Knowing your Authority

Knowing Your Authority

What is Authority
Authority is delegated power. It is a mandate to run affairs, to take charge. It can be exercise on behave of a higher power. Eg. Policeman, Ambassadors, Lawyers, Agents etc

To Authorize means:
To empower
To sanction
To endorse

Christ's Authority (How he got it)
*Bestowed on him by God Himself
*All power in Heaven and Earth is given to him
*He has already defeated Satan and his forces
*He who has the keys is the one in authority
*God has committed all judgement to Him, All things are under His feet.

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  (Ephesians 1:18-23, ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (Matthew 28:18, ESV)

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,  (John 5:22, ESV)
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.  (Revelation 1:18, ESV)

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  (Colossians 2:15, ESV)
Our Position in Christ
We are the body of Christ

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, ESV)

We are citizens of heaven

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  (Philippians 3:20, ESV)

We are the people of God

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

We are a royal priesthood

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

We are risen together with him

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  (Colossians 2:12, ESV)

We are seated together with him in heavenly places

and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  (Ephesians 2:6, ESV)

We are joint heirs with him

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17 and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  (Romans 8:16-17, ESV)

He has given Christians His Authority
*Every single believer has his authority

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."  (Mark 16:17-18, ESV)

*Authority over all, not some the power of the enemy.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  (Luke 10:19, ESV)

*All believers have the keys of authority

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  (Matthew 16:19, ESV)

*Authority to rule in this life

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:17, ESV)

We have the power to bind or loose

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  (Matthew 18:18, ESV)

5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.   6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,   7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,   8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,   9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!   (Psalm 149:5-9, ESV)

God bless us all