War, Power and Authority

 

This message was preached by Mike, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 War, power and authority 

 

Add another goal - send people to another nation to bless the nations.

 

Yesterday I spoke about being leaders who are humble and servant-hearted. But today I want to speak about us being leaders who are full of power! The church is called to be a people of power.

 John Wimber’s experience of the church. Re-reading John Wimber’s “Power  Evangelism” I realize that there is so much to re-learn. We can talk about battle, teach about it but never do it Is that our churches now? We don’t just want to talk about the things of God. We want to be the army that advances the gospel. We need to walk in step with the spirit. We can still have plans, but the plans also must be in step with the spirit. As leaders, we need to be people who know God’s power and authority.

.  Ephesians 3:10-21   These are amazing verses.  “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:11-21 ESV

 What are these Glorious Riches Paul talks about? It is unimaginable what these glorious riches are. But he prays for us that we may be filled with these riches by power. Nothing is beyond his reach. And he gives us power by his Holy Spirit. All power belongs to God. Psalm 62:11 – God rules and runs everything. Nothing is beyond His reach. We should be a people that proclaim His kingdom come. The Greek word for Kingdom is Baselia – kingship or royal rule.

 Jesus’ entire ministry was about declaring the kingdom has come. He preached that the kingdom has come and He preached repentance. He demonstrated kingdom rule. Today we need to do this by the Holy Spirits' power.

 

We fight on 3 fronts

 Internally against the flesh- temptation and sin

1. Against the world - we need to overcome the world's patterns of thinking.
2. Against Satan and his demons - satan comes to kill steal and destroy. John 10:10 We must not mistake his intentions.

 

Some of these battles can be subtle and undercover. But more and more we need to see the demonstration of God's power. We need a visible and practical demonstration that Jesus is more powerful than the worshipped idols.

 

There is an important part of stepping out in God's power is understanding authority. If our lives are truly submitted to God, then our lives should only make sense because of God- otherwise, we are no different from the world. Our lives must be fully submitted to God. Then we are submitted to those around us. There is a right to submission to each other that is not controlling or manipulating, but releases people. We’re accountable to one another.

Matt5:8-9 The Centurion understood power and authority. We do not want to be lone leaders but be under authority. If our lives are truly submitted to god then our lives are defined by God.

And we are submitted to those in our church. There is a right to submission to one another that is not controlling or manipulating- in this we will know God’s power. We need to be accountable to each other.

 

 The power we have Christ’s church:

1. Power to love. Eph3. The agape love is what we need to have for each other. The love of God brings breakthroughs. So we do works among the poor to show God’s love and allow His power to flow through us.
2. The power to hope: Romans 15:13 - may the God of hope fill you with all joy … church should be overflowing with hope and joy because of the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural and attractive.
3. The power to sacrifice: Paul tells us that God's power is made perfect in weakness. The holy spirit takes that and turns it into an incredible strength. When we are weak then we are strong.
4. The power to endure great difficulties
5. The power to perform miracles signs and wonders.
6. The power to grow in spiritual gifts. Allow the gifts to flow in your church – not just on Sundays but whenever you meet. Tongues are often overlooked.
7. The power to make known God's manifold wisdom
8. The power for unity. The Holy Spirit binds us together. The Holy Spirit does not just help us to agree with each other but binds us together. The unity that the Holy Spirit brings is so much bigger.
9. The power and authority to preach the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20. 1 Thessalonians - gospel coming not just with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
10. The power and authority to dispel the demonic. The demonic is no match for God's power.
11. Power in prayer to change situations: as we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, things change.