"Knowing Our Authority!"
"Knowing" series part 3 of 4
Text: Eph. 1:17-23 & Selected
Cross Creek Community Church
Pastor Dave Martin - July 22, 2001
www.crosscreekcc.org
God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Life Changing!
When we speak of authority, what do we mean? It could mean flashing lights coming up fast from behind you. Authority is the power or right to perform certain acts. In our society today the use of this word implies control, restrictions or coercion. Authority is a very hard word to accurately describe, because it can be used in so many different ways. The Greek word for authority is "exousia" (power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases). "Exousia" is used over 100 times and is translated power 69 times in the KJV.
A farmer who had authority made six holes in his door as exits for his six cats.
A friend asked, "Why do you make six holes in the door? One hole would have been enough"
The farmer replied with emphasis, "When I say scat I mean scat!"
If you draw up your own blueprints for your house. Then you buy the material to do the construction, then you build it all by yourself. You install the plumbing system, the electrical, the heating system - everything. It takes you many months to do the complete project. Do you think you know anything about your house? You sure do - you know where every nail is, the flaws, the good points and the weak points - you would be considered the sole authority on your house. As the authority you know everything about your house. It’s the same way with God. He is the "Author and Finisher of our faith" Heb 12:2. The Creator of everything that exists - He is the authority on His Creation! His authority is unconditional and absolute. Because He is Sovereign, He decides who gets authority!
Foundational Truth -
All Authority ORIGINATES with God.
Romans 13:1 "...for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
Our Creator God decides who gets authority! Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3 The written Word & the Living Word
To help us understand, let’s look at three areas of authority (Scriptures, Christ, Christians)...
1. The Authority of Scriptures
2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed (given by inspiration of God - KJV) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2Peter 1:20-21)
* God’s Word is foundational to our faith. It’s inspired, God-breathed, God filled. It’s alive. It’s written by God Himself. His love letter to mankind. His road map for salvation and life eternal.
2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
* The Bible is our authority. We believe it’s inerrant, infallible, verbally and plenarily inspired - the authoritative Word of God. Our source book for all doctrine and practice.
* Completely true in all matters it addresses, free from falsehood or deceit. We can trust it fully.
* 66 books, 40 authors (kings & farmers), over 8800 promises, over 1600 years - all in unity!
* The authority of Scriptures - God’s very Words. Mt. 5:18, 24:35; Ps 12:6; 119:9-16, 97-106; John 17:17; Col. 3:16:Heb. 4:12-13; Rev 22:18-19
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
* We have to be under the Scriptures authority - we will someday give an account for our disobedience to them.
2. The Authority of Christ:
The very beginning of Christ’s ministry we see this authority in Mark 1:22.
Mark 1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Jesus had authority over...
Confronting the devil! Luke 4:6-8
Religious people & money changers! John 2:15
Forgiveness of sin! Mark 2:10
Calming the storm (nature)! Luke 8:24
Being transfigured on the mountain! Mt. 17:2
Raising Lazarus from the dead! John 11:43
Going to the cross / His resurrection & Ascension to heaven! Acts 1:11
Jesus’ authority knows no limitations! - Mt. 28:18
Over the forces of nature, demonic hosts, disease, sin, death!
He had complete authority of everything and every situation, even His death on the cross.
Conversation between Jesus and Pilate
John 19:10-11 "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
Jesus submitted to God the Father’s authority (He was a humble, submissive Servant)
Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
* Authority demands submission. A humble submission to our Creator God. Jesus was under His Father’s authority.
Illustration - A Man "Under" Authority
The centurion told Jesus that he was "a man under authority" (Matthew 8:9). That seems an odd way of putting it.
Why did he not say a man with authority, or a man invested with authority? The reason was:
Above the centurion was the senior centurion;
Above the senior centurion, the sixty centurions of the Roman legion;
Above the sixty centurions were the six tribunes;
Above the six tribunes, the two consuls;
And-in the imperial system-above the two consuls, the Emperor himself.
It was because he stood-although the last and the lowest-in this long line of delegated authority that the Roman centurion was able to give orders and have them obeyed. He could give orders because he received orders. He had authority because he was under authority himself.
John 8:28-29 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
Look what God tells us in Colossians...
Col. 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Jesus at God’s right hand then Jesus hands everything back over to God the Father.
1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. - All created creatures in submission under Christ.
1 Cor. 15:24-28 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
The authority of Jesus cannot be refuted in any way. He is our authority!
3. The Authority of Christians
2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure (Gospel of Christ) in jars of clay (our frail human bodies) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
* Unschooled & ordinary men resting in the power of Christ! Acts 4: 7-13
* We are to honor & respect leaders in the church! 1 Thes. 5:12-13
* We are to obey civil authorities. Titus 3:1
* A Caution not to usurp your authority. Jude 1:9 & 1 Timothy 2:12
Ephes. 1:17-23 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
That you may know...
1. HOPE in Salvation (Past) - He has called you.- Our awesome Salvation!
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right (authority) to become children of God--
2. RICHES in Glory (Future) - His glorious inheritance in the saints - Unimaginable riches!
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
3. POWER in Daily Living (Present) - His incomparably great power for every believer!
* Power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (How’s your witnessing? Being a good testimony?)
* Power of Prayer Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Are you being consistent in your prayer life? Seeing answers everyday?)
* Power of a Surrendered life - 2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
(Are you yielded to Christ? Is He increasing and are you decreasing? Proud?)
* Power over our Enemies - Ephes. 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Are you engaged in the battle? Whose side are you on?)
God calls us to salvation, He bestows glorious Riches, He provides His Power & Authority!
We have no authority except that which has been given to us by the Lord.
Jesus tells us in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Knowing Our Purpose!
Knowing Our Identity!
Knowing Our Authority!
Next week - Knowing Our Mission!
Let’s Pray
