Over the last number of weeks, I have been looking at something called the Great Exchange. The Great Exchange represents a transaction that took place through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. As a result of the New Covenant ushered in by Jesus, our Lord, there are specific weaknesses that Jesus took upon Himself in exchange for His strengths He has made available to us. The exchange is characteristic of covenants. The more powerful one exchanges gifts with the weaker one. Show More
Just as a review, let’s look at what is made available to us:
- (Post 80) Jesus took our sin and gave us forgiveness; (2 Cor 5:20-21).
- (Post 81) Jesus took our death that we might have His life; (Rom 5:10).
- (Post 82) Jesus experienced Hell that we might experience Heaven; (Eph 4:9, 10).
- (Post 83) Jesus took our lost and homeless condition and gave us an eternal home; (John 14:2).
- (Post 84 and 85) Jesus took our weakness and gave us strength or power; (Acts 1:8; Eph 3:14-16).
Authority for Weakness
Today we will look at the fact that Jesus took our lack of authority and gave us His authority; “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). (Note: Serpents and scorpions are symbolic of demonic forces.)
Authority
What does it mean that Jesus has given us authority? The word authority in this verse is the Greek word “Exousia.” Both Dynamis and Exousia are translated as power in the New Testament. Dynamis, as you know from our last post, is explosive miracle-working power, which is made available through His Holy Spirit (Acts:1:9). Exousia is a power that also comes from God and is supernatural boldness or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
As Believers, we have the authority to act as a representative of Jesus Christ. We are ambassadors of Jesus; therefore, we operate on His behalf (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are empowered to be ambassadors for Christ because we are citizens of Heaven, and the Kingdom of God is in us (Philippians 3:20). In a natural sense, ambassadors represent their countries and speak for their President, King, or Ruler. In the same spiritual sense, we speak for our King- King Jesus!
Authority and Boldness.
Knowing we have His authority gives us boldness! There is a strong correlation between being filled with the Holy Spirit and courage! Now, remember being filled means to be influenced or controlled by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 states that we are “… not to be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”. Just as too much wine can cause boldness, being filled with the Holy Spirit produces boldness to represent God. This idea of being committed to represent God reminds me of an old story I heard called “Moody’s Monopoly.”
A committee of ministers in a certain city was discussing the possibility of having D.L. Moody, the famous 19th-century evangelist, to serve as the evangelist during a city-wide evangelistic campaign.
Finally, one young minister who did not want to invite Moody stood up and said: “why Moody? Does he have a monopoly of the Holy Spirit?”
There was silence. Then an old, godly minister spoke up: “No, he does not have a monopoly of the Holy Spirit; but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly of D.L. Moody.”
Do you see it? Moody was submitted and yielded to the Holy Spirit; He was Baptized in the Holy Spirit! He was a true ambassador of Christ because he knew that he was a citizen of Heaven. The true meaning of Spiritual Authority is to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God!
Boldness
In Acts 3, you may recall that Peter and John healed, in the name of Jesus, a lame man by the gate beautiful. Then in Acts 4, we see that this miracle created quite a stir. Leading many to believe in Jesus and others to resist Him. The priests, captain of the temple, and Sadducees came upon Peter and John, and they were disturbed that they “taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
As a result of their teaching, they were thrown in jail. “5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
In the face of such intimidating leaders, Peter verse 8 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them.” In plain language, Peter surrendered to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and spoke with authority. He didn’t worry about what man would say or do; he only cared about obeying the Holy Spirit. This act would be seen as boldness or authority by others. In verse 13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
The religious leaders tried to figure out what to do with Peter and John and finally decided to command them (18) them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” That is all we are called to do, be a witness to Jesus. In other words, speak what you have heard, seen, or know in the Spirit.
Prayer for Boldness
It isn’t easy being a Christian who is not ashamed of their faith. There will be times when we are challenged and tested. When we face these kinds of difficulties, we are to stir up the Holy Spirit in us. Remembering the words of Peter found in verse 29, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Here is the conclusion which each of us must face, “Do you have the Holy Spirit, or does the Holy Spirit have you?”
Finally, keep your focus on what is essential!
In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus sent out 70 followers with instructions. In particular to heal the sick in body, soul and Spirit. Luke 10:17 “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy (sickness, disease, fear, and depression), and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.”
Pray for Boldness that comes from understanding your Authority from Heaven!
