Our spiritual authority comes from being marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the bible, we see examples of how “marks” resemble some recognised authority that allowed or prevented certain actions against the individual who carried the mark.

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The first mark described in scripture is in Genesis 4:15, where God marks Cain so that whoever saw the mark, would not harm Cain. The book of Exodus takes the concept of “mark” into an invisible remembrance of what God has done, as a sign of his miraculous deliverance of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 13:16 is one example).

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These are physical examples of marks, and noticing how people responded to physical marks can help us unravel the mystery of spiritual, unseen marks that the bible explores throughout the remaining books.

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Deuteronomy 11:18 exposes a new depth of spiritual reality between meditating and comprehending the word of God and a mark upon us that binds us into him, which is a prophetic sign of binding into Jesus (the word of God) and so receiving the mark of salvation (the Holy Spirit) upon us.

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In Revelation 13:16-17 and 14:9 we see examples of marks used under spiritual wickedness, to give people power to “trade within Babylon”, an allegorical allusion to a physical reality, so marks are recognised by both God and his angels, humans and demons, they are universal principles and spiritual mechanics.

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Finally in Ephesians 1:13 and Revelation 7:1-8, we are presented with the seal of God, the Holy Spirit, which is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Deuteronomy 11:18. Those who receive the Holy Spirit are marked by God. All of the spirit realm notice and respond to this mark, and as seen in the previous sessions, this authority is the authority of Christ and the Kingdom of God. Yet, we live in a physical world, in the midst of human relationships and so our spiritual, invisible mark, is not always recognised.

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We see the seal of God, his mark of authority upon us, progresses in scripture from a human recognisable mark (Cain), to a spirit recognised mark (Holy Spirit). The former only causes response in other people as a preventative measure but lacked the potency and power to effect change within Cain. The latter, which is the Holy Spirit, has great power to change us within so that we can affect the world around us through love and reformed character.

In our reformed character, with "hearts of flesh" that incline towards Holy Spirit, our heart's eyes filter spiritual sight according to God's point of view. With every increasing clarity, we see in his light () so that when we encounter spiritual situations, our actions, prayers and spiritual alignment fall inline with what our Father is doing, his heart, character and nature. With boldness then, we can approach "our Father's business" because of our spiritual authority that is irrevocable in Christ once we have received the seal of the Holy Spirit.

The cross of Jesus Christ has made us worthy of such a privileged position in the Kingdom of Almighty God, that the Mark of God should rest upon us, free of charge! So no one can undo what God has done in us and being included in those that carry great spiritual authority requires nothing but faith in Jesus Christ. So we are a kingdom of priests to our God forever, according to this great gospel of Jesus Christ.