The Believer's Authority, Pt. 2

Is Jesus King supreme in your life? Every child of God must allow the King to be supreme in order to exercise supremely the authority of the King!

You ask, “Pastor, where am I supposed to exercise this authority?” Over the world and its luring, over the flesh and its lusts and over the devil and his lies!

Last week we learned that authority was freely given to Adam in the garden, then it was legally lost to Satan, and then righteously regained by Christ!

But here’s the glitch…there can be no dominance or dominion until we submit to authority…The Lord Jesus Christ!

H.G. Wells said near the end of his life, “…Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history, but He does not dominate my heart.”

LifePoint: It is impossible to dominate in the natural realm if Jesus does not dominate in the spiritual realm!

VERSE 7-12

Joseph Sung a Romanian Pastor who was tortured and beaten under Communist rule for 25 years. The communists despised his Christianity. After the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe Joseph became a spiritual leader in Romania until his death in 1998.

An American Pastor asked Joseph what he thought of Christianity in America. He hesitantly answered, “In America the key word is commitment.” The Pastor said, “That’s true, so what.” Then Joseph responded, “In Romania there is no word for “commitment” and we would use the word “Surrender” because it is a more accurate word to describe Christianity.”

Then the America Pastor was confused and asked, “But what’s the difference? Isn’t it the same word as commitment?” And Joseph said, “No because when you make a commitment you are still in control, but when you surrender you are no longer in control. You can commit to win souls, share your testimony, read your Bible, but suppose someone comes up to you with a gun and says ‘Stickem up’ what do you do?” then Joseph said, “You Americans like to be in control over everything even you spirituality!”

I think he’s on to something – don’t you?

Christ doesn’t become Lord until we surrender to His person, His presence and His power! How many of us here today would be better at what God has called us to do if we submitted better to Jesus Christ?

FACT: Jesus Christ is called “Lord” in the N.T. 740 times.

Whether or not you’ve surrendered to Jesus – He’s already Lord over all!

Acts 2:36 “…God has made Jesus, Lord and Christ.”

The most important question for all of us is – do we recognize that He is Lord and have we responded to His leadership?

Have We Surrendered To:

1. The Redeeming Claim of His Lordship. Vs. 9a

“For to this end Christ died”

He died wrenchingly in order to claim us regally to Him

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” NIV

I remind you – if you are saved, your life is under new management! At salvation you were supposed to fire yourself as manager over your life!

Jesus made an incredible investment into your life at salvation let Him manage it for the best return and the best results!

Ephesians 1:13,14

One way He manages us is through the Holy Spirit in us!

“Seal” = the authority given to a legal document.

The State of California has its seal of authority. The President of the United States always speaks behind the authority of the seal of his office. In Bible days a king would take his ring, dip it into hot wax and place it on a document to give it authority. Folks, at salvation all that took place because of the legal claim Jesus exercised at Calvary!

Salvation is not like “Hometown Buffet”!

“I’d like a lot of redemption without the righteousness!”

“I’ll have salvation but hold the authority!”

“I’ll take Savior but not lordship!”

“I’ll take the cross without the resurrection!”

Listen, seed pickin religion with pea pickin redemption leaves you with slim pickin salvation - It’s all or nothing!

2. The Resurrection Conquest of His Lordship. Vs. 9b

“And rose again that He might be Lord…”

KEY: When Jesus died He gave Himself for us; when He rose from the dead he gave Himself to us!

As a believer, there is no other king in our lives! He will not be a moonlighting god, nor will He have a duplex for a throne! Does He really rule over your life? Until Christ has authority over us we life a pathetic existence as a Christian!