Mike Bickle - Authority of the Believer - Part #1

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The Authority of the Believer: Exercising Our Dominion in Christ Pt. 1

I. PARTNERSHIP: GOD GAVE THE DOMINION OF THE EARTH TO HUMANS

A. God gave the dominion of the earth to humans forever. He releases His power in the earthly realm in response to redeemed humans calling on Him to do so through intercession and worship. The Spirit moves in response to what God’s people say and do. He ordained us to rule the earth forever through partnership with Jesus as a bride filled with adoring obedience.

26Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…over all the earth…28God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over…every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28)

16The heavens are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men. (Ps. 115:16)

4What is man that You are mindful of him…5For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet… (Ps. 8:4-6)

21For all things are yours: 22whether…the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
(1 Cor. 3:21-23)

24Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me… (Jn. 17:24)

B. Adam committed high treason and gave his authority over the earth to Satan (Lk. 4:5-6). At the cross, Jesus as a Man defeated Satan and all demonic powers and made a public spectacle of them before all in heaven and hell. He has won the victory, but it must be enforced in this age.

6This authority…has been delivered to me [Satan], and I give it to whomever I wish. (Lk. 4:6)

15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [His death and resurrection]. (Col. 2:15)

C. Authority is delegated power. An example that is commonly used is that of a police officer who stops a car by the authority of the government, not his own physical power. We use our spiritual authority against Satan who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy God’s blessing in our life (by fear, addictions, emotional oppression, division, sickness, financial oppression, etc.).

10The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
(Jn. 10:10)

D. Believers must exercise their authority in Christ to release on earth the victory that Jesus secured on the cross. God’s Word is our weapon. We resist Satan by speaking the Word, and retain the ground we take from him by standing firm when demons return to attack us (Mt. 12:43-45).

12We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…in the heavenly places. 13Take up the whole armor of God…having done all, to stand…16taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one …17Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… (Eph. 6:12-17)

E. Our problems are often the result of several factors working together including psychological issues (our mindset, belief systems, and life choices), physiological issues (diet, alcohol, chemicals, etc.), sociological issues (what others do to us), and spiritual (demonic attack).

F. By using our authority, we can remove the added pressure that demons bring to our problems. This makes it much easier to solve physiological, psychological, and sociological problems. Exercising authority against Satan’s attack does not automatically cancel all the consequences of our wrong choices or all the effects of what others do to us. Demons can oppress a Christian’s body and soul without possessing their spirit. There are varying degrees of demonic oppression. Heightened strife or negative emotions often involve Satan’s flaming missiles striking us.

II. OUR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS BASED ON JESUS’ VICTORY

A. Our spiritual authority is based on our union with Jesus. The power and benefits that Jesus received as an “exalted Man” are given to His people. God gave Jesus to the Church (v. 22) as our head (v. 22) and made us His body, through which He expresses His power on earth (v. 23).

17The Father of glory, may give to you…revelation in the knowledge of Him… 18that you may know… 19The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe… 20which He [the Father] worked in Christ when He raised Him…and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places… 22 He put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him… (Eph. 1:17-23)

B. Having been raised to sit with Jesus in heavenly places, we are given access to God’s throne. When we pray according to God’s will, our prayers reach His throne and find approval, resulting in the release of power. We must know who we are in Christ and the authority we possess in Jesus. We must take our place of authority in Christ as those seated in heavenly places with Jesus (Eph. 1:3, 20-22; 2:6).

6Raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ... (Eph. 2:6)

C. We are called to enforce Jesus’ authority on earth as His body. Satan’s attack against us will continue if we accept it, instead of refusing it or challenging it with our authority in Christ.

7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7)

D. Fear, rejection, and addictive urges are a form of demonic oppression that must be rebuked. If they are allowed to gain dominance in our thinking, they will dominate our life with despair. We must take authority over the spirit of fear. It must not be accepted or allowed to grow.

7God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)

E. The command of faith doesn't always bring results instantly.

12Do not become sluggish, but…through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. 6:12)

F. Our authority is based on what Jesus accomplished, not on our mood, feelings, fervor, or victory.

6“Not by [human] might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the LORD of hosts. (Zech. 4:6)

The Authority of the Believer:

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Download Authority of the Believer exercising dominion in Christ Part 1

DOWNLOAD Session #1 'Exercising Our Dominion in Christ Pt. 1' Bible Verse Handbook

Download Authority of the Believer exercising dominion in Christ Part 2

Download Authority of the Believer exercising dominion in Christ Part 3

Much of this teaching will be used by the English speaking Pastors in the Africa Training Bible School.(ATBS)

Each of these ATBS Series includes an audio and handout or study notes to be downloaded as well as a PowerPoint to make the viewing more visual for the Pastors and youth in their churches.