20070311 Jesus Authority
Sermon Sunday 11 March 2007
Jesus Authority
This week I really struggled and wrestled over what to share with you this morning. It wasn’t until Thursday that I felt a leading to speak on the authority of the one that we put our trust in – Jesus Christ. Why do we listen to him? Why do we take his words to heart. What gives Jesus the authority or the right to speak into our lives?
I want to look at some examples of the life of Jesus from the Bible, and I have also invited a couple of people to share from their experience the touch of Jesus, and experiencing the authority of Christ in their lives.
What is the Origin of Jesus Authority?
God the Father
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
God the father has placed absolute authority in the hands of Jesus Christ. There is such a loving intimacy between God the Father and God the Son that there is absolute trust that Jesus Christ is going to carry out the plans and purpose of God the Father.
In fact Jesus said himself in Matthew 28:18 when he was speaking with his 11 remaining disciples
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Jesus had absolute authority, given to him by God the Father.
Jesus Delegates His Authority
It is also important for us to understand that Jesus has delegated or entrusted certain aspects of his authority to Christians.
I just want to give you a few examples from scripture.
Matthew 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, b drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Jesus had given his disciples the authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, to cure those with leprosy and to drive out demons.
The disciples would not have been able to do this in their own power. They had received the authority from Christ to do this. The authority in this instance was for the disciples to go to God’s chosen people, the Israelites, because they needed to be told that their king had come in Jesus, and this fact would be demonstrated by miracles, such as healing the sick etc.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in a the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Here Jesus is confirming that he has all authority and then he goes on to give the disciples the great commission, which is also our great commission. This time he as given them a commission to go to all nations with his authority, not just Israel.
They were to make disciples by telling people the truth about Jesus. His purpose in coming, his death, his resurrection, and to obey his teaching.
There is a verse in John 14, verse 11 which inspires me and I hope does you as well.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Jesus said that for anybody who has faith in Him (ie Jesus), that person will do even greater things than Jesus did. Doesn’t that statement from Jesus himself fill you with confidence.
And you can see the truth in that. After the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost Peter preached a sermon and 3000 people were converted.
And in recent years in Africa, evangelist Reinhardt Bonnke saw over 1M people come to the Lord in one meeting.
Over the years throughout church history there are many examples of Christians having an amazing impact for God’s Kingdom
So what are some specific areas that Jesus has authority over.
Authority over the Church
Ephesians 5:23 Christ is the head of the church
The church is often called the body of Christ.
As your head gives direction to your body, so Jesus Christ as head of the church gives direction to the church.
When I talk about the church, I am referring to the worldwide Christian church, of which our church is a tiny part.
The church belongs to Christ because he purchased it with his blood. He paid for it with his life.
Jesus Christ is the head of the church and he has authority over the church.
Authority over Sickness
The first example from the Bible I want to mention is when Peter heals the crippled beggar in Acts 3. We can read that the beggar was at the temple gates asking for money, but what does Peter say?
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
And we see in verse 16 how this miracle was carried out.
Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
So it is the name of Jesus and faith in the person of Jesus Christ that made the beggar well.
This authority to heal the sick in the name of Jesus has been delegated to believers. So if you are a believer here this morning, then it is your privilege and responsibility to pray for the sick, and to see them healed in the name of Jesus. He has given us the authority to carry on his work in this area, and in doing so to point people to him.
Testimony – Norm Shannon
Authority over Evil
We know that there is a spiritual battle going on. The enemy has been defeated by the cross, and only has very limited power for a limited time, but sometimes the enemy’s voice can seem very loud to us.
I have heard Reinhard Bonnke describe Satan as a mouse with a microphone.
Even though Satan has been defeated on the cross, there is still an enemy that is trying to take as many souls with him as he can.
Satan is real. Demons are real. They are not to be messed with or taken lightly.
But we are also not to be fearful of demons, because Jesus Christ has total authority over Satan and the demonic forces.
Let’s have a look at an example
Mark 1:23-27 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil a spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
I don’t believe that a Christian can be totally possessed by a demon, because possession really means ownership. And when someone becomes a believer they become a new creation in Christ. But I believe that it is possible for a Christian to be made less effective because of demonic oppression.
And this is another area where Jesus delegates his authority to believers. We have the authority as Christians to demand that demonic spirits leave in the name of Jesus.
Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Growing up I had very little knowledge or understanding of the spiritual realm, but in more recent years I have been exposed to ministry times where the presence of evil spirits has been quite visible.
And church needs to be a safe place where people can be set free from demonic oppression.
Testimony Serena
Authority Over Sin
When Jesus obediently allowed himself to be beaten, abused and nailed to a cross, He did this so that sin and muck that separates us from God can be stamped under foot.
Jesus took authority over sin by humbling himself.
Matthew 20:28 the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus bought us with his life. And because he has taken authority over sin, we can also receive the benefits of this authority.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all a sin
So Jesus has taken authority over sin. Sin has been defeated, but we need to keep walking in the light, which means confessing our sins to one another, confessing our struggles. Sharing when we are not coping with stuff.
It is amazing how much lighter a problem becomes when you share it with others.
We don’t need to be a prisoner to our sin anymore. Jesus has paid the price to purchase us so that all our rottenness is covered. He has stomped on it.
Authority over Death
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, f that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I would say the major benefit to us coming from his authority over sin is his authority over death.
There is no need for anyone here this morning to leave this service being fearful of death. For a believer, physical death is just a doorway into eternal life with Jesus.
If anyone here does not know Jesus then there is reason to fear death
This same Jesus who took authority over sickness and took authority over evil and took authority over death is here today and lives in every believer by His spirit.
It is when we put our faith in Jesus, that we then have that delegated authority to do as he did. Not because we want to draw attention to ourselves, but because we want others to have that opportunity to know Jesus.
Do you know Jesus this morning? We don’t worship a dead Jesus? He died on the cross, yes, but he is not there anymore. We can know Jesus because he is not dead anymore. He is alive now.
And when you meet Jesus, you cannot stay the same. Eg tax collectors, prostitutes. When you meet Jesus you cannot stay the same. When you make a choice to follow Jesus you make a choice to change your ways to line up with Jesus.
You can’t become a Christian just by being a good person. We can’t work our way to heaven. It is only in believing in your heart that Jesus Christ died for you, and speaking that out with your mouth, that you can be saved.
Opportunity to pray for you. Are you physically sick? Are you emotionally unwell? Do you feel oppressed or heavy. Jesus is here to give you rest and healing.
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b The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.
a Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2 and Gal. 3:27.
a Greek unclean; also in verses 26 and 27
a Or every
f Or his only begotten Son