking is a Command Authority.]
The Greek word for ask is aiteo which literally means, “to ask, request, demand or require.”
This destroys the idea that we come to God as someone who is unworthy. We have rights and privileges based on the Covenant. We can have full expectation that we will receive what we ask.
The promises are unlimited (Ps. 34:9-10), so if there is a limitation in answer(s), there is a limitation of faith, not of God’s will or power.]
When you get the “Jesus attitude,” it changes the way you talk and think. Know you have authority. We quote Jesus because He is the highest authority.
In closing, remember that each one of us is being conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. In order to be conformed to His image, we have to allow the mind of Christ to be in control of our lives. When you have the mind of Christ, you will never be led astray.
It does require you to humble yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. As Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death, so must we humble ourselves using our Command Authority when necessary and becoming obedient to the destiny that God has for us.
Everything that Jesus did was for the praise of the Father. Every- thing that we do must be for the praise of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and not ourselves. We are not to receive any of the praise or the glory, it all belongs to the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who is transforming us into the image of Jesus.
Jesus was so humble that He took on the form of a servant and was obedient to the will of His Father. Likewise, we must take on the form of a servant as well and become obedient to the will of God. As Jesus was exalted because of his humbleness and obedience, we, too, will be exalted if we faint not!
As we are being transformed into the image of Jesus and are humble and obedient, we like Peter and John can be carriers of the name and anointing of Jesus. This is what Jesus wants for every Christian that calls on His Name. We can call on the name of Jesus to heal the sick, cast out demons, call for miracles, etc., using the Command Authority in the name of Jesus that has been given to us.
Jesus only spoke the words of His Father. We only speak the words of Jesus. He’s our Commander, our Authority and our access to the Father. Each one of us have been given angels to minister to and for us. Using your Command Authority, dispatch your angels to defeat the enemies of fear, sickness, disease, and poverty. Don’t let your angels stand idle waiting for your command. God has given you His command authority to speak to problems and see results as God works through your words of faith.
Remember in Phil. 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” In other words, nothing is impossible for you through Christ Jesus when you use your Command Authority in faith! Amen, and Amen.
I will close with this prayer: Father, thank You for trusting us with Your Command Authority. We humbly ask for Your instruction and help to use that authority, as you desire. You are our God and we are Your people. We depend on You. In Jesus’ Name Amen.