“All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)”–Matthew 28:18-20

I just woke up from a dream I had in the middle of the night.  I saw the Captain of the Lord’s army. He was a man of great authority and experience.  He understood his position in the army of God and knew how to use his authority.

But what also stood out to me is how he looked down on me from a very high place in the spirit.  As he spoke to me he spoke as one with great authority and he commanded me to begin to understand my own authority as a commander in the Lord’s army.

When I spoke to him I didn’t speak to him as a soldier.  I was speaking to him as someone who only understood the army in a partial way.  I saw the four stripes on his shoulder and I said, “You are a Captain, aren’t you?”

He looked at me and in so many words said, “You are a Commander in the Lord’s army.  It is given to you to understand the ranks of his army.  You shouldn’t have to ask me what my rank is; you should just know.”

And certainly a man of war does not need to ask his fellow officer what his rank is.  It would be a disgrace to an officer for a soldier not to understand the ranks in the army. Men of war understand the authorities that come with each rank. They understand their own rank and their own authority and it should be the same in the Lord’s army.

A person in the Lord’s army has been given authority to heal the sick and so we should be praying for the sick whenever they come near us.  Our faith should be such that as we pray we believe that this person will be healed.  We don’t waver in unbelief.  And if our faith is weak, then we ask God to strengthen our faith.

When a person who is demonized comes near us we should not fear but rejoice!  Our faith should be such that we know that because they are near us, they will be set free by the power of Jesus’ name flowing through our lips.

It is the name of Jesus that brings us authority (Luke 10:17, Mark 16:17 and Acts 3:6). When we understand the power that is in that name we will not fear no matter what comes our way.  Yes, even death might raise its head against us but we will not shirk in the face of it. We will command it to leave in the mighty name of Jesus and it will leave, not because of any strength of our own, but simply because we understand the power in the name.

And when we preach the unadulterated word of God that He gives us, signs and wonders will follow, because this is the word of God.  When you go into all the world and preach, God is faithful and will not let you preach without following it up with power, with healing, with deliverance, and with resurrection.

All you need do is go and preach.  All you need do is pray.  And as you believe in the name of Jesus, then authority will follow your word because you are a person of rank and authority.  He will send the armies of heaven to you to back up his word.

I pray that in this hour of the Rising of the Lord’s army that you will come into a right understanding of your authority in Christ.  I pray that you will also have a visitation from the Lord or from an angel.  I pray that a mighty one will speak into your ear so that you come to understand the power that lies dormant in your heart in Christ.  And I further pray that you will begin to operate with that authority.