Mike Bickle - Authority of the Believer - Part #2

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I. REVIEW: 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 living in agreement with Him (in their individual sphere of influence). The Spirit moves in response to what God’s people say and do. Jesus will rule the earth forever in partnership with His Bride who is 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…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)

B. When God gave the governing authority of the earth to Adam, he had the right to use it in any way that he chose. He did the unthinkable with it. He committed high treason and gave his authority over the earth to Satan (Lk. 4:5-6). At that time, Satan became “the god of this world.”

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

4Whose minds the god of this age has blinded…lest the light of the gospel…shine on them. (2 Cor. 4:4)

C. 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. Authority is delegated power. A police officer stops a car by the authority of the government, not his physical power. Like the policeman, we must put our hand up and invoke the name of Jesus.

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

D. We must enforce Jesus’ authority on earth. Satan’s attacks against us will continue if we accept them. There are two common errors in responding to Satan’s attack. First, to ask God to resist Satan for us. We must not ask God to do what He entrusted to us. As God will not plant the seeds and pull the weeds for the farmer, so He will not rebuke the devil for us. Second, to accept Satan’s attack under the banner of honoring the sovereignty of God. They say, “Jesus, I trust Your leadership.” We trust His leadership best when we obey His command to actively resist what the devil presents to us. It is a misapplication of the glorious doctrine of God’s sovereignty to passively accept what we must actively resist. There is no “cease fire” in our spiritual conflict.

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

8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith…
(1 Pet. 5:8-9)

E. We must use our 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.). Jesus gives insight into Satan’s nature and tactics against us whenever he is involved in our life.

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

F. The principalities and powers speak of the invisible demonic hierarchy in the spirit realm. Our primary problems are not of human origin, but are invisible enemies. To stand (v. 13) is to refuse to accept Satan’s attacks. God’s Word is our weapon. We resist Satan’s attacks by speaking the Word. Heightened strife or negative emotions often involve Satan’s flaming missiles striking us.

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)

G. 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). By using our authority, we can remove the added pressure that demons bring to our problems. This makes it 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 the effects of what others do to us. There are varying degrees of demonic oppression.

H. 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)

II. OUR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS BASED ON JESUS’ VICTORY AND EXALTATION

A. Our spiritual authority is based on our union with Jesus. The authority that Jesus received as an “exalted Man” is given to His people. God gave Jesus to the Church (v. 22) as our head (v. 22) and made us His body or the vehicle 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. We must take our place of authority in Christ as those seated in heavenly places with Jesus (Eph. 1:3, 20-22; 2:6). Having been raised to sit with Jesus in heavenly places, we are given access toGod’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. Our authority is based on what Jesus accomplished, not on our mood, feelings, fervor, or recent victories.

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

The Authority of the Believer:

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Download Authority of the Believer exercising dominion in Christ Part 1

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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.