BELIEVERS' AUTHORITY IN CHRIST

BELIEVERS' AUTHORITY IN CHRIST

As Christians, our authority comes from one source: Jesus Christ. Christ has given us authority, so therefore, you should possess your authority in Christ and actively exercise it.

Chapter Markers
- 0:00 Authority Starts With Jesus
- 3:56 Delegated Authority And Its Source
- 7:53 Christ Above Every Power
- 13:39 Authority Over Demons And Disease
- 20:25 The Name Of Jesus In Action
- 25:48 Standing Firm In Evil Days

Transcript

Authority Starts With Jesus

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Child of God, I I just want to briefly uh encourage and remind all of us as believers that we possess authority in Christ Jesus. And uh most of us we have this knowledge or awareness or recognition that we have the authority in Christ Jesus. At times we don't exercise the authority in Christ Jesus. So the reason why I mention your authority is in Christ Jesus is because without Christ you have no authority. So for you to possess and exercise any authority, it has to be in Christ. What is authority? Authority is power, it is position of influence, it is privileges, it is having permission, it is having the right to give others, make decisions, enforce obedience, command, to have access, authorities. At times we speak of a person or an organization that holds power to make decisions, to command, to take charge of certain uh uh matters in society. It could be political, administrative spheres, authority in a sense of influence to change a course of action, authority also in a sense of you being an expert in a particular field, meaning that you're knowledgeable, you experienced in a particular field. So we as believers our source of authority is not from our experiences, it's not from our education, it is not from the position that we hold in our workplaces, it is not from the government, it is solely from Jesus. So your authority that you have as a believer comes from Jesus and Jesus alone. Without Jesus, you don't have no authority. And this authority that you and I we possess from Jesus, we can exercise it in the spiritual realm, we can also exercise it in the natural realm. I know at times when we talk about authority, we tend to only spiritualize it. That okay, I have authority over witches and wizard. I have authority over spiritual entities. But Jesus clearly states that we have authority, and this authority also we can exercise it in the scope of the natural realm, over issues in the natural realm, over matters in the physical realm, such as sicknesses and diseases. So our authority that we have in Jesus Christ is not just limited to the spiritual realm. We can exercise it in the natural realm. Just to highlight this importance that you have authority in the heavens, you have authority on earth, in your workplaces, in your home, in your business matters, you as a child of God, you can exercise authority. If unbelievers have authority, natural authority, you and I we have both spiritual and natural authority. So don't just limit your authority in Christ just in the spiritual context. You also have the position, the power, the permission, the privilege to be able to exercise the your Christ-given authority in this in the natural realm, not just the spiritual realm.

Delegated Authority And Its Source

SPEAKER_00 3:56

So our authority is delegated, meaning that we have been entrusted with it. So because we have been entrusted with it, Christ is expecting us to use it in a way that is in line with God's perfect will, in a way that is in line with God's plan and purposes. So we are stewards of his authority, we are servants of his authority. Look what it says in John chapter 10, verse 18. No one takes it from me. So because we need to know this source of authority, who is Jesus Christ, that himself is a man of authority. Paul says that Jesus is the wisdom of God, and he also states that Jesus is the power of God. So Jesus Himself is telling us in John chapter 10, verse 18, that no one takes it from me, no one takes his life from him, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father. So Jesus Christ, our Savior, obtained his authority from God the Father, and you and I, as believers in Christ, we have obtained our authority from Jesus. The authority that Jesus possesses, the authority that Jesus exercises, comes directly from God the Father. The authority that you and I as believers we possess, the authority that you and I as believers we exercise come directly from Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Look what it says, states in March chapter 28, verse 18 to 20. All authority has been given to me. Wow. So the authority of Jesus Christ again is not just limited in a particular realm, it's not just spiritual authority. He clearly states that all, not just few, not just some, all, all authority in the political context, all authority in your home, all authority in the workplace, all authority in social institutions and organizations, all, all, everything, because God is the creator of the heavens and the earth, meaning that He is in charge of everything. Says all authority has been given to me, all authority over the heaven and the earth from the Father has been assigned, has been given to God the Son. And now Jesus is saying that I want you to know that all authority has been given to me before I commission you to go into the world. Because for you to go into the world, people are gonna ask you, in in whose authority are you proclaiming this message? In in whose authority are you casting out spiritual entities? In whose authority are you healing the sick? So when we as believers we need to go out there while people are asking us, whose name are we representing? Who has given us the permission to do what we're doing? Because in this life, it's all about authority. You don't just go and occupy a space, you don't just go and conquer a land. You need to have authority, you need to have power, economical power, military power. That's what the world has as their authority. But you and I we have a greater authority that is above economical power, that is above military power. So Jesus is laying the foundation that we need authority, and that authority has been given to him in heaven and on earth.

Christ Above Every Power

SPEAKER_00 7:53

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. So before we go into the world to make disciples of all nations, we are gonna face authorities, and these authorities that we face are gonna question our authority, they're gonna withstand our authority, they're gonna fight against our authority. That is why Jesus is reminding us as Christians that hey, I have all authority has been given to me, both in heaven and on earth, meaning that in the spiritual realm, the devil is gonna withstand you when you're trying to do the work of God. But that is why you have to tell the devil that hey, devil, I have authority over this domain, I have authority over the spiritual altars in my family, because Christ has been given all authority both in the spiritual realm and in the heavenly, in the earthly realm. When you're out there in the workplace, your manager has the boss over you. You can also exercise your authority that Jesus Christ has given you in your workplace, even though there are other authorities there as well. And then Ephesians chapter 1, verse 20 to 21 states, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Wow, far above all principality, because the spiritual authority is more powerful than the earthly authority. That is why the emphasis has been heaven, heavenly places, because the spiritual influences the physical, and we need to know that Christ, who is our sole source of authority, has absolute, complete authority in the heavenly places over the angels, over the fallen angels. However, you want to categorize them, however degree of authority, Jesus Christ is far, far way above, like so above all these types of authorities or powers. The Bible names all of them here: principality, power, might, and dominion. Christ is far above. You know how you have levels of management, upper management, middle management, lower management, you have different jurisdictions in our society, you have the municipal jurisdiction, you have the provincial jurisdiction, and then you have the federal jurisdiction. That also that standard, that hierarchy also applies in the spiritual realm. You have the principality, you have power, you have might, you have dominion. But guess what? Christ is far above all these hierarchies of authorities, he is far above municipal authority, he is far above provincial authority, he is far above federal authority. He is the Bible says that that every name that is named, whatever you want to call them, the prime minister, the mayor, or the president, or the counselor in our human, natural way of authorities, whatever you name them, Christ is above all. Not only in this age, even in the past, in the present, and also in the future. There's no time limited to Christ's authority. In this, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.

unknown 11:50

Wow!

SPEAKER_00 11:51

So his authority is not just in the past, in the times of the apostles, in the times when he was here on earth during his ministry, his authority is still relevant, essential, needed in our time, and also the time to come. This should encourage you and I that wow, no matter what you're facing in the future, child of God, I'm here to encourage you that you can exercise the authority in Christ Jesus for your future. 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 22, it says, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to him. Wow, even God's angels are subjected to Jesus Christ, demonic spirits, Satan, all of them are subjected to Jesus Christ, human authorities, all of them are subjected to Jesus Christ. That is why he's called the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. So now that we know the source of our authority, which is Jesus Christ, what do we need to do as believers? We need to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ. Look what it says in James chapter 4, verse 7 submit yourself therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. So for you to tackle the devil, who is like an authority over demonic spiritual entities, like the master, what do we have to do? We have to submit ourselves therefore to God. When you submit to God, you're submitting to Jesus. When you submit to Jesus, you're submitting to God. When you submit to God, you're submitting to Jesus, like father, like son. Now, believers authority.

Authority Over Demons And Disease

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Luke chapter 10, verse 19. Behold, I have given you authority. One thing I like about God is that God is very generous with his gifts, he's generous with spiritual gifts, he is generous with authority. The Bible says, if God did not spare his own son, how much more would he not give us anything? What is authority that we are killing each other for? What is power that we are backstabbing each other for when Christ is willing to give us authority because he's so generous, he's not intimidated, he's not suspicious. He gives us freely everything that we ask, and he's willing to give you authority to set your life free, to overcome that addiction, to overcome that stronghold in your family. He's willing to share his authority with you. He says, I have given you, you personalized you as a child of God. Christ has given you, He has given you, child of God, authority to do what? To tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. So our authority, just as Jesus Christ um um has authority in the heavenly places, in the heavenly realm, the spiritual realm, and also in the earthly realm, we also have the same authority in these realms, in the natural realm, in the spiritual realm, here on earth and in heaven. So we we can tread, we can pull down, we can stamp, we can storm on serpents. If that serpent could be physical serpents in the natural sense, scorpions, we we can hurt them, we can dominate them, we can subdue them. It could be also in a spiritual sense, serpents as spirits, scorpions as demons. We have authority to tread on serpents, not just one, all manner of serpents. So our authority is not just limited to serpents and scorpions. It says over all the power of the enemy, like this enemy here is Satan, like the devil, over all the power of the enemy, over all his power, the witches and wizards, the the the the demonic prophets, all of the powers of the devil, all not just few, all so our authority that we have is not limited. Oh, you know what, Jesus. Um I think I only have authority over um the spirit of backwardness, or I only have authority over marine spirit, but my family is going through witchcraft. I don't think I have authority. No, no, no, no. Jesus, the authority that he has given us, encompasses all manner of demonic operations: serpentine spirit, witchcraft, spirit, marine spirit, you name them all, all power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. That's the power and authority that Jesus Christ has given us. Luke chapter 9, verse 1 it says, and he called the 12 together and gave them power and authority over all demons. It emphasized that little word all. We see all that's very important, child of God. Because when you have that word all, it shows that your authority is not limited, it's not few, it's exclusive, it's it's inclusive, it's comprehensive, it's broad. Wow, wow. So this should open your eyes for you not to be afraid of demonic entities. He said, I've given you my my disciples, my 12 disciples, I have given you power and authority over all demons, unclean spirits, principalities, territorial demons, household demons, workplace demons, community demons, national demons, continental demons, demons in the sea, demons in the plants, demons in animals, wherever they are. Jesus said, I have given you authority over all demons. Not only that, I have also given you authority to cure diseases. You have the power and the authority to speak to cancer, to speak to HIV, to speak to any sickness, any sickness, it doesn't matter how severe, how prolonged, you have the authority, child of God. It's not just limited to the spiritual realm, also in the natural realm over sickness, you have that authority. Matthew chapter 18, verse 18 to 20 says, Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall it shall be born in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth shall be loose in heaven. Wow. So we have the authority to command what we want to see on this earth, what we want to see in heaven, what we want to give access to, what we don't want to give access to, what we want to close, what we want to open. We have been given the authority. If we, and again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. For there two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them. So we child of God, we have gathered corporate prayer. Do you know that we also have not just personal authority in Christ Jesus, we also have corporate authority as a church? We have corporate authority. One can chase a thousand, but two can chase ten thousand. So as a church, we have corporate. You see, you bring your authority, I bring more authority, but we as children of God we compete with each other. You bring your authority, I bring more authority, we bring them together. Oh my god, hell will be afraid, Satan will be afraid. That is why I highly encourage you if you're a believer, establish a family altar with other members in your family who are believers, because you guys are bringing your authorities together to fight against all demons in your family.

The Name Of Jesus In Action

SPEAKER_00 20:25

Okay, Colossians chapter uh, let's see here, Mark chapter 16, verse 7 to 18. And these signs will accompany those who believe. Again, again, anyone, it's not just limited to the to the 12 disciples. Jesus, oh my god, is such a caring, sharing master. He says, These signs will accompany those who believe. The requirement is just for you to believe. That's that's what we are we're learning about these things. Just believe that you have the authority, just believe that Jesus Christ has given you the right to exercise that authority. Yes, you know that you have authority, you know that you have authority, and the goal is for you to exercise that authority from this day on. It says these signs will accompany those who believe in my name. Wow, so that authority that we possess is in the name of Jesus Christ. Whenever we mention the name of Jesus Christ, oh my god, the name of Jesus Christ is full of potency. There's so much power, there's so much authority. We might not have the physical Jesus with us. Just the name itself can scare demons, just the name itself can scare sicknesses and diseases, just the name itself can can can get your employer to back off, your manager to back off if he or she is messing with you. He says, In my name, they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up serpents with their hands. These are all areas that Christ is saying. That ah, these are the signs of the authority and power that I have given you in my name, in my name. But when you exercise these authorities and power outside of my name, they're not gonna work for you. So we have to do it in the name of Jesus. When we exercise the power and authority in the name of Jesus, you and I will be able to overcome, cast out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up serpents with our hands. And if we drink deadly poisons, we will not get hurt. Doesn't mean that you should be stupid or you should be naive, you know, to do certain things without applying wisdom. Authority does not give you the license just for you to go into the enemy's territory and start misbehaving. No, you have to again submit to God, allow God to lead you. Okay, and then um 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3 to 5. It says, For though we walk in the flesh, we are not what waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but they have divine power. Wow, yes, that is our weapon. There they have divine power to destroy strongholds. Our weapons are divine. Our weapons are divine, and because you're divine, they are powerful, they are authoritative in Christ Jesus, and and and these weapons that are divine that we have as children of God is able to destroy arguments, ideas, contradictions, dilemmas, conspiracies, every lofty opinion that is raised against you. You see, the the the the great the greatest weapon of the devil is deception. So we we are fighting knowledge with knowledge. Jesus Christ over overcame the devil by knowledge, by the revelation, by the word of God. That is why the Bible said, You my people perish for lack of knowledge. So we need to know the word of God to be able to, because actually, there's when you know the word of God, you have authority. Because when you know the word of God, when you use it against the devil, you're pretty much exercising what you know, and you will speak firm, you will speak in authority. That devil, this is what I know about myself in Christ Jesus, devil, this is what Jesus Christ has given me, and and I possess it, and I'm gonna exercise it over you. Because the enemy attacks your mind, that's where the battle lies with different thoughts, with unbelief, with doubts, like it did with Adam and Eve. He tried to do that with Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ again used the word of God to say, devil, no, I know the word of God, and there's power in the word of God. So that's what 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3 to 5 is and uh highlighting that child, child of God, arguments are gonna come, lofty, proud ideas and opinions are gonna be raised against who the knowledge of God. You cannot believe in God. I don't think you're you're the image and likeness of God. You I think I think you originate from monkeys. No, I don't think you're you're you're you're intelligent enough as a black man, as a black woman. I think your IQ is very low. I don't think you have what what it takes to accomplish this. When the Bible said, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. That's where the battle lies in your mind with information, with knowledge against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Standing Firm In Evil Days

SPEAKER_00 25:48

To conclude, child of God, stay stay in your authority, remain in your authority, don't go out of it, don't go and seek other authorities. Like people, because people in Africa they want power, they want to have children, they want to be successful, they will seek other authorities, they will seek other means of power to achieve certain things in your lives. Stand in your authority in Christ Jesus, stand in it. Don't allow doubts to pull you back, don't allow unbelief to pull you back. Stand in what you believe about Jesus Christ, stand in what the Bible says about you. Be strong, be strong. Let the authority of Christ be your shield to protect you when the enemy retaliates. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10 to 13. It states, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. How can we be strong in the Lord? We have to be strong in the power of his might, in the authority of Christ. Be strong in that. Be strong knowing that Christ has given me authority over demons, all demons. Christ has given me authority over the sickness and disease. Christ has given me authority over this lofty opinion that that is raising against the knowledge of Christ, of God. Christ has given me this. Be strong in what you know about Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ has given you. Put on the old armor of God. And if you look at the old armor of God, it's it's oh my God. It's they're all attributes like peace, truth, righteousness, faith. They're not like all these bombs that Israel, America, Iran, they're sending against each other. No, that's not that's not that's not the armor of God that we're talking about. The protective gear that God wants us to put on. And one offensive gear, which is the word of God. Oh my god, oh God, you see, oh God, it says that you may be able to stand against the wells of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, again, the levels and hierarchy of authorities against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of these ages, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

unknown 28:35

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 28:36

Therefore, take up the old armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Evil days are gonna come, child of God. The kingdom of God suffers violence, and you have to be violent, not in a physical way, be violent in prayer, be violent in the word of God, be violent in exercising your authority in Jesus Christ because evil days are here, evil days are coming. The strong will survive, the strong in the Lord will survive the last days. We're in the last days, child of God. I'm here to remind us that we are in the last days. Jesus Christ is coming very soon. Look at what's happening in the world today. Anytime He's gonna come, anytime the Antichrist is gonna emerge. What are we gonna do? How are we gonna stand? The Bible says in the last days there's gonna be the great fall away, the great deception. People are not gonna believe the word of God anymore. And where are you gonna where are you gonna exercise your authority? In the word. In the word. If you don't know the word of God, the enemy can can persuade you with all this all these ideas on social media, AI will tell you what what to believe, what not to believe? Ah, child of God. We are in the last days. Great deception is coming. How are you gonna be strong? How are you gonna exercise your authority when you don't know the word of God? You think it's just gonna be prayer alone? You think it's just gonna be church attendance alone? The weapon that you need to fight against deception is the knowledge of God that you know about. Because that's what Jesus Christ did against the devil. To conclude, there are eight points that highlight your authority in Christ. So your source of authority is in Christ, submit to the authority of Christ, know your status of authority in Christ, know the significance of your authority in Christ, be shield in your authority in Christ, be strengthened in your authority in Christ, stand in your authority in Christ, stay in your authority in Christ, and guess what? You'll be sustained in your authority in Christ.