The Authority By Which We Do Ministry

Intro

Text - Luke 20.1-2

Luke 20:1–2 NKJV

1 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 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

Title - The Authority By Which We Do Things

Background

The chief priests and scribes and elders questioned Jesus on his ministry

who gave you the authority to preach, to do what you are doing

Jesus asked them also about John’s baptism - was it from God or not?

John was among them, being a son of a priest

John was born by a miracle

John preached repentance and baptism

they refused to answer Jesus on his question

The Main Point

the question of the priests was valid:

whatever we do, we do them according to a certain autority

if what we do affects other lives, it has to be authorized

The ministry of preaching the gospel affects lives, chnges lives, convicts of sin, and calls for people to repent.

we are invading enemy territory

we are influencing other people’s lives

Sermon Points

Are we authorized to preach the gospel? to bear witness?

2 Types of authority that we receive from God

The authority of a son of God (birthright)

John 1:12–13 NKJV

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 5:26–27 NKJV

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Note:

Jesus’ authority was not his own

John 5.19

John 5.30

The authority by birthright

you are entitled to an inheritance

you are entitled to honor in the house of your father

you are entitled to privileges

The authority by calling (delegated authority)

Matthew 10:1 NKJV

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Luke 10:19 NKJV

19 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.

The authority by calling

Paul’s - 1 Cor 9.18; 2 Cor 13.10

woman not authorized to preach and lead over men - 1 Tim 2.12

Titus - Titus 2.15

Authority comes with Power

The authority of the apostles

in Matthew 28.18-20, Jesus gave them authority to preach the gospel

in Acts 2.1-4 , they were given power to go with their authority

The power of the believer in the name of Jesus

John 14:13–14 NKJV

13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:16 NKJV

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Conclusion

You are authorized to be witness for Jesus and to proclaim the gospel:

because you are a child of God

because you have been called in Jesus’ name