In Christian communities today, many faithful believers—eager to live by faith and walk in victory—use the language of “taking authority” over circumstances. They may speak of declaring healing, commanding breakthrough, or binding spiritual opposition, often in the name of Jesus.
This desire to walk in spiritual strength is understandable. It reflects a heart that longs to see God’s kingdom come, to resist evil, and to see suffering relieved. Yet it’s also vital to gently consider whether this language—and the theology beneath it—accurately reflects how God has invited His people to live by faith.
As we explore Scripture, we find that God offers us something infinitely greater than personal authority over circumstances: He gives us Himself—His sovereign power, perfect wisdom, and unshakable love.
1. We Are Not in Control—And That’s Good News
The Bible reminds us again and again that God alone holds all authority in heaven and on earth:
“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” — Psalm 115:3
“He does according to his will… and none can stay his hand.” — Daniel 4:35
Sometimes, in our desire to overcome suffering or spiritual hardship, we may begin to believe that we must take control through faith—speaking outcomes into existence or “claiming” authority over problems. Yet Scripture never places that burden on us. God never asks us to carry the weight of outcomes. Instead, He invites us to trust Him fully.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
We are not sovereign. But God is. And He is not only in control—He is good, wise, and deeply loving toward His children.
To believe that we have the power to declare and take authority over every matter is, in a subtle but significant way, to challenge God’s sovereign rule. It can express a belief—whether spoken or not—that our will should override God’s will, or that our perspective is wiser than His. When we insist that something must happen because we have declared it, we risk stepping outside the posture of faith and entering the realm of spiritual presumption.
“The idea that we have the power to speak things into being belongs not to biblical Christianity, but to paganism. Only God creates by the power of His word.” — R.C. Sproul
This impulse can unknowingly reflect the same error that tempted humanity from the beginning: the desire to be “like God” (Genesis 3:5)—to decide what is good, to control outcomes, and to act independently from the Creator.
Trusting God, by contrast, is an act of humble submission. It acknowledges that He knows what we do not, and that His purposes are always right—even when they are not immediately clear to us.
“To claim spiritual authority over sickness or suffering is to ignore God’s wise providence and the very purposes for which He ordains our trials.” — J.I. Packer
2. When Trials Come, They Come Through Loving Hands
Not every difficulty in life is a spiritual attack to be rebuked away. Sometimes, God uses trials—yes, even painful ones—to grow us, refine our character, and draw us closer to Himself:
“It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” — Psalm 119:71
“A thorn was given me… to keep me from becoming conceited… for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:7–9
If we assume that every hardship should vanish at our command, we may miss the gracious work God intends through it. We are called not to rebel against His providence but to rest in His loving purposes.
“We do not take authority over life’s trials; we take refuge in the One who has authority. That distinction changes everything.” — Michael Horton
3. Prayer Is Our Privilege—Not a Power Play
Prayer is powerful and precious. It is how we bring our needs before our Father, with thanksgiving, knowing He hears us. But biblical prayer is not a formula to manipulate reality—it is the means of communion, aligning our hearts with His will and trusting His timing:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6
“Your kingdom come, your will be done.” — Matthew 6:10
“If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” — 1 John 5:14
When we pray, it is not to inform God of something He doesn’t already know, nor is it to persuade Him to act according to our will. God is omniscient (He knows all), immutable (He does not change), and perfect in His will. Our prayers do not change God—they change us. They draw us into deeper communion with Him and transform our desires to reflect His purposes.
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” — Martin Luther
“God does not change His mind, for He is perfect; but He uses our prayers to conform us to His perfect will.” — John Calvin
“We pray, not to get our will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth—and in us.” — R.C. Sproul
And when we pray this way—boldly, yet humbly—we are reminded of the invitation:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16
“True faith does not presume to name and claim; it bows the knee and prays, ‘Your will be done.’” — Sinclair Ferguson
Thus, prayer is not about control, but about dependence. It is not an assertion of power, but a humble expression of trust.
4. Understanding “Binding and Loosing”
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…” — Matthew 16:19
This phrase can be misunderstood as permitting believers to control spiritual or physical realities by declaration. In context, however, Jesus is speaking to Peter in his foundational apostolic role (cf. Ephesians 2:20). “Binding” and “loosing” refer to the church’s declarative task: proclaiming who is forgiven, administering discipline, and teaching truth in faithful accordance with God’s Word.
The authority to “bind and loose” is ministerial, not sovereign. It serves God’s revealed will, not our own.
- Ministerial authority is delegated. It belongs to God but is entrusted to His servants for the purpose of serving others—teaching, guiding, correcting, and proclaiming the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9). As the Westminster Confession of Faith states: “The power which Christ has given to His church is ministerial and declarative, for the edification and not for destruction.” — WCF 31.5 This means the church does not legislate new realities but confirms what Christ has already established in heaven.
- Sovereign authority belongs to God alone. Only He decrees what is ultimately true, binds what heaven has bound, and looses what heaven has loosed (Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11).
Even the Greek tense of Matthew 16:19 hints at this, as “whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven,” indicating earth’s declarations reflect heaven’s prior ordination. Church leaders declare spiritual realities; they do not create them.
5. The Hope-Filled Reality
Not having autonomous authority over circumstances is no cause for despair. It is an invitation to a richer, more restful faith:
- We may not command outcomes, but we can come boldly before God’s throne with our thanksgiving and needs.
- We may not shape reality by our words alone, but we can rest beyond doubt in His sovereign control.
- We may not dictate His will, but we can trust that His perfect plan—rooted in love—works for our good and His glory.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” — Romans 8:28
When prayers seem unanswered or circumstances persist, we are not abandoned. We are held in the loving hands of a God who cannot fail, who delights in us, and who wills our ultimate good.
Final Word: An Invitation to Rest
If you’ve ever spoken of “taking authority,” please receive this not as criticism, but as an encouragement. You are not alone in your longing for spiritual victory. Yet there is a better way—one that lifts the burden of performance and anchors you in the peace of God’s providence:
Come and rest, not in what you can command, but in the One who commands all things for your good.
He is good. He is in control. He loves you.
And that assurance is more powerful than anything we could ever declare on our own.
Iam Kerr
Portions of this content were developed with research and editorial assistance from ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
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