Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Authority of the Church

The Church has authority in Jesus Name
1. In doctrine - To preach the Gospel and uphold the truth of God (Matt.28:18-20; 1Tim.3:15)
2. On earth and in heaven - to bind and to loose (Matt.18:18)
3. Over diseases and death - To heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead (Matt.10:8)
4. Over demons  (serpents and scorpions) - To tread over them and to cast them out (Luke10:19)
5. Over nature and situations (mountains, trees, creatures) (Mark 11:23; Matt.21:20; Mark 16:18)
6. To pray and receive (John 15:16; 16:24,26)
   a. To pray for the people of God for their protection and for spiritual victories (Eph.6:18; 2Thess.3:1; Heb.13:18)
    b. To pray for all men (1Tim.2:1)
    c. To pray for political rulers and change political history (1Tim.2:2)
    d. To pray to receive what they need from God's resources provided for them
7. To forgive or retain sins of people against them (John 20:23)
8. To rule and appoint and serve each other in submission, love, and humility (Matt.20:25,26; Tit.1:5)
9. For discipline in the Church (1Cor.5:4,5,11; 4:21)
10. For the execution of God-given responsibilities in the world (Mark 13:34)
11. God-given authority in the Church must be honored (Heb.13:7,17; Jude 1:8)
12. Church authority is pastoral, servant-minded, and ruled by love (1Pet.5:2,3,4).

God will entrust more authority in the age to come to the one who is faithful to fruitfully use all the authority given to him/her here on earth today (Luke 19:17)


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