Christian Foundations: Our Creator has given us Spiritual Authority
If you were with Jesus when He was here on Earth, there would be no doubt something was different about Him. Sure, He related to the common people more, which made the religious leaders jealous. However, what really set Him apart from all the other religious teachers was the authority He used and the reactions from the realm of the demonic. Satan’s forces had no doubts about His power over them. He was sent to destroy the works of the enemy and that He did just be being who He was.
Some might wonder why that ‘power’ is not more evident in our world today. I deeply believe that if the body of Christ really knew and practiced their authority and ‘power’ in Christ today, we would have a vastly different universe. Let me tell you the story of Alice Greyson.
Alice had grown old and frail. Her Pastor visited her in her small, cold cottage. “My most precious possession,” she said in her old trembly voice “is hung on the wall above my stove. I’ve kept it for 20 years even though I have little else to call my own.”
The Pastor took down the picture frame with a faded document.
“Do you know what this is?” the Pastor exclalimed excitedly.
“No, I’ve never learned to read”. she replied. “I used to work with the Lady in Waiting at the Palace for 30 years and never got around to learning to read.”
The Pastor held the old document up to the fading light and said “This is a deed to a very nice property and a large sum of money to be paid into your account every month!”
How sad that Alice had never learned to read and so didn’t know what was hers! So many Christians are in this same position; they don’t know what Jesus won for them by His perfect life, His sacrigical death and by His resurrection! They don’t know their authority in Christ to stand against the enemy!
A. So what is ‘Authority’?
1. The Greek differentiates between the right or the authority to use power (‘exousia’) and the power itself (‘dunamis’). In Matthew 28.18 is ‘exousia’ is used to show ‘authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, privilege, right and strength’, or the right to act and the power to act or to command. Authority is closely linked with the concept of power. The KJV uses the word power rather than authority
“He called the twelve together and gave them power (dunamis) and authority (exousia) over all the demons … “. (Luke 9.1)
2. All authority comes from God. His authority levels have existed since creation. Adam and Eve were given authority and dominion over the Garden and God’s creatures. They then gave this authority to the snake by obeying his deceptive suggestions.
3. There is still a clear authority structure to follow. Authority flows from the Father to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to Christ over the Church, as husbands to Christ, as wives to husbands, as children to parents, as slave to their masters. We find patterns for us as citizens to the state – “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13.1)
This is for our protection as well as for unity and harmony in the world. In fact because of Lucifer, Adam and Eve’s rebellion, the central question for all humans is ‘who has the authority to have the authority’? Many of the conflicts in life revolve around authority, control and dominance. If we can understand the function of human authority, we will more easily grasp the principles of the believer’s authority.
4. Mankind also exerts authority over one another (Matthew 8:9-13). The centurion who talked with Jesus understood this. The mayor of the city, the chairman of the board, the president of the company, the husband of the home, the fire and police all have positions of authority. We cannot even imagine an army without a structure of command. Without these basic authority structures there would be anarchy and chaos.
Certainly there are questions when authority and power are abused. Even here we are given Biblical guidelines on how to handle abusive authority. Each person will answer to God for the way they have exercised power and authority, especially within His church.
5. Satan claims authority over all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus didn’t challenge this statement. He actually confirmed it later by saying, “……the ruler of this world will be cast out”. (John 12.31). A time is coming when Satan will be bound (Revelation 20.1-3) and Christ will rule the world (Zechariah 14.9), but currently Satan still holds authority over the world and he will give ‘great authority’ to the coming world dictator (Revelation 13.2).
Above the levels where human authority exists, there is a spiritual realm occupied by spiritual forces. There are spirit beings who, through the fall of man in Eden, have gained a place where they are able to dominate mankind. However, even these demonic spirits are themselves under authority. Satan is the head of a vast hierarchy of principalities, powers, rulers, and forces of spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). To have true Godly authority, one must be under authority.
C. Jesus Christ was given all authority.
Jesus claimed that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth in Matthew 28:18. He then proved that authority by dealing with the demonic, directing the forces of nature, healing the sick and forgiving sins.
1. Jesus was given this authority because of His total obedience to the Father.
Hebrews tells us that by His obedience, Jesus proved Himself worthy of being the Lord of all, Hebrews 5:8-9 – not only did He have the weight of God’s approval and authority, but Jesus’ obedience – even unto death – proved His place in eternity. He did only what the Father told him to do, stayed inside God’s mission for Him
and only used God’s weapons – not his own.
2. Jesus taught with authority. “….and it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matt. 7:28, 29). Jesus’ authority is greater than that of Moses or the prophets. (Matt. 17:1-5).
The reason Jesus spoke with such authority was that he said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
3. Jesus’ place was to sit down at the Father’s right hand. It is only after our Lord accomplished cleansing for sins that He sat down. That is because He had finished His work and has reunited God and His creation.
4. Jesus has been appointed heir of all things….which He wishes to share with us! The Son, Jesus Christ, is God’s full and final revelation to mankind.
The police officer must be under authority himself, obedient to his superiors. He goes where he has been assigned, not outside his jurisdiction. We believers must be doing what Jesus has said, according to the Bible and His personal word to us as well. We cannot be out doing our own thing for our own pleasure. A clean, submitted heart is imperative.
In our next post, we shall continue with the authority we have in Christ Jesus as believers and His followers. So please come back and join us,
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: BEliever's authority
Filed under: Foundations of our Faith, Series #1: Being a Jesus Follower
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