Our authority – Acts 04:07

Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Authority is a big and fundamental issue.  A person who knows his authority will also know his identity, and his purpose and consequently will be secure. 

This was the same question that the leaders asked Jesus.  Matthew 21:23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

Since the leaders questioned the authority of Jesus, they did not believe in Him and since they did not believe in Him, they remained in death. John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

The Jews questioned the authority of Jesus in cleansing the temple, by asking Him for a sign.  John 2:18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

If Jesus were to have obliged them with a sign, then they could confine Jesus to being a miracle worker and would consider His cleansing of the temple as only an aberration.  Whereas, if He was the Messiah, then they would need to surrender and submit to Him. 

The world does not want to submit to the lordship of Christ.  Therefore, they question our authority to teach and preach in the name of Jesus. 

Whereas, the Lord has given us His authority to teach and preach Jesus, to the people of the world and bring them to faith in Jesus. 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.

Man was given authority to have dominion and rule over all of God’s creation in the image of God. 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.”

When we sinned against God, we came under the control 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 tempted Jesus, to acknowledge that he, the devil, had the authority over all the earth, by bowing to him. Jesus refused.  Luke 4:5-8 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*.” (8) And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.’ “

The devil was never given authority over God’s creation.  It is to man that authority was given, in creation, and to His church under the New Covenant.  Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

We were prisoners of the devil but Jesus delivered us. 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.

Not only has Jesus delivered us from the clutches of the devil, but He has also put the devil to open shame. Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

The Lord has raised His church to be the ones who have authority over the evil one and bring about the wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:9-11 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; (10) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

When we are questioned by our leaders, we must know our authority.

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