“ IN CHRIST ”-Part 2
Once you are alive in Christ, you are seated with Him in the heavenly places.
1. Our focus determines our values.
Resist the “Western Mindset” and develop a kingdom mindset.
2. We deserve to be free.
- Know who you are in Christ Jesus. Jesus meets our need for identity, life, acceptance, security, and significance. II Peter 1:4; Eph. 5:8, II Cor. 5:17
3. We can win the battle for our minds.II Cor. 10:3-5
- What we have learned must be unlearned to serve Christ. We are new creations in Christ; we still battle the world, the flesh, and the devil.
POINT: There are many problems that we face that are not physical or emotional but spiritual. God wants us to understand the spiritual power and authority that we have in Christ over the kingdom of darkness.
1. CONFRONTING THE REBEL SATAN. Luke 9:1-2
Jesus knew when His disciples began preaching the kingdom of God; there would be demonic opposition. So He gave them power over the kingdom of darkness and even demons.
A. Carrying Jesus’ badge of authority. Luke 10:17
The disciples were astonished at the victory they experienced. Luke 10:19-20
- Don’t rejoice that in the name of Jesus you have authority over demons. Don’t be demon centered, be Christ-centered. Don’t be concerned about the enemy and your authority over him: BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, and don’t let the devil set the agenda.
- We have spiritual power and authority apart from our position in Christ.
Who we are must take precedence over what we do. We cannot accomplish anything apart from Christ.
B. The Right and the Ability to Rule
- AUTHORITY is the right to rule; it is based on a legal position. (Rom. 13:1-5; Matt. 28:18-19)
- POWER is the ability to rule.
Believers have both the authority to do God’s will because of their position in Christ, and the power to do God’s will, as long as we walk in the Spirit. Eph. 6:10; Acts 19
C. Pulling Rank
The disciples said: “The demons are subject to us in your name.” Luke 10:17 “Subject=”Hupotasso.
Military term meaning to arrange under. A military term with soldiers snapping to attention.
(Rom. 13:1) The 70 came back with a new perspective. Spiritual authority is not a tug of war on a
horizontal plane; it is a vertical chain of command. We are under His authority.
Q-Why does the kingdom of darkness exert such a negative influence in the world and in the lives of Christians? Satan has deceived the whole world, and the world lies in the power of the evil one. (Col. 2:15).
2. THE RICHES OF OUR INHERITANCE IN CHRIST.
We may have an even greater advantage than the first disciples did. They were with Christ, but we
are in Christ. (Mark 3:14,15) Eph. 1:3-4,6-7, 9-13
- Paul said 10x’s in 13 verses that we are in Christ. Everything we have is a result of our intimate personal relationship with the resurrected Christ and His indwelling Spirit. 1:18-20
A. The Depth and Breath of Authority.
The resurrection of Christ is the greatest power recorded in the word of God. The same power that raised Christ from the dead and defeated satan is the power available to us as believers.
- Paul wants us to open our eyes to the expansive scope of Christ’s authority, which is far above all rule, all authority, and power, and dominion. (Eph. 1:21)
- Jesus’ authority is not only above all human and spiritual authorities past, present and future, but he is FAR above them.
B. Authority placed on us.
Christ’s authority has been placed upon “us who believe”. Eph 1:19
- When Jesus’ was raised from the dead (Eph. 1:20), those of us who have believed in Him were also resurrected from the condition of spiritual death and making us “alive” together with Christ.
- The resurrection of Jesus from the dead and our resurrection from spiritual death happened simultaneously. WE WERE RAISED TOGETHER! Col. 2:10; Col. 2:15; Eph. 3:8-12
C. Qualified for Kingdom work.
- Belief. “His power to us who believe.” Eph. 1:19
- Humility. Humility is confidence placed. Phil. 3:3; John 15:5
- Boldness. A spirit-filled Christian is strong and courageous. Joshua 1:6,7,9,18
- Dependence. Our authority is based on who I am in Christ. Eph. 5:21