Treasures New and Old

On Being a Disciple – Our Authority

“As a disciple, I want to master the Bible so that the Master of the Bible can become my Master.”

– Author unknown

As we continue this series of study, I want to dig a little deeper into the authority we, as disciples, have in Christ. Notice that most of my quotes are direct quotes from the Master Himself!

“Power and Authority”

What Are the Four Basic Elements of a Kingdom?

1. A king: The Lord Jesus Christ
   
2. A jurisdiction: In His future kingdom, He will rule the world. In His present kingdom, He wants to rule our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
3. Laws: The Ten Commandments, the commands of Christ
4. Citizens who follow laws: Jesus’ disciples and believers

The theme of Christ’s teaching and Paul’s preaching was the kingdom of God. Jesus told us to make it our first priority, and Paul proclaimed it to both Jews and Gentiles. His final days under house arrest were spent teaching things concerning the kingdom of God. (See Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23.) In that kingdom, the kingdom of God, there are authority structures with God the Father at the head, Christ below Him, and the Holy Spirit below Jesus. Then we are next in the structure. I suspect that structure is further divided with numerous levels much like we see in our own governments (country, state, county, city, etc.) as the centurion explained in Matthew 8 and Luke 7. Let’s take a look at the believer’s charge and authority starting with Luke:

Luke 9:1-6:

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take another for your journey, neither stave, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

First some definitions:

Power: “Dynamis; G1411: from <G1410> (dunamai); force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): – ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work” (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G1411).

Authority: “Exousia; G1849: from <G1832> (exesti) (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subject) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (object) mastery (concrete magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:- authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength” (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G1849).

Boiled down, we have as Jesus’ disciples all the power and right to carry out His will as we walk within His kingdom. That power and authority isn’t just to be flaunted or selfishly used, but it has a purposed behind it:

Purpose of their authority and power:

• Authority over demons
• To cure diseases and the sick (not the gift of healing in this case, but the miracle of healings)
• To preach the kingdom of God and the gospel

Conditions given to the first disciples:

• Take no staves (staff to make walking easy)
• No scrip – (pera) – wallet or food pouch (Strong’s G4082). Implies no money, but trust instead that God will provide
• No bread or food – again, let God provide
• Only the clothes on your back – God will provide
• Stay in homes that you are invited in (harder to do today as it was a custom back then)

Results of their journey:

• Blessed the homes that welcomed them
• Left a testimony of rejection for those who would not receive them – notice they were not to curse, but simply leave a clear testimony
• The gospel was preached everywhere
• The sick were healed everywhere

Although the circumstances are different, the principles are the same for His disciples today:

The purpose of our authority and power:

• To bind demons where we must to shed God’s light against the forces of darkness
• To pray for and see God cure diseases and the sick: James 5:13-16
• To preach the kingdom of God and the gospel to the lost “in our going” (Matthew 28:19)

Conditions given to us as disciples:

• Our walk is not guaranteed to be easy – endure hardness as a good soldier
• Trust that God will provide our food, finances, and housing
• Don’t accumulate worldly goods, but that which we need
• Show hospitality and do not forsake the gathering together in His name

Results of our journey:

• Bless the homes that welcome you
• Leave a testimony of rejection for those who will not receive you – do not curse, but simply leave a clear testimony
• The gospel is to be preached everywhere
• The sick are to be healed everywhere

We are plagued with unbelief today

Even the first disciples had a problem of unbelief – and we are so often afraid to exercise what Jesus said that we have – authority and power to carry out His will.

Matthew 17:19-21: “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.“

Mark 16:14-18:

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

To the degree that we walk in the Spirit, we will walk by faith in power and authority.

We are to be on watch

Mark 13:34-37 (bold added): “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all. Watch.“

We are to be watching both for the return of the Master and opportunities to carry out the work we have been given while He is delayed. We have the authority to do so and the task to do so.

So what must I do? I repeat these three steps:

We have been filled with the world’s truth which includes its lies and unbelief of Christ. It is in books, movies, speeches, school teachings, science (falsely so called), and philosophy. We must overcome this “leaven” that corrupts us and denies the Lord that bought us.

Step 1: Purge the old leaven: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven [your pride] leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, but with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Step 2: Separate the chaff from the wheat in your life: Matthew 3:12: “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 13:25: “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

Step 3: Walk in Truth: 3 John 1:1-4: “The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Remember the Lesson about “burdens”?

The burden of rabbis. A rabbi had a particular message they would impart to their students, their talmidim. Besides the general teachings they all got, they would get specific training and teachings in a special area of ministry. One would concentrate on the Torah. One would emphasize prophecy. One, purity of heart. Another on the coming of the Messiah and to look for His signs. One on self-discipline for a holy life, etc.

Becoming a Talmidim member: A rabbi would watch you in your younger days at Torah school, and as he saw a particular bent or passion, he might ask you to go past thirteen (age of adulthood) and study some more in his particular discipline. Sometimes a young man could petition a rabbi of renown that had an established school that was known for an emphasized subject and, after an interview, could be accepted.

What’s your burden?: As you set down your heavy weights and loads and accept His burden (portion) He designed for you, you will find that God has a burden (an emphasis, a cause, a desire) that for you is not burdensome at all, but light! Evangelizing the lost, ministry to widows, teaching God’s Word, making disciples, waiting on tables (in the sense of serving the congregation), etc.

And that brings us back to:

2 Peter 1:10: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

References

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).

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