3) What is our authority based upon?
? The Finished work of the cross – the blood is the symbol
Col 2:15; 2 Cor 2:14, 1 Cor 15:55-57; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14,15
? The Position we now have in Christ
Eph 2:4-7; Romans 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9; Rev 5:10
? The mandate Jesus has given us
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18
? The Holy Spirit’s anointing – the Empowering to support the authority
Acts 1:8; 1 John 2:27; Psalm 89:19-29, Philippians 4:13.
? The Name of Jesus
Acts 3:6; John 14:14
? The Word of God – authority of scripture
Heb 4:12; Isaiah 55:11
E.g. James 4:7 – “I can resist the devil and he will flee from me!”
Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”
4) What is the motivation and nature of a Kingdom Agent?
Our Motivation:
- Love & Compassion – compels us to action not sympathy!
- Bless and Serve – to get involved
- To Glorify the Father – anything we do is for His glory – not our own!
These motivations will propel us into Prayer and Action bringing a commitment to see peoples lives and communities changed around us!
Nature of a Kingdom Agent:
- Jesus Like. Self has got to die, not arrogant or proud or self-promoting.
Servant-hood, Self sacrifice, laying down one’s life
- Recognises that we are apart of a team and need the wider body of Christ.
- It respects earthly authority structures
- Faithfilled – conviction that God can do it
- Hope – certainty that God is going to do it
- Quieted confidence about who we are and what we are about
5) In what spheres do we have authority?
In what places do you have influence?
As individual believers knowing the sphere of where God has given us a right to operate is really important:
? Your own life – over our own selfish-nature, attitudes, reactions, decisions
? Your own family – over your children – to pray to see the works of the enemy
? Within the church – where has God called me to serve?
? Where we work and live, neighbourhood – ‘here on earth’
? Your city, country,
? The Nations
Application:
? Mapping your spheres of influence:
Write or symbolise on paper:
a) Where and for what/whom to I have responsibility?
b) Among whom and where do I influence?
c) What wider issues, places and spheres do I not have direct connection with or responsibility for, but want to see God’s kingdom come?
- In each of these aspects am I being a good kingdom agent?
- Am I seeing God’s rightouess, peace and joy there? (e.g. be it a classroom, project, Thesis, home, in the team I am responsible for)
- What effect and impact am I having on these areas?
- How could I see the kingdom come in these spheres if not already?
? Proverbs says that it is easier for a man to rule a city than it is his own spirit.
If the primary sphere of exercising our authority in Christ is our own lives – how is it going? What one issue or ‘rebellious faction’, fear, attitude, struggles are you facing in yourself at the moment?
How does this teaching help you in this?
Look for one action point out of each of these this week.
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