The Believer's Authority, Pt. 1

Most of us here don’t struggle with the fact that Jesus Christ is King and has authority, but many of us here today struggle with the fact that Kingship and authority has been given to every Christians – staggering thought, isn’t it?

Luke 10:19 “I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.”

“Authority” = special rights

“Power” = strength, dominion and dominance

The word “authority” is used 105 times in the N.T.

In the year 1940 a physicist working in a garage in Chicago developed the process of splitting the atom, which started the atomic age we live in today. They realized that they could unleash the power found in the atom and then multiply that power! This has changed the world forever and America is now a superpower. About 30 A.D. some folks in a borrowed room in Jerusalem tapped into something that you can’t even see under a microscope - an invisible power that established the church age and because of the power of God, it has changed the world even more than the tiny atom!

My prayer for each of us is that we too allow the power of God to consume our lives everyday! While America is a superpower because of the power in a cruise missile, a Christian is a superpower because of the power of Christ the Messiah!

I’m here today to remind us that as believers in Christ, we are kings and priests because of His redemption!

Verse 15-20

Paul said to the Ephesian church back then and reminds us in this church today – we need to open our eyes and realize our authority and dominion as a child of God and as the church of God!

3 Facts About The Believer’s Authority

1. It Was Freely Given To Man.

Genesis 1:26, 28

Notice 4 key words that were freely given to man to exercise:

• “Dominion” = authority

• “Fruitful” = productivity

• “Multiply” = creativity

• “Subdue” = intensity (management, reliability)

LifePoint: Authority was given to Adam to help control life and complete his life.

Psalm 8:5, 6 “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet…”

Caution: don’t let any New Age Guru convince you that this is where man get’s his godhood! Rather this verse is highlighting our placement in creation and honoring our position in Christ! (The physical realm and the spiritual realm)

2. It Was Legally Lost By Man.

Ephesians 2:1, 2

What happened? Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the same sin that destroyed his relationship with God – the desire to be God!

And what Satan failed to do in heaven, he now tries to get us to fail on earth! Both Adam and Eve believed in the lie and were deceived by the lie and that messed everything up for everyone since then!

Romans 6:16 “Whatever you choose to obey it becomes your master. You can choose sin, which leads to death or you can choose to obey God…” NLT

Listen - the war that started in heaven has now moved to another geographical location: earth and specifically in the hearts of mankind!

Luke 4:6 “The devil said to Jesus, all authority I give You, for this has been delivered to me and I give it to whomever I wish.”

This scene is played out everyday in the lives of millions! God legally gave all authority to Adam and then Adam gave it to Satan. Think about it – Satan would not have the authority he has today without the help of man! In turn Adam became a slave to Satan instead of Satan being a slave to Adam!

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” NASB

So Satan is masterful at blinding the minds of people and blurring the message of God!

So we’ve learned our authority was freely given to man, and then our authority was legally lost by man – wouldn’t it be terrible to end the sermon right here, close our Bibles and went home right now? Sadly millions are already defeated in purpose, defective in prayer and depleted in power! Don’t let that be said of YOU!

3. It Was Righteously Regained By Christ.

Ephesians 1:17

One of the most incredible tasks Jesus did for us when he left the splendor of heaven was to regain our authority!

“Authority” (exusia) ex = out of (usia) = right