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?
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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…