Delegated Authority of The Believer II

Delegated Authority of The Believer II

Introduction: Jesus delegated authority to the believer, to function as HIS body with power on the earth. We are raised up together seated with Him and in Christ in the heavenly places. “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:6)

In the early 1980’s I took correspondence classes from Newspaper Institute of America in Journalism. One of the first lessons I learned was how to gather information using the Five Ws and one H. Who is it about? What happened? When did it take place? Where did it take place? Why did it happen? How did it happen?

Become a investigator when studying the Bible. What is inductive Bible study? “The Observation stage of inductive Bible study involves reading the text closely and making sure you understand the basic details of the passage. In Observation you ask the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how. It’s very important to engage the text directly yourself before you look at study guides or other helps like study Bibles or commentaries. Asking questions of the text yourself will help you navigate through the interpretive options provided by other resources. It’s also important for you to read your passage in full before you start looking carefully into the details. Observation, Interpretation, & Application.” Logos software

Four Points Delegated Authority of The Believer II

I. Jesus Defeated The Enemy

II. What Is Authority?

III. In Heavenly Places With Christ

IV. How To Take Your Authority.

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

Ephesians 1:16-20 “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”

Ephesians 2:1-7 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

I. Jesus Defeated the Enemy

a.) Jesus defeated the devil by His death at Calvary. He went to hell and was victorious over the devil taking the keys of hell and death from the grave.

“Jesus succeeded in securing all power by going to the cross, dying a horrible death, suffering the penalty for sin, and defeating Satan in the pit of hell. He came to earth as a man for one reason: to re-capture the authority that Satan had stolen through Adam’s disobedience in the garden. Jesus was called the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). After securing that power and authority, He freely gave it over into the hands of those who would believe on Him–you and me. It is not enough for us to simply accept Jesus’ work at Calvary. We are held responsible for much more. Jesus’ words in the 16th chapter of Mark were not intended for the early church alone. His words are just as vital and real today as when they were first spoken.” Kenneth Copeland

Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. Eph.1:20 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”

Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Colossians 2:15 “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The New International Version (Chapter 2)

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15 NIV

b.) Authority positions Jesus above all principalities, powers, might and dominion in this world and in that which is to come - Ephesians 1:21 “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” Young's Literal Translation Of the Holy Bible reads, "far above all principalities, and authority, and might, and lordship, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in the one coming."

c.) Jesus has been giving all AUTHORITY & every name is under HIS feat

d.) The devil is AS a roaring lion. He is AS.

Authority positions Jesus above all principalities, powers, might and dominion in this world and in that which is to come.Jesus is the head. We are His body to fulfill His work on this earth.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

James 4:7 KJV 1900

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

e.) Jesus is the head and we are his body. The great ONE lives on the inside of us. I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” In Matthew 28:18, Jesus stated, "All POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth." The Greek word translated as "POWER" in this verse is the Word for "AUTHORITY."The New American Standard Bible reads, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth"

I. What Is Authority?

Illustration: Tent meeting Winter Avenue ushers taking authority after automobile accident.

a.) In Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, the word authority is defined as: "power to influence or command thought, opening in, or behavior; persons in command."

b.) Authority is delegated power, but power will not work in fulness if we do not understand our authority.

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

“Let us, first of all, define the difference between authority" and "power." In the New Testament the translators have not been uniform in the rendering of many words, and these two words have suffered among others. One notable instance is in Luke 10:19 where "power" is twice used although there is a different Greek word in each instance. To have translated the first of these by the English word "authority" would have given a clearer idea of the meaning of the passage. Perhaps our good old English tongue is at times to blame in not providing sufficient synonyms to meet the demands of the original. But a little more uniformity in rendering the same word from the original by the same English equivalent (a thing usually, though not always, possible)would have given greater clearness of understanding although in places it might not have been so euphonious.

One stands at the crossing of two great thoroughfares. Crowds of people are surging by; multitudes of high-powered vehicles rush along. Suddenly, a man in uniform raises a hand. Instantly, the tide of traffic ceases. He beckons to the waiting hosts on the cross street, and they flow across in an irresistible wave. What is the explanation? The traffic officer has very little "power." His most strenuous efforts could not avail to hold back one of those swiftly passing cars. But he has something far better. He is invested with the "authority" of the corporation whose servant he is. The moving crowds recognize this authority and obey it.

Authority, then, is delegated power. Its value depends upon the force behind the user. There is a story told of the Right Honorable W. E. Gladstone, when he served as Prime Minister of Great Britain. On one occasion, he brought in to Queen Victoria, an important measure for her signature, in order that it might become law. The queen objected to it, and after some discussion, refused to sign. The Minister of the Crown was unusually urgent: "Your Majesty,"he said, respectfully but firmly, "you must sign this Bill." She turned on him haughtily: "Sir, I am the Queen of England." Unmoved, the statesman answered quietly: "Your Majesty, I am the people of England." After a little thought, she accepted the situation, and affixed her signature to the document.

This story may be apocryphal, but it illustrates the question of authority when two opposing powers are in conflict. The believer, who is fully conscious of divine Power behind him, and of his own authority thereby, can face the enemy without fear or hesitation. Those who confront him bear the specific names of power and authority: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities [archas, the first or preeminent ones], against powers [exousias, the authorities]." (Ephesians 6:12) But, behind the "authority" possessed by the believer, there is a "Power" infinitely greater than that which backs his enemies, and which they are compelled to recognize.” The Authority of the Believer, John A. MacMillian, pg. 7-9

The Companion Bible: Being the Authorized Version of 1611 with the Structures and Notes, Critical, Explanatory and Suggestive and with 198 Appendixes (172. The Synonymous Words for “Power”, Etc.)

1. dunamis = inherent power; the power of reproducing itself: from which we have Eng. dynamics, dynamo, & etc. See Acts 1:8.

2. exousia = authority, or, delegated power; the liberty and right to put forth power. See, e.g., John 1:12.

δύναμις dýnamis, doo'-nam-is; from G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):—ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work. Strong's

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [AUTHORITY] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [AUTHORITY] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Young’s Literal Translation (Chapter 10:17-19)

“And the seventy turned back with joy, saying, ‘Sir, and the demons are being subjected to us in thy name;’ and he said to them, ‘I was beholding the Adversary, as lightning from the heaven having fallen; lo, I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you;”

“In Speaking about ‘serpents and scorpions,’ Jesus is talking about the power of the devil - demons, evil spirits, and all his cohorts. We need to realize that we’ve got authority over them!” Kenneth Hagin

I Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

c. ) Illustration: Grandma German Shepard when Princess jumped on me in the field. “Once in England Smith Wigglesworth was standing on a street corner waiting for a bus. A woman came out of an apartment house, and a little dog ran out behind her. She said ‘Honey, you're going to have to go back.’ The dog didn’t pay any attention to her. He just wagged his tail and rubbed up against her affectionately. She said , ‘Now, dear, you can go.’ The woman stomped her foot and yelled. ‘Get!’ The dog tucked his tail between his legs and took off. Wigglesworth said the hollered out loud even thing ‘That’s the way you've got to do with the devil!” The Believers Authority, Kenneth Hagin, pg. 10-11

III. In Heavenly Places With Christ

a. ) What does is mean to be in Christ? If we are born again we are new Creatures in Christ and we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

II Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

b. ) Jesus is the head of the Church, his body. Colossians 1:15-18 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

c.) You are the body of Christ and you have function within the body. The CHURCH.

d.) We are seated together in heavenly places FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.

e.) We have authority in this world and earth. Power over the enemy in Jesus name "Behold, I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you" - Luke 10:19 NASB.

"Behold, I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you" - Luke 10:19 NASB.

f.)  Jesus expects us to use the power HE has delegated to us to do the works HE did and greater - John 14: We all have the authority and power to go around the world to preach the Gospel with signs and wonders following.

Mark 16:14-20 “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

g.) We have an enemy who disguises himself as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. I Peter 5:8,9 “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” He tries to come John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He tries to destroy you. The battleground is the mind. We resist him by submitting to God James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” He is the accuser of the brethren, He is a liar. Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

h.) We put on the whole armour of God "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood…" - Ephesians 6:12. We do not use our authority against man, this is not what Jesus authorized. He delegated SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY. Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil.” Stand strong in the name of Jesus! He must flee according to the WORD of God.

IV. How To Take Your Authority

a.) Jesus commissioned the disciples delegating authority to them & us. “His formal assumption of that authority took place when he sat down ‘on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens’ ” (Hebrews 8:1)

b.) “Christians have the authority to keep their areas free from shooting sprees at local schools, churches, malls, or public events. Christians have the authority to keep their areas free form epidemics of suicide. Christians have authority to keep Satan from having high carnival in their homes.” Authority of The Believer, How To Use It, Billye Brim.

c. )Authority of The Believer, How To Use It, Billye Brim. Read the prayer and pray pg 35- 38 , pleading the blood line around us spirit, soul, and body.

Conclusion - We have been given The Mandate both with authority & power to do the works Jesus did and greater according to John 14:12; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 10:19; Matthew 28:18

Additional Scriptures for study & mediation :

Faith to the other side of the storm - Mark 4:35-40

Jesus destroyed death and enemy. We have New & Eternal Life - Hebrews 2:14

We are not of an incorruptible seed, we are born again by the Word of God - 1 Pet. 1:23

Let the Word grow in, work in you, and multiply in you - Acts 12:24

Acts 12:24 (KJV 1900) But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind - Ephesians 4:21-24

In the name of JESUS! - Acts 3:6, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”