.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

UNDER AUTHORITY

By Pastor Kevin Badgley

06/11/06 a.m.

            Matthew 8:5‑10 says, “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” 

            Matthew 8:13 says, “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

            The centurion saw that Jesus was a man under authority, and consequently he knew that he had authority because of it. You have no authority unless you are subject to authority. If you are rebellious and constantly kick against authority, you will have no authority when it is time to take authority. If we don’t submit ourselves to God, the devil does not have to flee from us.

            Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

            Palsy, sickness, and torment is the work of the devil.  You need to address that power with a greater authority.  When the strong man (which is the enemy working against humanity) is armed he keeps his goods.  He’s in authority, but when a stronger than he comes along, he will be spoiled.  The stronger one will bind him, and he is overcome by the higher authority.  (See Matthew 12:28-29.)

            Man was created under the authority of Almighty God, and God walked with him.  One of the first things God said to man was that man had dominion over the earth.  Man is supposed to have full authority over everything in this realm.  Man preferred fruit from the forbidden tree and gave up that authority.  That was not a good trade.  We suffered the consequences, but thank God for Jesus who came in the authority of God Almighty! 

            The one you yield to is your master.  If we yield ourselves over to Jesus, we can come under His authority and obtain His authority.  John 14:12 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

            The centurion saw something in Jesus he’d never seen in another man, but he realized they had something in common, authority.  If you are under authority you will automatically have authority.  (See Matthew 8:9.)

            Jesus restored the power that God originally gave man over all things in this realm, even the storm, winds and waves.  Luke 10:19 says that He gave us power over all the power of the enemy.  Jesus talked to inanimate things and got them corrected if they were out of the will of God.  That’s amazing, and now we have by the Holy Ghost the gift of miracles that we can operate in. 

            The centurion knew his authority was limited but the authority of Jesus had no limit, and he asked Jesus to speak the word only and his servant would be healed!  Jesus marvelled at him, and said He had not found such great faith - in Israel!

            Faith pleases God.  When a person is willing to come under His authority in every day life, they will have authority from God for every need.  Luke 12:32 says, “. . . it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”   It pleases God to watch man use the authority He gave him to cast out devils, heal the sick, and have victory over every thing ungodly.  Get on your knees and get a hold of God.  Let Him fill you with the Holy Ghost, and then yield to Him until He sends the victory.

            Our nation is at war for its very soul.  When we start getting out from under the authority of God we start to lose our authority!  In spite of presidents, generals, and others in authority in our land who have been ungodly, God has shed His grace on us and given us victory in battle to protect the people that do serve Him.  His mercy is because of the submission of the saints to the authority of God and for absolutely no other reason.

            If you come out from under the authority of God, you automatically go under the authority of the devil.  Matthew 18:11 says, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”  Jesus came to save that which was lost.  He came to save sinners, and He sent the power of the Holy Ghost that we might walk upright before God.  God wants to restore the authority He gave us at the beginning. 

            People want to be their own authority!  Let God deal with you about any rebellion in your heart.  Sometimes we don’t willfully resist God, but we neglect him.  Seek His face and say, Lord, forgive me where I’ve not yielded.  Forgive me where I’ve wasted time, and forgive me where I’m not given my all to you.  Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.  God still answers prayer! 

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