Spiritual Warfare (SW-16)
By What Authority?
Matthew 21:23
In Old Testament times a trumpet was used to summons God’s people to battle. Today, a spiritual summons is sounding throughout the nations of the world. It is a summons to the invisible war. It is a call to arms. You and I are engaged in the fiercest battle this world has ever known.
It is a continuous battle.
It is a personal battle.
It is a social battle.
It is a spiritual battle.
A man named Bob Williamson fought with the 4th Infantry Division and was a part of the invasion force that landed on the beaches of Normandy on D’ Day when over 6,000 Americans were killed. Williamson once said that the memories of the war still haunt him. He asked his interviewer, "How would you like to go to bed at night and dream about the war every night? I see dead buddies, I see all those guns going off and everything."
He went on to say, "I fight the war every night."
Precious believer - you fight the war ever night - you fight the war every day - you fight the war every hour and ever minute.
Now the way I read my Bible it seems to me that the Church is a powerful Church, a victorious church, an overcoming Church.
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.
The way I read my Bible the Church gets to prays for the sick and they are healed. The Church gets to lay hands on the deaf and they hear. The Church gets to anoints the blind and they see. The Church gets to speaks to demons and they flee.
My Bible teaches me that we have the power, authority and victory that Jesus died for us to have. The question is, why aren’t most of us living that powerful life . . . and how do we get there? The question is, I would suggest to you once again this morning, a question of authority.
Allow me to say something I have said before, if you will:-
God built a powerful Church - and then He did give her the right to choose whether to walk in His power or not.
God built a victorious Church - and then He did give her the right to choose whether to walk in His victory or not.
God built a holy Church - and then He did give her the right to choose whether to walk in His holiness or not.
The Church is not primarily the victim of the flesh, the devil, the world or the forces of darkness. The church is primarily the victim of her own choices. She is where she is and has what she has and does what she does because of what she has chosen.
You say to me preacher - I thought we were meant to overcome? We are - but overcoming is not simply a matter of confessing with boldness - Overcoming is a function of walking in authority!
In Matthew 21:23 the Pharisees ask Jesus a very profound question!
Matthew 21:23 "When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?"
The issue at the end of the day is, I would suggest to you, one of authority.
While faith accesses it and confession expresses it, the primary issue at the end of the day when it comes to warfare is one of authority.
1. Understanding the Nature of Authority
Understand the difference between authority and power. My neighbor has the power or ability to walk into my home, grab my laptop and go on the internet - but he does not have the authority to do so. Chester has both the power and the authority to do so. When Officer James Marsh is in uniform and sees this huge semi rumbling down the road - he puts up his hand like this (stop) and that massive 18 wheeler, which has the power to just ride right over him - comes to a standstill! Why? Because Officer Marsh has the authority to do so.
So what is spiritual authority? Swaggering around screaming at the devil "IN THE NAME OF JESUS" does not impress the demonic world one bit. The bottom line in exercising spiritual authority is ENFORCING TRUTH.
"Authority" when used as a noun, comes from a word (exesti –> exousia) which means, "it is lawful." The most basic meaning of the word, then, means a derived or delegated right. The right to do what? The right to bring God’s order to bear on a situation.
As a matter of fact - did you know that is why you were created? To rule? God made man in His image and immediately He gave him dominion - authority to rule.
The authority that Paul speaks about in Romans 13 is the right and power to enforce obedience, but the authority Peter speaks about in 1 Peter 5 is the responsibility to serve God’s people for God’s purposes in God’s ways.
Now watch this - here is the principle - ‘all authority is derived authority.’ Why? Because all authority comes from God. Even the devil only has the authority God gives him. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat."
Jesus understood this when He said in Matthew 28:18, "All authority has been given to me . . ."
The disciples understood this when he said to them, "I give you authority over . . . all the power of the power of the enemy." (Luke 10:19)
2. Understanding the Need for Authority
Why is this authority thing such a big deal? Because the kingdom is a big deal and the kingdom of God is the place where God’s rule and authority is submitted to.
Authority is a big deal because when satan rebelled and when mankind rebelled it was against the authority of God.
Now look quickly with me if you will at that verse in Luke 10 again - it is critical.
The Source of Authority - ‘I’
The value of the authority you have is directly in proportionate to the authority of the one who gave it.
The Assurance of Authority - "have given you"
Past tense - already accomplished.
The Essence of Authority - "authority"
The right and power tom act on behalf and in accordance with God and His purpose.
Opposition to Authority - "serpents and scorpions"
Serpents and scorpions are a biblical picture of the power of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy.
Extent of the Authority - "over all the power of the enemy."
All the power.
3. Understanding How to Nurture Authority
Your Degree of Authority Is Proportional to the Authority of the One Who Delegated it to You
Some of you may still acting out of your mother’s authority!
Your Degree of Authority Is Directly Related to Your Submission to Authority.
Allow me to say that another way - your exercise authority will rise no higher than your degree of submission to authority.
3 John 9 "I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. "
Submission to authority is about humility and humility is about putting someone or something else first and putting yourself second!
Watch this folks - the test of your humility is the degree of your submission! That’s right - when God wants to test your humility He checks your submission to authority. No - I didn’t think you would like that! That goes for children submitting to parents and teachers, wives submitting to husbands, citizens submitting to government and Christians submitting to their pastors, elders and leaders.
1 Pet. 5:5 "In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
If you belong to this church then your active submission to the leadership of this church is the measure of your humility and of your authority. If you do not belong to this church then the measure of your humility and of your authority is the active submission on your part to your pastor and your church leadership.
If you are a Christian and you do not belong to a church I would suggest you may be out of order - you may need to check your submission - and get under authority. And of that is offensive you do not need to check any further - you done checked!
Let me give you the first key to submission to God - it is not obeying God - it is not even being able to hear God, it is seeking to be godly - to be like God. It is filling your mind with godliness.
If you want to be in submission to God start to dwell on the things God dwells on. Fill your mind with the Word of God, with the thoughts of God. You have the mind of Christ - learn to listen to it.
What fills your mind?
Negativity - lust - pornography - complaints - self pity - loneliness - regret!
What is your addiction?
Drugs, lies, gossip, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger!
If you want to move in the authority of God you must be in submission to the God of authority - and if you want to be in submission to God you must choose to think the thoughts of God - have the mind of Christ,
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Your Degree of Authority Is Directly Related to the Exercise of Your Faith
You have been given authority - now take it.
* * * * *
