The Authority Of Christ

• Praise
• Pray

Matt. 8:9

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Greek word used here is Strong’s # 1849 “exousia” translated – “it is lawful” “permission” the idea is delegated authority – the authority given by something or someone who can. The federal state or local government gives authority to the IRS, congress, street dept. military, police, etc

• Jesus impressed, not so much that the Roman centurion knew what authority was, but the fact that he realized that it was vital to be under authority (as he was) and likewise, to have authority over others (as he was, and in Jesus’ case, healing too).
• Clearly, Isaiah 9:6 Jesus has Jesus as the ultimate authority – NOTE WORD GOVERNMENT –NOT THERE BY MISTAKE OR MEANINGLESS.

The centurion also knew he (the centurion) was Jesus’ civil authority. But Jesus, because He had the power to heal (he sensed Jesus was superior)

, was his (centurion) supreme authority.

Old axiom – military in origin that you cannot give orders unless you can take orders.

• God’s whole Kingdom based on authority (chain of command) – A Father acting in His kids’ best interest.

Chain of command in best interest of:

1. military
2. family
3. civil
4. company
5. Etc. - Etc.

God’s Order:

1. God The Father – The Word (Jesus) – Holy Spirit
2. Jesus (on earth) -
   • man on earth / God in heaven - John 1:1, 1:14 (read), tempted in every point as we are, name above every name.

• Under the authority of God The Father – Lk 2:49 “about my father’s business” , John 8:28 “I do only that which my Father tells me”, Mark 14:36 “not my will but yours be done”

• Read John 8:25-8:40

3. Government – Federal, State and Civil – for the protection of the individual and the family.

1 Cor 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues

4. Pastor – to guide father and mother in spiritual things so they can guide the family in spiritual things.

5. Father – Genesis / God’s image – man - dominion

6. Mother / wife – Genesis – Adam’s helper

7. Children (family) – To learn by being under authority and be protected as they learn the lessons of life in relation to all spiritual things.

Authority established by God for our protection – example: the family established for the protection and well being of its members.

Matt. 18:3

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

• become as little children (under there Fathers protection and Authority)

• God being perfect established His system of order or authority which is in turn perfect.

• System is not broken, through sin, those who administer it are.

(misuse of power, accused etc.)

Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

1. God gives us a choice, accept Him or not. -free gift
   1. garden of Eden – man not forced to worship God (obedience or disobedience)
   2. Eph 2:8-9
   3. God made a choice to sacrifice His Son
   4. We have a choice to accept or reject. John 3;16, 17 (read)
2. When we choose God through His Son

a. we choose every thing God makes available to us – Why would we not want it? : (List – count blessings)

2. We have accepted free gift of salvation

c. We are joint heirs to Dad’s Kingdom -

Rom 8 :17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory

• If we accept the salvation God offers to us we can an will achieve spiritual freedom.
• Our lives will be changed. Those around us.
• Stay with it – meditate on Word daily – (Rom 12:2 Josh 1:8)

John 4:23
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

If we choose to be under the authority of the Word of God, we will do what the Word says, and since we are spirits, we can then expect the things the Word promises – salvation, freedom and truth, to be under a loving Father protective umbrella.

The Contrast Between The Book Of Job and The Book Of Psalms

·        Pray

·        Job wealthy and feared God – Bible says complete integrity (Job 1:1-12)

·        Satan tries to drive wedge btwn Job / God – convinces God to allow  

Tests. (I’m always amazed at the access that Satan seems to have to The God Of The Universe. [remember, God is perfect, everything about Him is legal and organized because of His perfection])

·        Story progresses – Job loses: family’, possessions, health

·        people that knew him are convinced that through sin, he brought this on himself

·        his wife in essence tells him he may as well “end it”

·        4 friends come to talk – Job didn’t talk for days

Friends just sat with him – (sometimes we don’t have to say anything to someone hurting. Just being there is what they need)

·        when they finally could talk to him tried to convince him to repent – his bad fortune caused by God punishing unrepented sin.

·        God rebukes Jobs friend for thinking he had something to do with this – good in us always about Him ~ bag always about us or Satan.

·        Job makes the case that he is righteous toward God and better than the unrighteous.

·        Job not so concerned about what he’d lost, but why he lost it.

·        Job asks God  “why”

·        God then rebukes Job tells him don’t worry about it I Am Sovereign – what I say goes – tells Job whats what. 38:1- 41:34 (1:4 – 8 & sample)

·        Job is restored (chapter 42

·        lessons Job learned

1.    God is sovereign – ALL AUTHORITY

2.    Bad things will happen to good people – Gen 3, Satan (always testing, hates God and His people, Satan has limitations)

3.    not that bad things wont happen, how we act when bad things happen – God want us to rely on Him alone.

4.    God then fairness…not fairness then God

·        Psalms are praise, laments, some wisdom (proverbs) all over the place. Not one story…a collection of conversations from the heart.

·        Written mostly through David and son Solomon

·        All Psalms put God first – acknowledge His Sovereignty

·        They never ask “why me, I’m a good guy”

·        Job asks until God sets him straight, “I’m righteous, why me?” – ignore God’s Sovereignty

·        Psalms always seem to say “you are God, WHY NOT ME?”

·        Psalms will ask for help – in doing so acknowledge God is only help

Ask class to draw conclusions btwn Job and Psalms

UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE

·        Praise

·        Pray

Text scripture:

Eph 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 *One  separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ.

·        Psalm 16:3    But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

·        Rom 1:7    To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

·        Eph 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

·        My only point here is that the Bible calls  those who believe in and confess Christ as Lord and Savior are saints.

·        Interesting that in the 4^th century, the believer was relegated to a common person and the Biblical term for believer “saint” was made a title of high esteem. (you had to have been an apostle of Jesus, performed miracles or both and be dead)

·        We can then understand our text scripture Eph 4:12 better.  (re-read)

1.    Paul reminds Ephesians who they are and what they are to be doing. (I know – but we can logically surmise that if they are to “perfect the saints” it is implied that they are saints themselves).

2.    Revelation given to Paul regarding building the Church (body of Christ, re-establishing The Kingdom Of God)

3.    We are to teach people, who teach people, who teach people, who teach people – etc.

4.    If we are to be effective in “perfecting the saints” we must 1st realize who we are in Him, and what Christ has done for us.

 

·        Who we are in Christ can be defined by what He has done for us!

·        We must realize – God’s plan to re-establish Kingdom depends on believers in Christ spreading the Church - perfecting the saints

·        We need to realize it will be done with - or without you and I.

Jesus told disciples that the gates of Hades would not withstand The Kingdom Of God – NOTHING WILL STOP THE CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (explain Gate of Hades being a real place real place)

This is a point many Christians lose sight of in a culture of declining morality they think the Church will be derailed. They don’t know - or forget that all along, God’s plan was to re-establish His Kingdom right over the top of Pagan religions that ran rampant in those days.

·        We will do it because we love Christ – He loved us first

  1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us  -

·        God sent His only Begotten Son to make a sacrifice we can’t imagine on behalf of us

        John 3:16, (read) (father who’s son dies – let alone sending Him to His death)

        

   Col 2  14 Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

·        Christ sacrificed Himself for us – to preserve us, the only way we will be preserved is if the Church is established and The Kingdom is re-established

·        Think of this – Christ entrusted the establishing of His Church on earth to 12 disciples who did not have a clue until that final 3 years of Jesus life.

·        He trusted them and now He trusts you and me

·        If we are His servants – bought and paid for with his blood we must realize a few things:

Ministry Of The Holy Spirit

• Pray

 Text verse – Heb. 11:6

 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

·         From this verse we see an important premise established: As long as we go to the Word in faith, believe He is who He says He Is, and seek Him (study in truth) we will please God. He then tells us He will reward us. He then rewards us with his presence (Jesus said: ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find).

Before Christ started His Ministry, John The Baptist’s calling was to make straight the way of the Lord. – John 1:22-23, Is 40:3

Now it is The Holy Spirit’s ministry to bear witness of Him 1 John 5:7-8, John 15:26 and to give believers power and ability to witness to others thus spreading the church. Acts 1:8

 

Leads us into all righteousness – John16:13 – The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is to get ALL people saved.

Preach the Good News (Mark16: 15) – Christ crucified is The Good News (man reconciled back to God [Isa. 61]) 1 Cor. 1:23 (Christ crucified), Mark 16 14:18,

Gal 2:20 (I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.), Rom.1:16  (For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.)

                  

1.    God’s intentions toward us

a)            Why did God establish the earth and create man? (Class discussion)

b)            Relationship

c)            Fatherhood / mentor

Holy Spirit of OT

·         Part of Godhead – God The Father, God The Son, God The Holy Spirit - Gen 1:1, 1:26 – Job 3:4

·         God  created man and gave him His Spirit – Gen2:7,  1 Cor. 6:19

·         Spirit of God – Came to kings and prophets (wasn’t there all the time – only when God wanted to act specifically.)

Holy Spirit of NT

·         The seed of God (re-establishing lost Kingdom) could NOT come through sinful man.

·         Scripture records account of god coming to earth by way of the Holy Spirit -

·         John prob. only  person who has actually (through spiritual eyes) seen the Godhead
           -      John 1:1 , 1:14

-          Luke 3:22 – Holt Spirit “like a dove” doesn’t mean He is one. He is a distinct person.            

-          Every one has heard phrases like

“strong as an ox”

“ran like the wind” – that doesn’t mean they are an ox or the wind

                       

Jesus is telling disciples of His crucifixion, tells them He is sending Holy Spirit –

John 14:14 –18

           

            They are distraught Jesus says He has much to tell them but they can’t bear it all at once

-Then in chapter 16: 7– 8  He makes an amazing statement – He says: believe me.

·         Remember: they had been with Him for 3 years           

·         He hadn’t lied to them yet

·         Everything He said was going to happen happened

·         they had seen many miracles

·         They knew who He was – He (Jesus) was God

Jesus says Believe Me … I’m not kidding …you’ll do greater things than what you have seen me do because of the Holy Spirit that I promise to send once I leave you.

            We know from Word That The Holy Spirit -

·         Has mind Rom 8:27

·         a will and emotions -1 Cor 12:11

·         He speaks - Heb3:7

·         Give believers power to be witnesses, in fact He told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until He (The Holy Spirit) came – Acts 1:4 – 1:8

·         Give us prophesy  - 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Cor. 12

·         Inspired men & gave us the words God would call scripture – 1 Tim. 3:16

·         Helps us to do the Word – 1 peter 3:22

·         Gives people power to act in God’s sovereign purposes – 1 Cor. 12

·         Guides us in prayer – Rom 8:28

·         Gives us wisdom & tells us what to say when we need it – lk12:2

- You can see that this list is endless (infinite) like God. It is clear from the Bible God is Three persons that make One God. How God is dealing with mankind or His Universal Church is a matter of which One is manifest on earth at the time.

- Any character trait of one part of Godhead is true of all – Matt 12:25

The present day Jews as well as in ancient time Jews (non-believing) can’t get into relationship with God – they reject or rejected Jesus (don’t present day Jews notice no Spirit Of God? And thus something wrong?)

I am saying that if we are going to draw near to God and thus let Him draw near to us (James 4:8) we as Christian have got to not only recognize but rely on The Holy Spirit’s ministry to us and for us. Jesus said He and The Holy Spirit only speak what God  The Father speaks – John 5:30, John 16:13.

 The only way to Draw Nigh to God is in Spirit and Truth!