Do we have same Authority as Disciples?

The Authority Of A Believer
By Byron Register

I. Where Does Authority Come From:

God is the ultimate source and possessor of all authority. Some authority God reserves exclusively for Himself.

(Acts 1:7 KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

The disciples wanted to know when Jesus was going to restore the Kingdom of Israel but Jesus told them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power [authority]."

A. Not even the angels know of the time.

(Matthew 24:36 KJV) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

This shows that it is fruitless for us to try to guess when the end times are going to be because only the Father in heaven knows.

B. God has the authority to kill the body.

(Luke 12:5 KJV) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

After someone has died who is not a believer, God has the authority to cast that person's soul into hell. Jesus then told them, "I say unto you, Fear him." This word "fear" comes from the Greek word "phobeo" meaning to; to cause to run away, terrify, frighten.

C. Paul likens God's authority to that of a potter over his clay.

(Romans 9:21 KJV) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Does God make vessels that are honorable and then some that are dishonorable? The scriptures tells us that all things that God has made are good and perfect.

(Proverbs 16:4 KJV) The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

(Jeremiah 18:6 KJV) O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

God asks the house of Israel, "cannot I do with you as this potter?" God goes on to tell them that the clay is in the potter's hand and Israel is like the clay that is in the potter's hand.

(Jeremiah 18:7 KJV) At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;



(Jeremiah 18:8 KJV) If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

God says "if the nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil," so here God gives the nation a choice. If they choose to turn or repent then God says, "I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them."

(Jeremiah 18:9 KJV) And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

(Jeremiah 18:10 KJV) If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

God says in this scripture if this nation continues to do evil in His sight and not obey His voice, then God will repent or change His mind of the good that He was going to do for them.



(Jeremiah 18:11 KJV) Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

Just as the clay is in the potter's hand is submissive to the potter we must be submissive to God's hand. If we choose to do evil in God's sight then He will change His mind of the blessings He was planning on giving us. God does not make things for use of evil but He has created all things and some of His things, people, choose to do evil and not follow the things of God. We are under God's authority He has the right to do unto us as He wills. If we do evil He has the authority to bring condemnation upon us, if it is to kill our body and throw our soul into hell or bring condemnation upon a nation.

II. As God, Jesus also distributes authority to whomever He pleases.

(Matthew 10:1 KJV) And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

We see here where Jesus gives authority to His twelve disciples, notice also that Jesus calls them disciples not apostles because this authority was for all of His disciples. All of Christ's disciples are supposed to be apostles and by this I mean we are all to be sent out with a commission that is the definition of apostle.

Jesus gave them this authority to battle against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and diseases. But Luke gives us more information:

(Luke 9:1 KJV) Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.



(Luke 9:2 KJV) And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke tells us that He gave them power and authority to not only cast out demons and to heal the sick but also to preach the kingdom of God. Now we will bring this into modern times, we as Christians today know that we have authority over demons, because the greater One lives in us, and we know that we also preach the kingdom of God with authority, so why do we now believe that we no longer have the authority to heal the sick? Because it is not our own authority but the delegated authority given to us by Jesus Christ as His disciples.

(John 1:12 KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

But as many as received him, to them gave he authority to become the sons of God. We know it is not the authority or right that makes us the sons of God but it is the Holy Spirit that qualifies us to be a son of God. So this authority that we receive is the Holy Spirit because He is the authority.

(Luke 10:1 KJV) After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Jesus appointed or commissioned another seventy also but did He give them this authority to heal and cast out demons?

(Luke 10:9 KJV) And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Notice that when the seventy went out to heal the sick Jesus told them to say, "The kingdom of God is come night unto you." Meaning that the kingdom is come near upon you. Jesus wasn't there with them when they were healing the sick people but He still wanted them to say that the kingdom of God is near upon them. Because when the seventy was using their delegated authority it was the Holy Spirit and it was the Holy Spirit that was coming upon them to do the work of the kingdom of God.

Jesus was introducing the kingdom of God but it was the Holy Spirit whom brought it in.

(Acts 5:12 KJV) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

The word "by" is the Greek word "dia" which means through, so it could be translated, "And through the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;" It is the Holy Spirit inside us who works through us when we exercise our authority that has been giving to us.

That is why we are told to lay hands on the sick that is in the church, which is the body of Christ, because it is not our own authority but the authority of the Holy Spirit that will work through our hands when we exercise this authority by faith.

My name is Byron Register I am a preacher or the Gospel and love to teach the Bible.

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