AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER
OPPONENTS of the Faith or Word of God Movement have long said that we believers go WAY AHEAD of God and do things on our OWN authority and by our OWN will. I think we ALL have been guilty of that from time. Now, if we can receive what the BIBLE says IS our authority (no guesswork), then life will be MUCH MORE VICTORIOUS ! !
A KEY REVEALED (PETER ON THE WATER) . . .
Matt 14:22-33 (NIV)
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28 "LORD, IF IT'S YOU," PETER REPLIED, "TELL ME TO COME TO YOU ON THE WATER."
29 "COME," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
IF WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO ASK GOD AND LISTEN TO HIM THROUGH HIS SPIRIT AND HIS WORD, WE WILL KNOW THE AUTHORITY THAT HE WANTS US TO HAVE ! ! !
If you came home one day and some people had a VAN backed us to your house and were taking EVERYTHING from you .. what would you do??
Your answer SHOULD be, Id GO GET THE AUTHORITIES, then SHOW THEM THE LEGAL DEED TO MY HOUSE and MAKE THEM PUT MY STUFF BACK and GO AWAY ! !
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So, what DOES the Bible (OUR LEGAL DEED TO OUR RIGHTS) say about our AUTHORITY?:
#1). He gives us AUTHORITY to become CHILDREN of GOD !
John 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the RIGHT (power of authority) to become children of God--
1849 exousia- RIGHT
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases,
permission
3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
#2). He has given us AUTHORITY over Satan and his powers:
Luke 10:19-20 (NIV)
19 I have given you AUTHORITY to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all (half ?? or ALL) the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
AUTHORITY - THE SAME GREEK WORD AS THE PREVIOUS SCRIPTURE ! ! (exousia) :)
#3). He has given us AUTHORITY to use the NAME of JESUS!:
Mark 16:15-19 (NIV)
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs WILL accompany those WHO BELIEVE: IN MY NAME they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
#4). Jesus gave us AUTHORITY to BIND and LOOSE:
Matt 18:18 (KJV)
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
#5). Jesus gave the POWER/AUTHORITY of AGREEMENT in PRAYER:
Matt 18:19 (KJV)
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
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TWO MORE RELATED SCRIPTURES:
John 14:12-14 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. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us.
A PICTURE OF SATAN (OUR ENEMY):
Isa 14:9-17 (NIV)
9 The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you-- all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones-- all those who were kings over the nations.
10 They will all respond, they will say to you, "You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us."
11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you.
. . .
16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?"
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A FINAL reminder of the KEY to how our AUTHORITY WORKS:
Luke 7:6-10 (NIV)
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."
10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.