Who has the authority today? What is to be done with this authority? What is the definition of the word authority?
Authority is the power or right to give orders, to make decisions and enforce obedience, to control the administrative sphere of influence.
Jesus Christ showed that he had the authority of the air under his influence.
Mark 2:10-11… But in order for YOU men to know that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins upon the earth,”—he said to the paralytic: “I say to you, get up, pick up your cot, and go to your home.”
Jesus Christ showed he had the authority from God to do the work that he was doing. Who else had that kind of authority?
Matthew 16:18-19… Also, I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock-mass I will build my congregation, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you may bind (G1210) on earth will be the thing bound in the heavens, and whatever you may loose (G3089) on earth will be the thing loosed in the heavens.
Strong’s concordance #G1210 Deo means to declare, prohibited what is unlawful. Where the Greek word #G3089 Luo means to release and or dissolve.
What are the keys of the kingdom? Keys are a symbol of authority so when Jesus said, Peter was to have the keys he was in fact saying that Peter had rightful authority to act on behalf of the kingdom. Yes, Jesus gave Peter the right to exercise kingdom authority and apply rules of law upon the earth. Peter was even given this authority before Jesus sat down at the right hand of God. What other authority was given and to whom?
John 20:21-23… Jesus, therefore, said to them again: “May YOU have peace. Just as the Father has sent me forth, (G649) I also am sending YOU.” And after he said this, he blew upon them and said to them: “Receive holy spirit. If YOU forgive (G863) the sins of any persons, they stand forgiven to them; if YOU retain those of any persons, they stand retained.
Again, turning to Strong’s concordance #G649 “Apostello”, means a commission, messenger, or Apostle. And the Greek word #G863 “Aphiemi”, means to send away or release, to forgive.
Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to whom he sent forth in his name and they became his Apostles, those who he sent forth in his name to work for the kingdom of God.
John 14:12-14… Most truly I say to YOU, He that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father. Also, whatever it is that YOU ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. If YOU ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Jesus forgave people, healed, expelled demons, and raised the dead, so what could be a greater work than that? What are these greater works that will glorify our Father in heaven?
Have we seen any of these greater works performed as of today? Did the Apostles do greater works then Jesus? Are we going to see these greater works in the future?
If so, then first, these greater works would have to happen in the name of the son of God. Second, you would need to be sent forth by Jesus as a kingdom representative.
Third, you will need to have received the holy spirit from above. Fourth you need to exercise faith in Jesus that he will answer you.
How will we know who these people are that would do greater works than Jesus? You will know them by their works and their fruits. Titus 1:16
You Will Know Them!
How do you know if something is good or bad for you? What would you used to examine with?
We use sight smell and taste to determine if something is good or bad to eat. We may watch the animals to see if they will eat such a food. But what about if something is good or bad for you in a spiritual way? How do you know that the person claiming to be from God is good or bad for you?
Jesus identified a way we could tell what is good and bad for us, he calls it the fruit.
Matthew 7:16-23… By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? 17 Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; 18 a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. 19 Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men]. 21 “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.
What is this fruitage that Jesus was speaking about? And what is the will of the true God?
The will of God has the backing of the Holy Spirit and it brings about a righteousness that is seen by all, and noticeable by all.
The meaning of the word fruitage? Basically, it means the condition or process of what is done, it accomplishes in the name of God or of his Christ with the backing of the Holy Spirit. We have an example of this found at Galatians, this is what the Holy Spirit produces in us that all should see.
Galatians 5:22-26… On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit. 26 Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.
Holy Spirit does not produce envy. It is not egotistical, nor does it stir up competition between brothers as in dividing one from another like slander does.
The Holy Spirit allows you to put to death the works of the flesh in your body. What is seen is by onlookers, it is a display of mildness, someone who has self-control, a person who has strong faith, works of goodness in their character, is kind to all, a person who is long-suffering, has love, joy and peace in their life even in the face of adversity. Can you identify these things in the people around you? Or has their love grown cold, have they started to avoid even you?
Who has the authority of God today?
There is a showdown that is coming and the ones who have the authority from God will be made manifest. Romans 13:1-2
No longer will it be the existing or instituted authority: no, but Shiloh will come he who has the God-given authority.
What was used in the past as signs of this God given authority?
Signs of Authority
What are some of the signs of authority that were used in the past for God’s people? The Staff, Rod, or Scepter was used as the sign for the leader of God.
Genesis 49:10… The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong.
Moses was also given a staff or rod to perform miracles for God’s people so people would identify him as the deliver. Exodus 4:17
Keys were used to indicate Power & Authority as in the case of a Eliakim.
Isaiah 22:20-23… And it must occur in that day that I will call my servant, namely, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. 21 And I will clothe him with your robe, and your sash I shall firmly bind about him, and your dominion I shall give into his hand; and he must become a father to the inhabitant of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will put the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he must open without anyone’s shutting, and he must shut without anyone’s opening. 23 And I will drive him in as a peg in a lasting place, and he must become as a throne of glory to the house of his father.
Christ Jesus has the key of David to open and shut – Revelation 3:7-8.
The angel of God used a key to open the abyss – Revelation 20:1-3.
A ring was worn by nobility or an influencer of the king, someone at the right hand to the king. A Ring was used to confirm seal or authenticate.
Haggai 2:23… ‘In that day,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies, ‘I shall take you, O Zerubbabel (seed of Babel) the son of Shealtiel (asked of God), my servant,’ is the utterance of Jehovah; ‘and I shall certainly set you as a seal ring, because you are the one whom I have chosen,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.
Joseph was given the ring off Pharaoh’s hand that’s found at Genesis 49:42-44.
Mordechai was given the ring off the hand of the king of Persia at Esther 8:8.
The prodigal son was given a ring to put upon his hand, to signal that he was accepted back as being part of this family here at Luke 15:22.
Wearing a sleeveless coat as an indicator of someone being righteous, royal or in the priesthood. Isaiah 59:17, Isaiah 61:10.
Receiving Holy Spirit as in what happened in Acts 8:14-17.
Given Authority or Power as sent forth by Jesus, review Matthew 10:1-5, then Luke 10:19-20 and Acts 26:16-18.
Having your name changed was a sign of favor, read Genesis 17:5 and John 1:42.
Has anything like this ever happen to you? Then you maybe someone who has been chosen to help sing forth the kingdom message.
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Updated 11/27/22