Enjoy the video on Authority
Matthew 10:7,8
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
It’s interesting to note that this is what the disciples are instructed to do by Jesus.
This is a very simple statement but this obviously means that the disciples are able to accomplish the directive. It’s also interesting that there is no record at this point of the disciples receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
John 20:22
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
This is because in verse 1 Jesus gave the disciples authority. What is authority?
Authority Illustration
• One simple illustration is the local law enforcement officers. When they turn on their blue lights you pull over. They have authority over you. If you decide to not pull over there are other steps that the “authorities” have a legal right to take in order to enforce the law of the land.
• The law enforcement officers have the legal right to “ramp up” the pressure on a suspect should they decide to disobey their commands.
Exousia
There are 5 different dimensions to the word Exousia in the NT.
Exousia addresses the question, “Who do you think you are?”
Only By Revelation
• Ephesians 1:17
– 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.
– Jesus living inside of you gives you Christ’s authority as He flows and moves through you to accomplish his divine purposes
1. Authority
• Authority – Exousia comes from the Greek word exesti, which means, “it is lawful". Exousia means power of authority, the right to exercise power, or "the power of rule or government," the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others,
• Matthew 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority (exousia) on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."
• Matthew 21:23
– 23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority (exousia) are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?" (exousia)
• Jesus Authority is the element in His ministry that really sets him apart from all his contemporaries.
• This made him very different
• Luke 4:36
– All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!"
• 2 Corinthians 10:8
– For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority (exousia) the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
2. Jurisdiction
- "power, authority," is used, to denote "jurisdiction," in Lu. 23:7.
Jurisdiction means – 1. the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law 2. the authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate the power or right to exercise authority : control 3: the limits or territory within which authority may be exercised.
• Luke 23:7
– 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction (exousia), he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
3. Freedom
• Exousia is rendered “freedom" in 1Co. 8:9
• Food Sacrificed to Idols
• 1 Co. 8:9
– 9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom (exousia) does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Power to Bring Under
• Denotes "freedom of action, right to act;" used of God, it is absolute, unrestricted, e.g., "right of disposal" is what is indicated; used of men, authority is delegated. Angelic beings are called "powers" in Eph. 3:10 (cp. 1:21); 6:12; Col. 2:15 (cp. 2:10).
God’s Authority is Absolute
• Luke 12:5
– 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power (exousia) to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
God’s Authority is Absolute
• Acts 1:7
– 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (exousia)
Angelic Beings
• Ephesians 3:10
– 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities (exousias) in the heavenly realms,
• Ephesians 6:12
– 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, (exousias) against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Angelic Beings
• Colossians 2:15
– 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, (exousias) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The Legal Right
• a "right" possessed in virtue of the "authority" given them by Christ, "freedom to act" and then "authority for the action."
• John 1:12
– 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right (exousia) to become children of God—
• 2 Thessalonians 3:9
– 9We did this, not because we do not have the right (exousia) to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
• It’s important that we have a very clear understand of the Authority that Jesus gives to his disciples here because I am convinced this same authority is available to the modern day follower of Christ.
• Matthew 28:18,19
– Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• Say, I’ve been given Exousia
• Preach the Message the kingdom of heaven is near
• Luke 17:21
nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
• Jesus repeatedly told people that the kingdom of Heaven was near.
• Heal the Sick
Jesus healing the sick with authority
Mark 3:5
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Peter Healing the Sick with Authority
• Acts 3:1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"
• 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
• Raise the Dead
Jesus raises the dead with Authority
• Mark 5:41,42
– 41He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
• The Apostle Paul Raises the dead with Authority
– Acts 20:9-12 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
4. Cleanse those who have leprosy.
Jesus cleanses the leprous – leprosy represented the incurable disease of Jesus day.
Matthew 8:3
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
• Drive out Demons
Jesus Drove Out Demons-
Matthew 12:22
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
• The disciples drove out demons
• Mark 6:6b-7,13
– Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
– 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
• Luke 10:17
– 17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
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