AUTHORITY IN CHRIST

CHRIST’S AUTHORITY

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 7:29 NKJV

for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Authority- Exousia (ex-oo-see-ah)- Delegated authority, jurisdiction, right, power, strength.

Christ’s authority is delegated by the Father.

AUTHORITY

Ability, to command opinion, behavior, conduct, and actions. You speak and it is done.

Authority is excerised by a word.

TYPES OF AUTHORITY:

Earned authority

Aquired authority (purchased)

Delegated authority (you allow someone to act on your behalf, power of attorney)

Conferred authority (authority given to someone by another)

THE COMMAND OF CHRIST

Luke 10:19 NKJV

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

This is delegated authority.

Matthew 16:16 NKJV

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:19 NKJV

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

At the revelation of Jesus as the Christ, Peter was given keys.

Keys give you access to a door that was previously locked, which gives you access into the house.

Keys are authority to access everything in that house.

Romans 8:17 NKJV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

You have access to the house.

But what does this mean?

AUTHORITY TO THE BELIEVER

Luke 9:1 NKJV

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

YOUR IDENTITY DETERMINES AUTHORITY.

Jesus had authority because of WHO He was.

You have authority because of WHO you are.

NOT WHAT YOU DO

In a monarchy, you are given authority because of your bloodline, because of who your father is.

It is not about who you are in your ownself, it is who lives on the inside of you.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

An ambassador is an offcial representative of where they come from and who they serve.

You are acting on behalf of Jesus.

Religion says:

I prayed for 5 hours so now I have authority

I fasted for a week and now I have authority

I have been perfectly obedient and now I have authority

Which results in:

I didn’t get to pray today, I must not have authority

I haven’t fasted lately, how can I cast this demon out

I sinned earlier today, I no longer have authority.

Demons want you to be focused on your own self. As long as you attribute the moving of the Holy Spirit and authority on your own works, you are in the flesh and acting out of self righteouness.

Athority is absaloute

Peter’s authority didn’t leave him when he denied Jesus. His calling did not vanish.

Romans 11:29 NKJV

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Authority is required to deal with the legal rights of demons. You remove them with authority.

EXCERSISE YOUR AUTHORITY

Matthew 8:8–9 NKJV

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

He understood that someone who has authority, simply has to say a word and it must be done.

Jesus attributes this to great faith.

Great faith is believing at a word, laying hands is a lower level of faith. “he could only lay hands on a few because of their unbelief”.

Isaiah 55:11 NKJV

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

You as a representative of God,

Filled with God

Speaking and commanding the word of God

Is the same as God himself speaking

IF YOU BELIEVE

Faith empowers authority. Authority is not functional without faith.

There is not 1 verse where Jesus yelled at demons

Jesus spoke with authority, He commanded

Only demons were the ones that cried out and yelled

Luke 4:14 NKJV

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

Dunamis is potential power

Jesus only had power after being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

All Christians have authority.

NOT all Christians carry power.

Power comes through constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit, relationship. Baptism of fire.

Luke 4:36 NKJV

Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

With authority AND power.

Demons respect power.

Take AUTHORITY over your life.