Whether a pastor or simply an unassuming member of God's family, we are all indwelt with the same Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, does not differ within earthly designations. That is our authority whether evangelizing, teaching, serving, etc.; and this truth must not be forgotten.
Jesus, who emptied Himself of His Deity, and was fully under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:5-8), taught and performed miracles with authority. We read in Matthew 7:28-29, on finishing the Sermon on the Mount, "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." We come to the week before the crucifixion, and we read in Luke 20:1-2, "Now it happened on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?" From a prophetic standpoint this question was posed to Jesus four days before He would be crucified for our sins. We also read in Exodus 12:3-6, that the Passover lambs were scrutinized and inspected for four days to ensure they were without blemish prior to being sacrificed. Our Passover Lamb, Jesus, was going through the same process. Jesus did something we often fail to do. He answered their question with His own question to reveal their motives, in Luke 20:3, "But He answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men?"" This question illustrated the hearts of those asking the question as they debated among themselves revealing their true motives. You might think, "How does this apply to me? This was Jesus, we are only men and women". We read of the time that Peter and John, after Pentecost, were arrested and were forced to face the Sanhedrin. We read in Acts 4:7-8, "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,..." They, simple fishermen in the eyes of the religious leaders, were under the authority and power of the Holy Spirit.
Many of us quietly go through our lives as Christians staying safely under the radar. No one is questioning our authority, because many do not boldly speak out under the authority of the Holy Spirit for fear of what others might say or do. When we are confronted, we are comforted by the words of Jesus in Luke 12:11-12, "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." When confronted by others we should determine their motives. If they have no heart for the discussion and simply want to debate their point, don't allow pride to drive the conversation, you will get nowhere with a mind that is closed. But if the questioning is sincere, then answer, not in your own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit. As Paul encouraged Timothy, we read in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." We should never be intimidated, no matter what position we hold and what position the one asking holds, because under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you possess all the authority necessary to answer anyone. Praise the Lord and all glory to Him as He works in and through those who are submitted to Him, daily.