SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY | Return in the Power of the Spirit

“Are you going to return the same way you came, or are you going to return in the dunamis of God?”

In this message Return in the Power of the Spirit from the Spiritual Authority – Restored In Christ sermon series, Chad Everett walks through Luke 4 and confronts a powerful question: How will you return?

Jesus did not leave the wilderness unchanged. Instead, He returned in the power of the Spirit. Luke 4 reveals more than a historical moment. It reveals a pattern for every believer who desires to return to the life God has called them to live.

If we want to understand spiritual authority, we must look carefully at what Luke 4 shows us.

Jesus Returned in Dunamis and Exousia

Luke 4:14 tells us that Jesus “returned in the power of the Spirit.” The word dunamis means miraculous power and ability. Later in the chapter, we see exousia, which refers to authority, jurisdiction, and the right to act.

This means He did not return with confidence alone. Rather, He returned empowered by the Holy Spirit.

As a result, He taught with authority.
He rebuked unclean spirits.
He healed the sick.
He commanded—and demons obeyed.

In other words, Luke 4 does not present spiritual authority as theory. It presents authority in action. True authority flows from dependence on the Spirit—not from position, title, or personality.

Guard Against Familiarity and Religion

When Jesus returned to Nazareth, the place where He grew up, the people initially admired His words. However, admiration quickly shifted. Although they heard Him, they struggled to receive Him.

Familiarity dulled their hunger.

Chad challenges the Church to examine this same danger. We can attend services. We can hear truth. Yet we can resist transformation if familiarity replaces honor. Therefore, hunger determines where God moves. Because Nazareth resisted Him, Jesus moved on to places that received Him.

Spiritual authority grows where humility and hunger remain strong.

The Church Must Enter-Train, Not Entertain

Chad draws a clear distinction. The purpose of the local church is not to entertain. Instead, it is to enter-train.

Rather than gathering crowds for inspiration alone, Jesus equipped disciples. He trained them. Furthermore, He gave them both power (dunamis) and authority (exousia). Luke 9 and Luke 10 show Him sending them out to preach, heal, and confront darkness.

In this sermon, Return in the Power of the Spirit, we are reminded that we do not gather for information. Instead, we gather for transformation. We return to the world differently because the Holy Spirit empowers us.

How Will You Return?

You will return to school. You will return to work. You will return to your home and relationships.

The question remains simple.

Will you return the same?
Or will you return in the power of the Spirit?

Spiritual authority looks like something in real life. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus now dwells in believers. Therefore, the same power remains available today.

Ultimately, this message calls the Church to walk in that authority—not in human strength, but in the dunamis of God.

Key Scriptures
Luke 4: 14–22, Luke 4: 23–39, Luke 9: 1–2, Luke 10: 1–9, Luke 10: 17–20