SPIRITUAL WARFARE 2.2

AUTHORITY AND CHARACTER – SECTION 2-2:

Question:
God has all authority in heaven and earth,
so why would He share it?

1. God shares His authority
   for the edification (building up) of others.
   Note:
       “Edifying” is to instruct or improve spiritually.

   (2 Corinthians 13:10)
   – Paul assumed that a primary use of authority
     is for the building up of others.
         – (2 Corinthians 13:2)
           Sometimes that meant he confronted sin.

        – (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7; Philemon 1:8-9)
          Sometimes that meant he was gentle.

   (Mark 9) – Look at how Jesus used His authority.
   – When He returned from the Mount of Transfiguration,
     He found a crowd in chaos.

   – The disciples couldn’t cast out the demon from a boy.
     Note:
         Their authority was not in line with God’s Will.
         He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
         (Mark 9:29)

   – The crowd ran to Jesus; the father cried out for help.

   – “Bring the boy to me”
     …when Jesus made this statement, He was
        announcing His intention to do battle with Satan.

   – When the demon saw Jesus,
     it had a violent reaction in His presence.

   – The demon threw the boy into a convulsion and he
     was wallowing on the ground and foaming at the mouth.
     Question:
     If you were Jesus and you had just announced you were
     going to take care of the situation, what would you do?
         – Would you use your authority
           to cast out the demon immediately?

   – Jesus left the boy alone
     and started a conversation with the father.
     Question:
     Why would He delay dealing with the demon?
         – The father’s response
           gives us an indication of the motive of Jesus.

   – When the father begged Jesus to take pity on them,
     (“if He could”), Jesus responded by talking about faith.
     Note:
         Jesus must have known there was
         a faith problem that needed to be addressed.

   – When the father asked to be helped
     with his ‘unbelief’, then Jesus cast out the demon.
     Note:
         Jesus had the authority and He wanted to cast out
         the demon, but He delayed because He knew the
         father’s greatest need was faith.
         As a result, Jesus chose to delay in order to edify
         the father by casting out his unbelief.

2. God shares His authority
    for the advancement of His kingdom.

    – Jesus delayed His ministry until He was 30 years old.
      Question:
      Why?
          – (Luke 4:18-19)
            He honored His Father’s timing
             …“the year of the Lord’s favor”.
             (Jesus never lost sight of the purpose of authority).
            When His Father was ready, He could use His authority
            to perform miracles and cast out demons.
            The Father gave His Son authority when it was
            time to call Israel back to Himself.

    – (Matthew 28:18-19)
      In essence, Jesus shared His authority with the disciples
      in order for them to proclaim the good news.

    – (Acts 8:4-8)
      Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, performed
      miracles, and evil spirits left with a loud voice.
      As a result, people paid close attention to what he said.

    – (Acts 16:18-34)
      Paul cast out a spirit.
      This caused Paul and Silas to be thrown into jail.
      God sent an earthquake and, as a result of their release,
      the jailer’s entire family was converted.

    – (Acts 19:11-20)
      God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul,
      including driving out evil spirits.
      Some non-believers tried to exorcise a demon in the
      name of Jesus; however the demon beat them up.
      As a result, the name of Jesus was held in high honor,
      and new believers confessed their sins publicly;
      they also burned witchcraft books.
      The Word of God spread widely and grew in power.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE 7 (launch date of the 20 Days in 2 Hours Challenge)