Sermon Central
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Understanding Your Authority
Contributed by James W Hare on May 10, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: understanding the authority the God has entrusted to us
UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUTHORITY
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1Jn 3:8 KJV
Eph 2:1-7 KJV And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Col 2:6-17 KJV As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Review questions:
What is the most precious commodity that is an ever constant factor before the Father?
Where was Christ’s Blood offered up? So just how valuable is the Blood of Christ to us?
What is required take to see God? (Pursue, persecute holiness)
Is holiness made up of a series of do’s and don’ts? So what is holiness?
What did God give to man in the beginning?
What did man do with what Gad gave him?
What did Christ come to do about what man had done?
Did Christ succeed in His purpose? So what now?
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“…that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
The Greek word luō literally means to loosen, dissolve, break up. This is what Christ did…He untied and loosed the binding power the devil had over us. Christ unraveled it all leaving the devil with loose empty threads in his hands. The victims are gone! Where?
WHAT IS MY PRESENT POSITION IN RELATION TO THE FATHER?
Historically Christ was crucified a little over 2000 years ago. We however, who have only been recently on the earth, relative to that event, are reported to be quickened TOGETHER WITH Christ! This is because the death of Christ is an eternal present before the Father even before time ever existed, but was manifested in time and history once. When I believe the gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection I am seen by the Father in Christ, made alive with Him! It may have happened at a certain time in a historical perspective but with the Father it is an eternally settled issue!
We need to see ourselves as God sees us. Many effectively are neutralized when they allow the enemy to fill their minds with thoughts of defeat and helplessness and unbelief.
WHAT IS MY PRESENT POSITION IN RELATION TO CHRIST?
I am IN Christ! Where HE is I am! Where He went I went in Him. Where He goes I go! Where He is now that’s where I am! In the heavenlies far above ALL principality, might, dominion and every name that is named in this world and the next!
