The Believer’s Authority
Matthew 28:18–20
Both power and authority can be diminished or cease to function through:
Lack of purity in the life of the believer
Lack of priority in the life of the believer
Lack of prayer in the life of the believer
1. Authority Comes Through Submission
Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 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,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The word authority is the Greek word exousia (Greek) :
Privilege, mastery, force, competency, control
2. Authority Is Granted To Believers
Matthew 10:1 (NIV)
1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Mark 6:7 (NIV)
7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Luke 9:1–2 (NIV)
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power (dunamis) and authority (exousia) to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 10:19 (NIV)
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Mark 16:17–18 (NIV)
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 ...will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
3. Authority Is Only Operative If We Use It
Matthew 16:19 (NIV)
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
1st Key: Authority
2nd Key: Knowledge on what to do in a situation
Matthew 16:19 (NIV)
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
To ‘bind’ in rabbinical language is to forbid; to ‘loose’ is to permit.
—A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, p. 134
I solemnly say to you, whatever you forbid on earth must be already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must already be permitted in heaven.
—Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Private Translation in the Language of the People (1960)
Matthew 6:10 (NIV)
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
