Bible Foundations Lesson 26 – Subject: AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER

 

Bible Foundations Lesson 26 – Subject: AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER

If someone were to say “We can do anything that God says we can do” we would immediately agree.

In that brief statement lies the “Authority of the Believer.” If God says something, it must be true. We are everything that God says we are and we can do everything God says we can do.

God has established limits in the Bible, we must have faith and believe what He says. We often limit ourselves and God's potential in us because of not being aware of what God has established for us.

There are two kinds of ignorance: First – Not knowing about it at all - and second; Not knowing how to use what we already have because we are unaware it is ours to use.

God doesn't want us to “lack wisdom or knowledge. We receive instruction, that we may profit thereby. 1 Timothy 4:15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 

What does God say about our authority? Mark 16:17-18 says that “These signs shall follow them that believe.

The key word is to “Believe” or one who believes - - such as the person who has faith, the one who trusts in, relies on and adheres to any truth that God has said, and that what God says applies to them personally as well as to others.

It is evident then that the stated signs will not necessarily automatically follow every Christian, but only the Christian who believes that they will follow their ministry.

We would say that “These signs shall follow them that believe that these signs will follow them.”

1. Where does the power and authority of God rest?

(a) Jesus gave his disciples power and authority, (delegated power)

Luke 9:1-6 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

We should notice that Jesus did not say they should pray to the Father for help. Jesus gave THEM and US the power and authority and it was theirs and ours to use. They walked, lived and moved in it. Let us do likewise.

(b) Peter and John said to the crippled man; “Look on us” and “Such as I HAVE give I onto you.” They had something to give which they had received from God. It was theirs to give.

100. Jesus said; “Without me you can do nothing.” We are not alone. John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 

Jesus dwells IN us by his Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Matthew 28:20 Go forth teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ IN you, the hope of glory.

Through Christ Jesus we can do all things Philippians 4:13

Jesus also said, Luke 1:37 “With God nothing shall be impossible.”

Because Jesus is always with us and IN us, 'Nothing shall be impossible to YOU.”

Matthew 17:20 I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 

As we consider what the Bible says, we can see what Jesus meant when He said we should continue His work. And we should work the same way He did. Jesus prayed early and also late at night, then daily He went forth simply saying, teaching, healing.

John 14:12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father.

John 17:18 Jesus was speaking to his Father God; As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

2. Understand that God delegates His authority and power to those who have received Jesus.

(a) God the Father has made Jesus, Lord over all.

Peter is preaching to the crowd - Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 1:20-23 Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

(b) We in turn are made sons of God through Jesus Christ and are given the necessary power and authority to continue the Work of Jesus.

1. Understand that Jesus sends us. John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

2. We are ordained or appointed by Jesus. John 15:16 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.

3. He fills us with His fullness; Ephesians 1:22-23 And God put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Colossians 2:9-10  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

4. God has qualified us to the ministry; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Peter 1:4 By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 

5. We have the Word of God to the world. 2 Cor 5:18-19 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

5. We like His first disciples, have been given God's power and authority. It is ours to use and to give.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 

Col 1:27-29 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within Begin to use your authority “where you are” IN Christ. But it is necessary to realize that the Lord expects us to grow and mature in Him.

There are 3 Greek words for “son” -

    Baby son -

    12 year old “mature Son”

    30 year old – “grown mature Son”

God expects us to Grow Up Spiritually.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

Know the Word. Know WHO you are and WHAT you have IN Christ.

Pray in the Spirit. (In other tongues) Act upon what you know, according to your ability.

Be humble and Take “YOUR Place” and work for the Lord.

It is evident that we as Christians are reaching for the Measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . Ephesians 4:13

We are coming to “KNOW” experimentally what a tremendous work God has done in us.

Those who KNOW what God has done in them, will do great works. To KNOW is to believe and begin to 'move” in that knowledge.

That you might Know Him in the Power that is available to you.

Daniel 11:32 but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Open your Bible to the book of Ephesians, and begin to pray the two prayers of Paul in Chapters one and three. Put your name in the place of Paul's name, and your name in the place of “the church.”