Ultimate Authority

• Mark 11:27-33
• Peel back the onion and the most of the problems in America is rebellion and lack of submission to Authority
• Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
• Isaiah 65:2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;
• We must come from an understanding of Scripture as authority- 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

• What is going on in his story is quite simple-
• The chief priests are questioning Jesus and the authority by which he is doing what he is doing.
• Jesus is doing stuff they don’t like. They can tell that he is swaying the crowd and they must shut it down
• The means by which they are doing it is by questioning his authority
• Jesus puts it back in their face- they believed John the Baptist to be a prophet, so if they believed that John was from God, then Jesus must be from God because John said that Jesus was from God
• His question put them back in their place- if you don’t want to admit that John was from God, then I’m not going to tell you by what authority I do what I do
• This interaction was prophesied by Jesus in Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
• Why was Jesus evasive? They were trying to trap him so they could bring the charge of blasphemy against him and have him crucified, but the week isn’t over yet, so he wasn’t going to tell them
• Understand- the Jewish authorities were the ones who had the spiritual and social power in this system. You had to go through them to do anything, and Jesus did whatever he wanted.
• He preached what he wanted. He healed who he wanted. He did whatever they wanted and it threw them in a uproar! THEY WERE THE ONES IN AUTHORITY- not him!
• The main issue was that they didn’t want to submit to Jesus authority. Not then. Not now.

• What authorities does Jesus have
• These guys want to question authority when they have no grounds. He evades. He IS
• Authority as Creator and the WORD– John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Authority as the first and the last- Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
• Authority as sustainer– Colossians 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
• Authority over Nature– Matt 8: 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm
• Authority to Judge John 5:27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
• Authority over time– John 2:7  Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
• Authority over animals- Matt 17:27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
• Authority over Sickness Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, take up your mat and walk
• Authority over death– John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

• Authority over demons- Matt 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you
• Authority over the Sabbath– Matt 12: 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
• Authority over Angels- Matt 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
• Authority over the law of moses and the Old Covenant– Hebrews 8: 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
• Authority to forgive sin Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
• Authority over the Church– Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
• Authority over man- 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
• Authority over everything Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Heb 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
• What does it mean to you?
• You must submit to the authority of Jesus in your life!
• Authority over man- 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
• If Christ is the authority over your life- that means that he has the ultimate authority over everything that you are

• Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
• This means that Christ controls every last ounce of who you are. You die to yourself and you relinquish every last part of who you are and do what he wants you to do
• What you think– Phil 4:8 if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
• What you speak Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
• How you live Romans 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
• What you wear 1tim 2:9 that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
• What you do with your money 1 Cor16:2 let each one of you lay something aside,
• What your job is Col 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
• How you are in marriage Col 3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
• How you raise your kids Deut 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children
• Where you live Acts 1:8 you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
• What your hobbies are 1 Cor 10:31 whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
• What you listen to, what you watch, who you hang out, how you deal with your family, where you spend your free time, your organizational affiliations, and how you conduct life

• EVERYTHING- there is nothing- not one part of your life not under the authority of Jesus!
• Every decision you make is submitted to higher to ensure that you are within compliance
• There is no part of your life that is not subject
• This idea that you can be a Christian, disconnected from God, his church, his people is not scriptural at all
• You don’t get to come to church, listen and hear and then go and live however the hell you want
• Police, fire, military, teachers, politicians, corporate people, they are all subject to a code of conduct that they must hold up to in or out of work
• But for some reason people don’t think that applies to them as Christians- that they can live outside of the authority of Christ in their life.
• This is the hardest part of being a Christian who is submitted around other people who aren’t

The authority of the church

• This authority of Jesus passes off to the church because we are HIS body We are HIS
• People nowadays look at the church like a YMCA, a gym, a place of employment or a club
• Merely a place to attend until it loses its luster, or it becomes bothersome
• In their minds, the church exists to serve them. The music, the preaching, the programs.
• The church to them isn’t a holy institution, its merely a place where people go on Sunday
• What you are a part of is the plan of salvation for the world- we are a holy organism
• The church has HUGE spiritual authority! If you have submitted as a member- you’re under it!
• The keys of the kingdom Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven
• Power to build the church– Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

• Spiritual Authority Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
• Leadership Authority Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
• Assembly Authority Matthew 18: 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
• Authority as the pillar of truth- 1 Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
• To Judge those inside the church- 1 Cor 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
• Authority to reject fellowship 2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
• Authority to forgive 2 cor 2:7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

• Authority to tell people how to live– 1 cor 6: 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
• Authority to tell them how to run their marriage Ephesians 5: 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
• What does it mean to you?
• Firstly, you must submit to the authority of Jesus in your life- That’s the foundation. If you’re not submitted to Jesus you can’t be submitted to your church
• One- you must submit to the brethren of the church. The bulk of the NT scriptures are written to the people INSIDE the church. How we love. How we forgive. How we interact
• We must submit to one another- Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
• We most love one another- 1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
• We must forgive one another– eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
• Two- You must submit to the authority of the church
• Unless we’re telling you to do something outright against the bible- you need to submit to the authority. Its biblical. It may be countercultural, but its biblical
• Typically I’m demanding people to love, forgive, serve, give, and fellowship. Really destructive things. Trying to destroy their lives from the inside out

• Three- You must defend the church
• Our church is not perfect, no church is, but by God, this is the pillar of truth! This is the city on a hill! This is the shining example of what God can do with some believers!
• Don’t ever complain to someone inside or outside the church. I don’t share my church issues with anyone who isn’t a blood bought believer who loves the church
• If you don’t have a church, a pastor, and a abiding walk with Christ, keep the church out your mouth
• Four- you must maintain the unity of the church and maintain her until Christ’s return
• Ephesians 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
• We are waiting for Christs return! We must maintain his church until his return.
• Whenever we gather, worship, listen to the word, disciple, serve, give and love we are maintaining the church for Jesus until his return
• People say- ‘what is the church doing’ and the church is BEING. Our existence is the number one goal that we accomplish until Christs return! The Authority of the Believer
• First off, the believer is UNDER authority not possessing authority. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 10:17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

• Your Authority
• To be called children of God– John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
• To approach the throne of Grace- Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• To have authority over demons and diseases- Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
• TO preach the kingdom and heal the sick Luke9: 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
• To do even greater works John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
• To have power over the enemy Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

• What does it mean to you?
• You have authority as a believer in Jesus Christ! Walk in it!
• You are the head and not the tail! Deut 28:13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath,
• You should be preaching the gospel to the unsaved- its your authority to preach righteousness!
• You should be praying for sick people believing that they will get well!
• You should be praying against the devil and his demons to bring down his strong holds
• You should be walking in the authority that has been bestowed upon you as a believer
• We are humbly submitted to the will of God in our lives and live for him, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t walk in the authority that has been given us
• I’m a child of the king! The creator of the world calls me friend! I’m set for glory!
• I can boldly approach the throne of Grace! I’m allowed to go to God about anything!
• That means we don’t have to be shy or worried or concerned about coming to God about anything!
• My son- its funny- when the church was much smaller- I would be in the middle of my sermon- he or faith, would walk up to the front in the middle of the sermon and ask me. IM DAD!