Category Archives: Bible Study

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…SPIRITUAL WARFARE – 7e

Bible Study, ,

May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭149‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To conclude our exploration of authority in Scripture, these verses from Psalm 149 are amazing! They give us the key to exercising our delegated authority over the nations as Jesus gave His authority to us, His followers, to do. 

Jesus has entrusted to His disciples two weapons with which to overcome “the world”, one in our mouths and the other in our hands. 

John wrote…

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is our faith that overcomes the world. What does this mean? According to our studies, faith is absolute confidence in the authority of Jesus to do what He says He will do because He is who He says He is. 

How do we express our faith in Jesus?  We express our faith by what comes out of our mouths. 

“It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What must come out of our mouths to express our faith?

“In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do you get the picture?

Thanksgiving is the language of faith!

Let’s see how Jesus used this weapon? Two examples…

“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭40-41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thanksgiving is a powerful weapon in our mouths to defeat the devil in our thoughts and in our circumstances. 

The other weapon is the sword, the Word  of God. 

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s truth contained in His written word is the weapon that neutralises the lies of the devil. We have His written word in our hands and His truth in our hearts that we speak from our mouths to silence the devil. 

How did Jesus use this weapon?

“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Three times, Jesus silenced and overcame the devil’s temptations with the written word spoken into the situation. He exercised His authority by placing Himself under God’s Word and submitting to it.  

When I understand the chain of command in God’s kingdom, I become aware that, when I speak what Jesus has spoken…and He has spoken what the Father has spoken…my words carry the authority of the Father Himself. 

Some practices in the name of Jesus and in so-called “spiritual warfare” are foolish, nonsensical and completely unbiblical. 

When we understand these principles, we will be saved from exercising illegitimate authority by saying and doing what Jesus has not authorised.

Jesus has made the exercise of our authority in His name simple…thanksgiving and His Word from our mouths…nothing more, nothing less! 

Thanksgiving is God’s will for us in all circumstances. Never stop giving thanks. It’s the trigger for God’s power to work in every situation for our good and His glory.  

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…AUTHORITY – 7d

Bible Study, ,

To sum up this long discussion on authority, what have we learned so that we fully understand where and how Jesus’ delegated authority works for us?

  1. God the Father has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Jesus, the Son. 

Through His submission and obedience to the Father during His earthly life, Jesus regained His sovereignty over the universe, over the earth, and over the nations. 

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  1. During His earthly life, Jesus called and trained twelve men to continue His work after He returned to heaven. 

“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ work was to usher in God’s kingdom by revealing the Father, redeeming mankind, and restoring   all creation to God’s original purpose. 

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus exposed and destroyed the devil and his deception. 

“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  1. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth, teach them about Jesus, enable them to overcome sin, and to be His witnesses through their preaching and their lives. 

The presence of the Spirit in them would empower them to represent Jesus to the world. 

  1. To His disciples, Jesus gave authority over all the spiritual powers that opposed Him. 

The miracles He authorised them to do would be signs that God’s kingdom was among them, in part, to reveal the nature and power of His rule of mercy and grace. 

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  1. Jesus’ delegated authority is conditional. 

There are two kinds of authority that operate on earth …either delegated authority or illegitimate authority. 

The effectiveness of delegated authority depends on the absolute submission and obedience of the one to whom authority has been given. Jesus proved His authority to act in the Father’s name because He was a perfect Son. His own witness was…

“So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For the believer, this is crucial. For the authority to speak and act in Jesus’ name, a disciple of Jesus must be submitted to Him and obedient to His Word. To claim Jesus as Lord implies living under His authority as supreme. 

Jesus will not support illegitimate authority…that us, anything that is said or done “in His name” but not supported by submission to His will in all things. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be concluded…

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…AUTHORITY -7c

Bible Study, ,

Authority (exousia) and power (dunamis), are two sides of the coin. Authority is the right to be in charge, and power the ability to act according to authority. After His death and resurrection, Jesus was given both authority and power over all things…

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have explored the reality and nature of Jesus’ authority over all things in heaven and on earth. We have also examined the way in which His authority must be applied to our lives. 

His plan, on His return to heaven, was to delegate His authority and power to His disciples through the Holy Spirit, and through His Word, to continue His ministry on earth until He returns. 

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”…

He told them…

”You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ NIV

On the day of Pentecost, the power of the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples in the presence of all the people from all over the Roman Empire who had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Holy Spirit gave the disciples supernatural power to communicate with the people in all the foreign languages they represented. 

“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This report is significant because it is through hearing the message about Jesus that faith is born. The Holy Spirit gave Jesus’ disciples the ability to speak in languages they had never learned so that the people would hear and understand the message of Jesus in their own mother tongue. 

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””

‭‭…Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-15, 17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, what did Jesus’ delegated authority enable the disciples to do? 

  1. “…You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It seems, then, that the Holy Spirit was given, first, to empower God’s people to proclaim the message of Jesus…and sometimes supernaturally in languages they had never learned…and this was a part of their witness.  

  1. However, Jesus said that His disciples were to “be” His witnesses.     

Preaching the message therefore, included representing the “Messenger”, that is Jesus…by the way they lived. Jesus rejected those who acted as though they were being His witnesses without living the lives that corroborated the message. 

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Being a witness involved living out the message in daily life. 

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This part of the believer’s witness is called “sanctification” or transformation into the image of Jesus. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us…He makes us holy by helping us to overcome sin and to live only for Jesus.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect…,who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬a-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…through the Word of God…

 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God the Holy Spirit purifies us from sin and sets us aside for God through His Word that renews our minds with truth as we apply it to our lives. 

So, second, the Holy Spirit was given to enable Jesus’ disciples to live the message. 

  1. The third aspect of Jesus’ delegated authority was to give His disciples power over Satan’s efforts to destroy them and to nullify their witness.   

Jesus delegated His authority to the twelve during their training. 

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Later, Jesus also delegated His authority to seventy-two others. 

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go….The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬, ‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To understand the meaning of the miracles which were part of their witness, we must understand their purpose. They were signs of the presence of God’s kingdom on earth. 

 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  1. A fourth area of Jesus’ authority is the use of His name in prayer. What do I mean…?

Jesus gave His disciples (and that includes us), the right to use His name, that is His authority, when they approach the Father. First, we come to God through His shed blood, guaranteeing our acceptance with God, the forgiveness of sin and the righteousness of Jesus which allows us access to the Father. 

Second, He gave us the power of attorney to use His name. 

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ NIV

The name of Jesus is not a magic formula to repeat, but an understanding that He alone is our Mediator, and that He alone can sanction and guarantee the answers to our prayers when we line up with His character and will. 

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued…

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…AUTHORITY -7b

Bible Study, ,

We have explored the evidence of Jesus’ authority in the gospels. Now let’s examine the implications of His authority for us, who believe in Him and claim to be His disciples. Why should His authority be important to us in our daily lives?

  1. Our first and most important question to answer is…

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Only when we are convinced that Jesus is Lord can we commit to absolute obedience to Him. 

  1. Obedience to Jesus must flow from our love for Him. 

Jesus can only trust us with a commission if we love Him above everything else. After Peter’s denial, he had to settle the issue…

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.””

John‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ exaltation as Lord, giving Him supreme authority over heaven and earth, demands absolute obedience. 

Jesus asked an unanswerable question…

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The implication of our confession must be a commitment to obedience to Jesus as Lord. 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Outside of our declaration and commitment to obedience to Jesus as Lord, our claim to be His followers is hollow and empty. 

  1. Jesus exercises His authority by His word

…over the universe…

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and in our lives…

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  1. By His words, Jesus will exercise His authority to judge. 

““If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now we come to a significant link between Jesus’ authority, faith,  and prayer. 

  1. Faith is intimately connected with Jesus’ authority. 

For faith to be legitimate, it must have a legitimate object. Nothing will happen if we trust in something or someone who has no authority to act. 

Now let’s examine an incident that perfectly illustrates the connection between faith, prayer, and authority. 

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The centurion understood the importance of authority, recognised Jesus’ authority, and based his faith in the authority of Jesus’ spoken word. .  

These aspects of Jesus’ authority underlie the authority he delegates to His followers…

To be continued…

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…GOD’S WILL ON EARTH -6b

Bible Study, ,

How is God’s will done on earth?

We implement God’s will on earth by prayer through two important attitudes…faith in a reliable object and the authority of that object to do what that it says or stands for. 

First, then, faith must have an object. Faith is an attitude based on the truth that faith’s object exists and that faith’s object can be trusted to live up to its claims. 

Many people worship “gods” who, they believe, claim the right to be trusted. The proof of their existence lies in what they do or don’t do. 

“Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Faith in inanimate objects is a delusion. Faith in the God of the Bible is legitimate because He exists and He acts according to His Word. 

“With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it…Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?… “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭18‬-‭19‬, ‭21‬, ‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God does not do anything unless we have confidence in Him, that He can and will do what He says. 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV

Second, faith is confidence in the authority of the one who speaks…that He has the right to do what He has said. God is God and there is no one above Him. The Father gave Jesus the authority to rule over the nations. Jesus is Lord.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, Jesus authorises His disciples to go, to speak, and to do…in His name. 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He authorises us to do His works and to pray…in His name. 

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Humans have no authority to say or do anything on God’s behalf without His authorisation. We are only the agents, the voices that relay heaven’s will to earth’s situation. Therefore, we must listen to what God has said. We are God’s prophets. 

To speak for God without authorisation and out of our own imagination is both delusional and dangerous.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God exposed the sin of the false prophets who spoke their own words instead of God’s words. 

“Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

By contrast, God’s Word, spoken from the mouth of the Lord through the mouth of His prophet, to the appropriate situation on earth, is more powerful than the heat of a fire or the blow of a hammer. 

A true prophet listens to God and speaks His word faithfully to turn people from their sin. 

“I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

James assures us that the prayer of an ordinary person like Elijah, for example, but righteous through Jesus and according to His word (implied), is both “powerful and effective.” 

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬b NIV‬‬

God is not obligated to do anything on earth that does not come from His instruction. His will and His will alone is our mandate to speak so that it is done on earth. 

Let us never degrade prayer to the level of the pagans who babble about selfish needs and wants. Let’s remember our mandate to rule with Jesus…now…by listening to Him and speaking His word so that His kingdom will grow and flourish and His will be done here as it is done there.