Authority # 6
It's been time for a # of years for the body of Christ to rise up & take it’s authority that God has given us. He's given us some weapons to use against the forces of darkness, but if we don't use them there not going to do any good. (Example military could loose).
I. It's been God's desire from the foundation of the world for man to have dominion over the earth. GEN 1:26-28
A. We are to have dominion over all the works of God's hands.
1. (PSA 8:6) says, "Thou madest him (man) to have dominion over the works of thy hands."
B. Adam lost man's dominion back in the garden, but Jesus came to regain our authority on earth.
1. We need to understand that we do have authority in this earth.
a. That Jesus gave us that authority.
II. MATT 16:18-19
A.I wanted you to read (V 18) so that you can see that Jesus is talking about Satan's kingdom.
1. But Jesus said that Satan kingdom will not prevail against it.
2. To ensure that Jesus said that he will & has given to us the keys to the kingdom.
B. Part of those keys is the power to bind the works of Satan & to loose the power of God.
C. Look at MATT 28:18-19
1. Jesus has all power or authority; Now thru the name of Jesus we have access to that power.
2. MAR 16:15-20 (read it to them)
III. How are we going to take our authority?
A. I think that t 1st thing that we have to do is to realize that there is a battle.
1. Satan has been at war with the kingdom of God from the time that he fell.
a. (EPH 6:12) Says, "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}." Eph 6:10-18
3. Let's go back to EPH 6:10-17. The different parts of this armor symbolize spiritual attitudes the believer must maintain. Wearing this armor you will not only be protected, but also victorious.
a. 1st there is the GIRDLE OF TRUTH, which represents a clear understanding of God's Word. V14b
i. Like the soldier's belt, it holds the rest of the armor in place.
ii. This does not only refer to knowing the Word, but it is also subjective truth, a believer’s integrity, sincerity and faithfulness.[1]
iii. There are many many references to the Word of God is being the Truth. (John 8:31-32, John 17:17, Acts 26:25, 2Cor 6:7, Eph 1:13, Col 1:5, 2Tim 2:15) 2Tim 3:16
iv. The imagery here is that truth holds together all other virtues and makes them effectual.[2]
b. 2nd is t BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This has a twofold application: Jesus is our righteousness, & we put Him on 1st. It also shows our obedience to the Word of God. Living right, holy life before Him.
i. The purpose of a breastplate is to guard the most vital parts of the body, so the Christian protects himself by righteousness.[3]
c. 3rd, our FEET are SHOD w/ t PREPARATION of the GOSPEL OF PEACE. This is faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of God. At different times t Good News, or t Gospel is called t Gospel of peace.
d. 4th is the SHIELD OF FAITH. A shield is a covering for the entire body. This represents our complete safety under the blood of Christ, where no power of the enemy can penetrate.
e. 5th is the HELMET OF SALVATION, (1TH 5:8) Put on for a helmet, the hope of salvation. (KJV) The HOPE OF SALVATION is t only helmet able to protect t head in these days from turning from t Truth.
i. There is so much going on, The days are like that of Sodom & Gomorrah, people are getting off the Truth into error, big named ministers are falling.
ii. We need the HOPE OF SALVATION.
iii. It's interesting that Paul used the HELMET here, The word `salvation' comes from the Greek word `sozo' which one of it's meanings is soundness of mind.
Vi. It's the HOPE OF SALVATION that will keep your mind sound.
f. 6th is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD.
i. This shows that the WORD OF GOD is to be used offensively, just like a sword is an offensive weapon, so is the Word of God.
III. EPH 6:18
A. Do you see why the prayer fight doesn't work many times?
1. It's because we don't have on the armor.
2. We are ready for the prayer fight when we have the armor on.
a. Praying in the spirit gets the job done.
b. That's why he goes on in the next few Vs to tell us to put on the armor of God.
2. Look at JER 1:10
a. This is our work, this is what we are to do.
i. There's a lot of works of the enemy that we have to root out. That phrase "root out", means "Pluck up by the roots."
a. There's many times that we try to deal with the surface of the problem, we have to get to the root of the problem. The spirit that is behind the problem.
b. We have to Pluck it up by roots, deal with the spirit & get rid of it. (individual, city, church, whereever).
b. Then he says that we have been set over the nations, or in our city to pull down.
i. 2COR 10:3-4
a. If our weapons are not carnal weapons or flesh weapons, what are they? Spiritual weapons.
b. Our spiritual weapons are to pull down spiritual strong holds.
c. Then in (JER 1:10) it says that we are to "destroy."
i. (1JOHN 1:10) Says "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
ii. In the Greek & Hebrew the word "destroy" means about the same thing.
iii. It means "break, destroy fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, be undone, be void of, have no way to flee."
a. That's what our goal & our job. To make void all the works of the devil.
B. ROM 12:21
1. We hardly ever talk about this, but the Bible says that we can over come evil & the forces behind it with good. (good deeds)
C. REV 12:11
1. The Word of God is a weapon.
2. In (EPH 6:17) it calls the Word of God the sword of the spirit.
D. Praise is another area. When we begin to praise, we are using our spiritual authority.
1. In (2CHRON 20:20) Jehoshaphat put the praisers in front of the battle & the enemy was destroyed.
2. In (ACTS 16:25) Paul & Silas sang praises unto God & the Lord set them free from the bondage that the enemy had them in.
a. Praise gets God on the seen.
b. (PSA 22:3) Says that "God inhabits the praise of His people."
c. In (ROM 8:31) it says, "If God be for us who can be against us."
IV. Where do we have authority?
A. We've already been talking about us having authority over the Devil & that goes for all his works.
B. We have authority over Sin.
1. (ROM 6:14) says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
C. We have authority over Sickness.
1. (1PET 2:24) Says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
D. We have authority over Fear.
1. (2TIM 1:7) says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
E. We have authority over confusion.
1. (1COR 14:33) Says, "For God is not {the author} of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
F. We also have authority over our thought life.
1. (2COR 10:5) Says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
G. We even have authority over the flesh.
1. (1COR 9:27) Says, "But I keep under my body, and bring {it} into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
V. We have authority Satan & all of his works, over our mind, & over our flesh; It's time for us to rise up & take that authority & have the victory.
3/17/91 SUN AM T.F.C. &WOLCC &/14/91 SUN AM & 3/30/03
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[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:643). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Dunnam, M. D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 31: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 31 : Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Formerly The Communicator's Commentary. The Preacher's Commentary series (237). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[3]Dunnam, M. D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 31: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 31 : Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Formerly The Communicator's Commentary. The Preacher's Commentary series (237). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.