Kingdom Authority by Steve Keeler
Scripture Matthew 16:19
Each and every one of us through the power of the name of Jesus Christ are possessors of the authority of all heaven. The authority I’m speaking of is the authority that comes only through the name of Jesus Christ.
Isn’t that a great opening for a message.
Because of this opening, you already know that today, I am going to talk about something positive, something that should put a smile on your face and uplift your heart.
So grab your bible and get ready to go cause we will be spending some time there this morning.
Jesus Christ said that We have the keys of THE KINGDOM.
This is great news folks, because keys represent authority. I have on my key ring, a key that will open the front door at the church in Warrenton, that’s because I have authority in that place. I can come and I can go any time I wish.
A locked door is meant to be a barrier to those who do not have the proper authority to be on the inside of that door. But once you possess the key to the door it no longer stops you.
We possess the keys of the kingdom, in other words (get ready) YOU AND I HAVE AUTHORITY IN HIS NAME.
And I’ll tell you, nothing that the enemy can throw at me will deter me, slow me down, or cause me to give up, because of this authority.
I. Let’s talk about The Power Source
People on the outside of the door to the kingdom may ask what is the source of this authority?
1. Jesus possesses all authority
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
How much authority was Jesus given? All authority in heaven and on earth.
Mark 1:22
They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Just what kind of authority did we see Jesus possessing in the scriptures?
Authority to command wind and waves - the disciples were fearing for their lives when Jesus simply spoke a word of authority over the wind and waves to calm the sea.
Authority to heal crippled - the man at the pool of Bethesda unable to walk for so many years saw the authority when Jesus simply said pick up your bed and walk.
Authority to open blinded eyes - a man blind all his life saw the sign of authority after Jesus applied simple mud to the mans eyes and by this authority he could see.
This one is my favorite! Authority to stop funeral processions - by His word of authority "Lazarus come forth" the dead lived again.
This is the authority that is made available to us when we call on His name - You see, Jesus has passed this very same authority on to His joint heirs. That’s every Christian who has gained that personal, one on one, love relationship needed for salvation.
Matthew 10:1
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Who did Jesus consider His disciples? Not just the 12!
The bible tells us that after His resurrection, He appeared to over 500 of His disciples at one time. His disciples are the ones that believe and have that relationship with Him. That’s us!
We all know that Jesus is the same today as yesterday and tomorrow. (Amen?) So that same authority He gave His disciples then He gives us now as His disciples. (Amen?) YOU HAVE THAT SAME AUTHORITY!
2. Let’s go back to the last verse in Matt. 10 Jesus called his disciples to Him to give them authority. They received His authority because of their relationship with Jesus
This marks a special time for the disciples, this is when they went from servants to friends of Jesus. When the perfect time came, Jesus called them to pass on the authority His Father had given Him.
3. So Our Authority is based solely on our relationship with Jesus
That is why we must maintain that relationship. Apart from Christ we are Lost & Without Authority.
Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. In Acts 19 we read about the seven sons of Sceva. These men had watched how Paul "performed" his ministry. Oh, they had a good reason to watch.
You see they were Jewish Exorcist who traveled from town to town making a living casting out demons (more or less). They could see that Paul was able to do this for real! So they tried to learn his method in hopes of increased income.
Paul was well into his ministry at this point. The power of the Lord was moving in him is such a way that people would flock to him for prayer and healing.
People were tearing pieces from his clothes and taking them to sick people and they were healed with just a touch of these rags.
There has been quite a few false teachers and money minded preachers that have tried to capitalize on this power that the Lord had used through Paul.
Here’s their plan, they’ll send you a cloth, if you send them enough money, that they say they have prayed over and tell you that it will heal you of anything from a common cold to cancer. Here’s the key, they have no relationship and as a result they have no authority to call on the name of Jesus.
But like the sons of Sceva, the buyers and the sellers of these cloths don’t realize is that it was not the pieces of cloth from Paul’s clothes that were able to heal them it was the power of God through faith that did all the work.
So back to these seven sons, they tried to imitate Paul’s actions to improve their income and outcome of their exorcisms.
But as we see in Acts 19, this is not something to attempt under your own power or in the name of another man.
Acts 19:15-17
And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
Why do you suppose that this would happen? After all, didn’t they do exactly what Paul was doing? Do you think they failed to follow his example? I sure they followed it to the letter.
So why did this happen? No relationship with Jesus.
Because they had no relationship with Jesus Christ and because they were relying on the power of the name of another man, the evil spirit in the man caused the man to jump on them and beat the living fire out of them. This spirit even tore off all of their clothes apparently and sent them running from the house naked.
You see, they had No authority to use His name
Later in Acts 19 we are told that these men called out "kind of" in the name of Jesus to cast out this demon;
Acts 19:13
But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
But these men had no authority given them by Jesus, so calling on the Jesus that Paul preaches is in vain.
As we have already learned you must have that love relationship with Christ to have this kind of authority.
A long LONG time ago, it was common to carry an account at the local drugstore. It was not unusual to see a kid in the store buying a candy bar and a coke and you would hear the words "would ya’ put that on the bill".
The authority the kid was using was the relationship between him and his parents, they had an account there, and would pay the bill for the coke and candy for him.
Because of our relationship with Christ we have the authority of His name. We have the authority to claim the power of those gifts He promised each of us.
Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
I want to be filled - how about you?
4. So you ask How do I become filled with the fullness of God
A. Our minds pursue Gods fullness through our daily Devotional life.
Our daily devotional life can take many forms, spending time in the Word of God or perhaps time spent in reflection of the awesome power and patience of our Lord or even quiet time we spend with God just listening. That last one is the hardest one I find. It’s so hard for us to just listen.
B. Our Spirit pursues Gods fullness through our daily Prayer and through Worship.
Now this is not about Wednesday night prayer meeting or Friday vespers or corporate worship. This is your own time of prayer or conversation with God as a friend. This is your time of personal worship, exalting the Lord for all He has done and is doing in your life.
C. Our Body purses Gods fullness through Fasting.
I highly recommend this for people who want to truly focus on what God is trying to communicate to you. Fasting allows this single mindedness to take place and when God speaks, what He speaks will be more easily discerned.
Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days in preparation for His ministry. It was then He had the power to defeat the devil when tempted by him there.
I don’t recommend that any of us fast for 40 days, but a healthy short fast can help our power connection with God.
Ok, we talked about the Power Source now why is it that, more often then not it seems, we experience:
II. The Power Shortage
1. Too many Christians never learn that they have been given this authority.
Many grow up spiritually with the understanding that there are only a select few with this authority. And if you aren’t part of the group then you don’t have it. Until they learn that this gift is meant for them as well, they are Spiritually cripple.
Some people in the church know about this authority and chose not to use it because they are not comfortable with it. These people are Spiritually cripple by choice, and need to learn to use their God given authority.
You can be a millionaire but if you don’t know how to right a check you could die as if you lived in poverty.
2. A Christian that never uses Gods authority becomes:
- Defeated Christians
- Despair Christians
- Despondent Christian
A. Defeated Christians
Do you know any of these? They are the ones who say "Every time I take a stand – I get knocked down so you know what, I give up, I think I’ll just quit trying".
If you have ever been in a church with cliches, then this is a phrase you have heard or said yourself. But I tell you, it’s better to hold your ground in that case and be thought an outsider. The scripture is clear on this.
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
B. Despair Christians
You know someone like this don’t you? "I’ll never live in victory; I hear it preached; I see it in others lives; but there is no hope for me."
One of my favorite pastors, Joel Osteen, pastors a church of 30,000. Joel’s favorite topic for a sermon is "God wants you to be a victor not a victim". Despire Christians are the folks that only quote the first part of Psalms 34:19.
Psalms 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
C. Despondent Christians
These are the bound to happeners, "Oh well, Satan has been attacking me; Oh well my family is in turmoil; Oh well my health is being attacked again; I guess it was inevitable."
True, Satan is always out to get you, but if you live under the authority of God you can speak in the name of Jesus and make him leave you alone.
James 4:7
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
If you are willing to put on the armor of God then you can defeat Satan no matter what he tosses your way.
But saying "it was inevitable" or "it was bound to happen to me at some point" is admitting defeat and giving up the God given authority without even trying to use it.
We need to be aware of this authority and aware of the fact that it can be weakened in us through our own doing. If we don’t pursue our relationship with God and His authority we can become weak and need a jumpstart much like an old battery.
3. When we learn to use that authority we become;
A. Destructive Christians
Destructive to the enemies kingdom.
This is when the devil begins to fear us. As we develop a love relationship with Jesus Christ and lay claim to this power and authority, we begin to develop weapons that can stand before any demons that Satan may send against us.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ;
B. Determined Christians
Overcoming, Victorious, nothing the enemy does can stop us. Boy, Joel would be proud of us now.
Through this authority we have the power to trample on the darts and snares the devil will lose on us.
The enemies power will dwindle down to a spark though once a raging fire. And he will lose his hold and his power over us. (Amen!)
Luke 10:19
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
C. Deployed Christians
Deployed on the front lines of combat we stand prepared to do battle against the forces of evil. Do you begin to see the scope of this power. It’s not anything that we obtain on our own, it is purely the power of God working in us and through us.
There is a battle being fought for the soul of every man out there and we are to take this battle to the enemy.
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
When we finally learn to operate in the God given authority that we possess as Christians, then nothing that Satan does to stop us will succeed.
Does that mean that Satan won’t be able to attempt to stop us? No, he will try but all his attempts will be fruitless if we put on that armor every morning and keep it on all day.
When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts in 1957, he was running hard for a second term in office.
One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished.
As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”
“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”
“But I’m starved,” the governor said.
“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”
Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.
“Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.”
“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”
It’s time for you to claim that authority Jesus gave each of us. We must be willing to use this God given gift of Power and Authority if we are to become
Destructive,
Determined,
Deployed Christians
in service for Christ our Lord.
