Authority to rule with Jesus

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

What was it that came through powerfully from Peter and John that resembled Jesus in them to the leaders?

They sensed authority flowing from Peter and John.  This was the authority of Christ. 

The leaders had tried to confront Jesus about His authority and they were stung by His response.  Mark 11:28-33 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” (29) But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: (30) The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” (31) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ (32) But if we say, ‘From men’ “—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. (33) So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”_

There is no need for us to explain our authority to the people of the world but we must operate out of the authority of Christ. They must sense the authority of Christ flowing from us, naturally.  We have been sent out into the world in His authority. This is our position of which we must be intrinsically conscious. 

John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. / John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” / Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, *I am with you always*, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Authority comes from knowing that we reign with Christ and we are here to bring the kingdom rule of God on earth.

This matter of authority to reign was given to man in creation.  It is when we conform to His image that we as His disciples are in the place to reign with Him.  This is the creation mandate. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”_

God created us to reign over all His creation.  It is only in the image of God that we can complete the task for which we were created. Psalms 8:4-6 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (5) For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. (6) You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Since we sinned, we came under the captivity of the devil to do his will. II Timothy 2:25-26 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will._

The devil is deceiving the world because he is controlling the world through man.  He is ruling the world by proxy.  Luke 4:5-7 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (6) And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (7) Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

Though the devil has no authority, he claims authority because man is totally in his control. 

Jesus has set man free from the devil on the cross. It is at the cross, when we place our faith in Christ, that we are released from the prison house of the devil.  Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

We are released in order to take back our place as co-rulers with Christ and exercise His authority.  This is our place as His church.  Peter and John had found their place of authority in Jesus.  Are you and are we as His church, operating in the authority of Christ?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AUNn6UINQqseM5ibOelVq3OLCWUG6UEf/view?usp=share_link