TD Jakes Daily Devotional (September 2, 2025) The Power of Authority and Might.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me..." — Acts 1:8 (KJV)
Brothers and sisters, let’s talk today about power—true power! The Bible speaks of two dimensions of power: exousia and dunamis.
Exousia is authority. It’s the divine badge that gives you the legal right to operate in the name of Jesus. When He said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me” (Matt. 28:18), He was speaking of exousia. It’s the authority to speak and heaven backs you up. It’s the right to decree, to command demons to flee, to stand unshaken when the enemy attacks.
But authority alone is not enough—because authority without power is just a badge without force. That’s where dunamis comes in! Dunamis is explosive, miracle-working power—the kind of power that raises the dead, opens blind eyes, heals the sick, and breaks chains. It’s the word Jesus used in Acts 1:8: “You shall receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Ghost comes upon you.”
Picture it: a police officer knocks at your door at 2 a.m. The badge he carries is exousia—authority. But strapped at his side is dunamis—power. God has given you both! You carry the authority of heaven’s decree and the power of the Holy Spirit to back it up. When you speak, darkness must flee. When you pray, strongholds must break. When you lay hands on the sick, healing flows—not because of you, but because dunamis is at work through you.
But hear this—power and authority must be joined with patience and persistence. The disciples had exousia and dunamis, but when they faced a stubborn demon, they couldn’t cast it out. Why? Because Jesus reminded them: “This kind comes out only by prayer and fasting.” Authority gives you the right, power gives you the force, but patience in prayer and fasting releases the breakthrough.
Beloved, you are fully equipped! You have exousia—the authority of Christ. You have dunamis—the fire of the Holy Spirit. And you have the weapon of persistence in prayer. When you walk in all three, hell trembles, chains shatter, and the Kingdom of God advances.
So I ask you—do you know what you carry? Can you declare with faith today: “I’ve got authority! I’ve got power! And I will persist until breakthrough comes!”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for clothing me with the authority of Christ and filling me with the power of the Holy Ghost. Teach me to persist in prayer and fasting until every stronghold breaks. Let me walk boldly in Your authority, operate in Your power, and endure with patience until I see Your Kingdom come. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
