I Give You Authority: Practicing the Authority Jesus Gave Us

by Charles H. Kraft

Explains what spiritual authority is and isn't and describes the responsible and legitimate exercise of such authority in key areas.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Christian Living, Prayer, Faith, Spirituality

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Rev. Dr. Charles H. Kraft is an anthropologist and linguist whose work since the early 1980s has focused on inner healing and spiritual warfare. He is the Sun-Hee Kwak Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication in the School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, teaching primarily in the school's spiritual dynamics concentration. He joined Fuller's faculty in 1969. In the 1950s he served as a Brethren missionary in northern Nigeria. He has been a professor of African languages at Michigan State University and UCLA, and taught anthropology part-time at Biola University. He holds a BA from Wheaton College, a BD from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the Hartford Seminary Foundation.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Nate Bate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charles Kraft offers a comprehensive and compelling book detailing his view of the spiritual authority Christians possess today to wage spiritual warfare. Any Bible-minded Christian will find much to agree on here.

That said, there is much to disagree on for some folks as well. The source of the disagreement, in my opinion, lies in the foundational difference between how the Charismatic Movement applies Jesus' words given to the apostles as well as an unwillingness to recognize the distinction between the apostles ministry and the ministry of the church going forward after the apostolic era.

For Charismatics, Kraft's use of Scripture makes perfect sense. For biblically-minded, non-Charismatics they will only agree with Kraft up to a point, and then they will become uncomfortable with his conclusions.

I am decidedly on the non-Charismatic end of the spectrum; however, I am not willing to shut the door to God doing special things and special times. What this means practically, is that I am not comfortable Charles Kraft's discussion of how to deal with demons and the spirit world. It is based on assertions that are overlaid on top of interpretations of Scripture that I do not agree with.

Although this is my position, I am not willing to say that these things never happen. I am just in disagreement with the expectation of these things and the normal way of "conducting business" with these things that Kraft outlines.

Kraft's book is very popular, and many people won't like it being questioned. When Christians come to difference on these issues, they must be kind and gracious to one another. Usually differences on these issues will not be resolved in a brief conversation if the differences arise from long-term perspectives. No matter what your view, you would benefit from respectfully investigating all sides of the issue.

[Jennifer Hoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will change the way you think...about God, Jesus, authority, hierarchy, spirits, miracles, and how to glorify God. The Bible says to stir up or exercise the Spirit...this book tells you step by step how to do just that.

Some anecdotes don't count as proof, some leaps in logic do occur, and there's still the fact that Jesus says in Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

(Lawlessness=living without the law, as in "the law is done away")

I would definitely recommend this book to all practicing Christians for just the "credit card" concept alone. Superb analogy.

[Mary Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes me a while to get through books like this. So good though. Chapter 6 was so thought provoking. I think about it constantly: “How disappointed Jesus must have been to have to do it himself!”.

Definitely will be a read once a year book. Great reminder of what it is we are to do as we walk and fight battles.

[Aaron Bolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kraft provides an uplifting message with personal anecdotes and scriptural reference, but I think the practical how-to portion of the book is a little weak. His basic concept is that claiming spiritual authority verbally is equivalent to having it, but the overall feeling I'm left with is "okay, then what?".
Definitely worth a read, I would have just liked a little more substance.

[Patricia Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, practical perspective on spiritual warfare. The most helpful book I've seen on the subject.

[Amy Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

A great read if you want to watch someone relate personal views while taking scripture out of context.

[Rebecca Cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I think every believer should read. Maybe not when they first come to Christ, because it might be overwhelming, but as soon as possible. There are some statements I am not sure I agree with (but how many times do we agree with everything someone says/believes?), but there is so much truth and understanding to be found in these pages that can take us from mediocrity in our walk to victory and freedom.

[Lady Safari · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are becoming aware of the spiritual realm, start with this book to build a solid foundation!

This is a reread and I just want to state once again that this is probably the best book to start your journey in God’s authority. Personally I wish I had been given this book 20 years ago, when God started opening my eyes to the spiritual realm.

Thank you to Dr Kraft. Your book is very sound and Biblically based. I especially love that you also say that sometimes God stretches us with new tools as we help others to break chains and walk in freedom!

[Bethany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took so long to read because every page contained something new and relevant to think and pray on. It takes a very Biblical approach to something not as talked about in Western Protestant Evangelical churches and serves as a highly usable and practical guide to day to day lives. Awareness is the first step to fighting the enemy and this work brings so much information and encouragement on fighting the battles properly and authoritatively!

[Rita Burkholder · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are in a War whether we realize it or not

Such a critical work for the modern day church! As Dr. Kraft stated one of the major weapons of the enemy is ignorance. Western thought dictates that what we cannot see cannot hurt us. So wrong! If you love Jesus, you must read this book!

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambivalent

Contains worthwile warnings and admonitions that I am taking to heart. But also many statements that I find as yet unfounded and speculative. I will apply that which I can understand as God's truth and pray for increasing discernment in the rest.

[Ann Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read two of his books. This was a good reference for me. So many Christians seem to feel defeated and do not take Mark 16 to heart. We need to be a strong body and Kraft delivers in this book. He beautifully shows you the truth about our authority in Christ Jesus.

[Angie Banza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thought provoking book.

[AmyLu Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend.

[Hallie Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical guide to spiritual warfare and deliverance.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of useful nuggets and wisdom. Not an entry-level book. If you are interested in this subject, read Essentials of Spiritual Warfare: Equipped to Win the Battle first.

[Matthew Ocenasek]

Built off itself very well and has some major implications to how then we shall live. It was a much needed wake up to the realities of spiritual warfare, and how we are called to live.

[Kristina Caldeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight and guidance on your authority through Jesus!

[Justin Tapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kraft is a former missionary to Africa who, like I did, found out that he was ill-prepared on the mission field for all the demonic activity around him. He hadn't been taught much about demonic influences in peoples' lives, including fellow Christians. His church hadn't spent much time looking at instances in the Gospels where Jesus' disciples cast out demons, and certainly had never practiced it.

Kraft later returned to school, studied Scripture, got a better understanding of who he was in Christ, and started a healing/deliverance ministry. He's written a lot of books on issues ranging from cultural anthropology to seeking deep emotional/spiritual healing. This book is about understanding that the stuff we see in the New Testament is still happening today, right here in America, and most Christians just don't want to think about the supernatural.

The book is filled with stories of deliverance of churches, people, entire neighborhoods from demonic strongholds and powerful influences. It explains our role as Christ-followers and how to better engage in critical spiritual warfare. It encourages pastors to pray over their churches, pray for every seat in the congregration, every musical instrument played; engage in warfare to free your flocks from the influences that are crippling the church.

The personal challenge to me was reaffirming my role as a husband/father is to be the spiritual leader of our household, that means I get to be the point man for spiritual attacks. I need to take seriously the things that I allow into our lives, and always seek protection from satanic influences. I need to be on the offensive against sin in our lives and cancel any rights that demons might try to claim to our lives.

I wish I'd had this book before serving in an animistic Muslim-context country. Westerners, and often the Gospel had never been to the places I was walking, and it's clearly been satan's ground for thousands of years. We saw lots of demon-influenced people, animistic sacrifices and rituals that only served to worship satan. Southern Baptists don't talk much about going on the offensive against these things, and little training is given to IMB missionaries on how to deal with it. Some were concerned that we'd end up like the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19), but Kraft explains that Jesus gave his followers authority that the sons of Sceva never had. Often, missionaries are just told "it's out there, but controversial, so learn to deal with it on your own."

The secular world seems very interested in the supernatural and demonic. There are a lot of shows on different networks about ghost hunting, and documentaries of people staying in haunted houses, etc. The Church as a whole doesn't seem to want to say much about this, or wants to dismiss these activities as nothing, and this has always bothered me. This book doesn't mention the secular fascination, but reading it will give you a different perspective on these shows and the supernatural activity they're seeing.

I give this book 4 stars out of 5, and would love to start a group study on it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christianity 101. A must read for every follower of Christ. Totally changed many outcomes in my life. There are VERY EFFECTIVE prayers sprinkled throughout this book.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was skeptical of some concepts and practices taught and used by Dr Kraft. I thought it was too subjective without substantial evidence. I've read other books of his, and had the same conclusions and preconceived assertions. Coming from a Christian Pentecostal tradition with solid hermeneutical education, I thought that the concept of spiritual warfare was rather simple and only practical and necessary for people coming out of pagan religions, or for missionaries living somewhere else. Then I started confronting my own wounds and past brokenness, and I couldn't find full freedom. In fact I was facing an increase in unhealthy emotional health & coping mechanisms, depression and addiction. I had heard about Dr. Kraft's prayer counseling ministry, and started reading more of his work. Then a student in our community started manifesting demons weekly and I experienced my first encounter with evils spirits in eye opening prayer sessions. My theological framework was challenged, and after seeing the importance of deep healing prayer ministry, I went to Dr. Kraft for prayer counseling for myself. I then experienced healing from past wounds in which evil spirits had taken a hold of in me in order to exercise negative influences. For example, a strong sense of negativity and nightmares about death or dying which were previously present and were evidence of the influence of evil spirits is absolutely gone now. I also have a greater peace and joy that fills my soul. There is definitely a burden lifted from my life after prayer counseling with Dr. Kraft. I highly recommend his work & ministry to anyone and I recommend this book because of the scriptural basis and results of his ministry. The spirit world is real and operates within a framework that we don't give much thought to in the west. This is a good resource for those needing answers in deliverance ministry and spiritual warfare.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book recommended by a conservative Baptist seminary graduate friend of mine. Are there things in your life you have given permission for the evil spirits to control? As an example, have you made a vow contrary to what God says is true: "I will never be happy. I will never know joy. I could never be loved by God."? If so, then these give the evil spirits permission to work in your life in those areas. If you have said "God could never love me", then the spirits can speak into your mind re-enforcing that thought. They can influence circumstances to re-enforce this thought. The solution is to repent of it, and take authority over the spirits influencing you (or others). The author makes a good case that Jesus has given us his authority over the evil spirits.

For me personally, I have believed or concluded that God will never use me for any miraculous works. This is a contraindication to what the Bible says about the believers.

So when leaving on a trip and something bad happens or goes wrong, the author says out loud "If this is of the devil, then stop it!", erasing all doubt that the evil spirits are involved in what is happening to him.

All in all well written with lots and lots of examples, something that is missing in most Biblical help books. A lot of people get off on ideas and concepts, believing that once you understand the concept or idea, everything else is easy. To some people it is, but to about 2/3rds of us, we need lots of examples of the concept put in practice, otherwise we don't fully understand the concept.

[Rose on aish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm overwhelmed by the things I've read in this book. I have learnt very much from it and I pray that I can take the authority which Jesus gave me and use it for His Kingdom and for His glory!!! The author, Charles Kraft, relates about the truths of authority. Awesome book :D

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was raised in the church, where has this Christianity been all my life? This books describes a Biblical Christianity of power wrapped in love and compassion, not half the church raining down damnation and the other half accepting everything under the sun. This seemed to be a movement rising in Kraft’s day, and I don’t know what happened to it since, but we need it back more than ever.

This was the perfect book to read concurrent with/after Defeating Dark Angels. It delves way more into what our authority is as believers and how we are to use it. This is the second book I’ve read by Kraft and I want more like this, by him or by others.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended in one of Terry Wardle's books so I bought it on Kindle. I appreciate the clear writing on our position in Christ and our responsibility to take up the authority that was given to us. Walk by faith and not by feelings. Take hold of all that Christ died to give us and free the captives!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little overboard in details & implications and stretches the implications of some Scripture (in my view). However, really worth reading and practicing. If you take the good and leave the rest it can be life chaning

[Trent Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have your eyes opened

Excellent, thorough and Dr. Krafts humility and teach ability still shine through after all these years of ministry. Have your eyes opened and have some people to discuss it with

[Byron Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading again..... for the first time

[Juan Parral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to learn about your authority in Jesus. Many examples of healing and deliverance. Spirits and demons.

[Deb]

very enlightening, I must read this again as I am sure I will glean more information from it