Transformative Faith: Authority and Liberation in Christ
Summary
In today's sermon, I emphasized the transformative power of faith and the authority given to us by Jesus to bring about change in our lives, our communities, and our nation. I began by expressing a vision for New Zealand, a country that has the potential to be a prototype for nations radically transformed by the will of God being loosed on earth. I shared the story of our church's growth, which started not with resources but with a declaration of faith and obedience to God's direction.
I then connected this to the theme of the year, "the one," focusing on the individuals God places in our lives for us to reach out to with His love and the gospel. I recounted the story of Jesus needing a colt for His entry into Jerusalem, highlighting that just as Jesus had a specific colt in mind, there are specific individuals God has prepared for us to reach. I encouraged the congregation to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance to find and free these "colts" from whatever binds them.
I shared a personal testimony about my son, who struggled with addiction but was set free and transformed by the power of prayer and the declaration of God's word over his life. This led to a broader call to fight for our families, to declare God's promises over them, and to stand in faith for their salvation and freedom.
I also spoke about the authority we have in Jesus' name to loose and bind, to set free and to establish God's kingdom on earth. I declared a revival in Auckland and prophesied a season of harvest for our church and the nation.
I concluded by inviting those who have not received Jesus or who have strayed from Him to come back to His love and forgiveness. I led the congregation in a prayer of salvation and commitment to follow Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- The power of declaration and prophecy in the kingdom of God is not just a spiritual concept but a practical tool that every believer can use to bring about God's will on earth. As we speak God's word over our situations, we partner with Him in the creative process, shaping our reality to align with His promises. This is not about denying the existence of problems but about choosing to focus on and activate the solutions that God has already provided. [01:02:47]
- The story of Jesus and the colt teaches us that God has specific assignments and divine appointments for us. When we walk in obedience and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, we will encounter the "colts" in our lives—people who are ready to be set free and brought into the kingdom. Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, going where He sends us and speaking the words He gives us to those who are waiting for their moment of liberation. [48:59]
- The concept of spiritual authority is not just for church leaders but for every believer. We have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and with them, the authority to bind and loose. This means we can forbid what is not in line with God's will and permit what is. When we understand and exercise this authority, we become active participants in the spiritual battles that shape the destinies of individuals, families, and nations. [01:01:36]
- The importance of seeing people through the lens of God's love and potential is crucial. When we view others as God sees them, not defined by their current struggles but by their God-given destiny, we can speak life into their situations. This perspective allows us to stand in faith for their breakthrough and align our prayers with God's heart for their lives. [56:05]
- The act of loosing and setting free is not a one-time event but a lifestyle of intercession and proclamation. As we consistently declare God's word over our loved ones and those God brings into our lives, we participate in a spiritual battle that has eternal significance. Our words, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can break chains and open doors to freedom and salvation. [01:00:16]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 11:1-11 (ESV)
"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’' And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!'"
2. Matthew 16:19 (ESV)
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
3. Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV)
"And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.'"
4. Psalm 118:17 (ESV)
"I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord."
Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 11:1-11, what instructions did Jesus give to his disciples regarding the colt, and how did the disciples respond to those who questioned their actions?
2. What was the reaction of the crowd as Jesus entered Jerusalem on the colt, and what significance do their shouts of "Hosanna" carry?
3. Reflecting on Matthew 16:19, what does it mean to have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and how does binding and loosing on earth relate to heaven?
4. Considering Nehemiah 4:14, what was Nehemiah's encouragement to the people, and what does it reveal about their perspective on God and their community?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the disciples' obedience in the story of the colt demonstrate trust in Jesus' authority and prophetic fulfillment?
2. What does the crowd's declaration of "Hosanna" reveal about their expectations of Jesus and their understanding of His mission?
3. In what ways might believers today exercise the authority given to them to bind and loose, as mentioned in Matthew 16:19?
4. How can Nehemiah's call to remember the Lord and fight for one's family inspire believers to take a stand in their own lives?
Application Questions:
1. Identify a situation in your life where you need to exercise faith and take action as the disciples did with the colt. What is one step you can take this week to demonstrate your trust in God's guidance?
2. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "Hosanna" moment, recognizing Jesus as your Savior. How can you share this experience with someone who is seeking hope this week?
3. Consider an area in your life or community where you need to apply the authority to bind and loose. What is one specific prayer or declaration you can make to bring about change in that situation?
4. Think of a family member or friend who is facing a challenge. How can you actively fight for them in prayer, using Nehemiah's example, and offer support this week?
5. Psalm 118:17 speaks of life and proclamation. Choose one of God's deeds in your life and share it with someone as an encouragement. How will you recount this deed to them?
Devotional
Day 1: Speaking Life Through God's Word
Faith is not merely a passive state of mind but a dynamic force that shapes reality. When believers speak God's word over their situations, they engage in a divine partnership, actively participating in the manifestation of His promises on earth. This practice is not about ignoring the challenges faced but about choosing to focus on the solutions that God has provided. It is a conscious decision to align one's speech with the truth of Scripture, thereby setting the stage for God's will to unfold in their lives and circumstances. This act of speaking life is a powerful tool in the believer's arsenal, one that requires faith and a deep understanding of God's word. [01:02:47]
"For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:13-15 ESV)
Reflection: What situation in your life needs the transformative power of God's word, and how can you begin to declare His promises over it today?
Day 2: Divine Appointments Await
God has a plan and purpose for every encounter in our lives. Just as Jesus had a specific colt in mind for His entry into Jerusalem, there are individuals that God has prepared for us to reach out to. Walking in obedience and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will lead believers to these "colts"—people who are ready to experience freedom and enter the kingdom of God. This divine strategy requires a heart attuned to God's voice and a willingness to act upon His guidance, trusting that He has already prepared the way for these encounters. [48:59]
"And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey their voice and make them a king.' Samuel then said to the men of Israel, 'Go every man to his city.'" (1 Samuel 8:22 ESV)
Reflection: Who might be the "colt" in your life that God is preparing for you to reach, and what step can you take today to be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance?
Day 3: Authority to Bind and Loose
The authority to bind and loose is not reserved for church leaders alone; it is a privilege granted to every believer. With the keys to the kingdom of heaven comes the power to forbid what is contrary to God's will and to permit what aligns with it. Understanding and exercising this authority is essential for engaging in spiritual warfare and influencing the destinies of individuals, families, and nations. This authority is a responsibility to be wielded with wisdom and discernment, always in alignment with God's word and purposes. [01:01:36]
"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18 ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life or in the lives of those around you can you exercise the authority to bind and loose, and how can you apply this authority in prayer today?
Day 4: Seeing Through God's Lens of Love
Viewing others through the lens of God's love and potential is transformative. It allows believers to see beyond current struggles and to envision the God-given destiny of each individual. This perspective is crucial for standing in faith for others' breakthroughs and aligning prayers with God's heart. When believers choose to speak life into the situations of those around them, they become vessels of hope and agents of change, reflecting the heart of the Father. [56:05]
"Then the Lord said, 'Do you do well to be angry?' And Jonah said, 'Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.' And the Lord said, 'You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?'" (Jonah 4:4-11 ESV)
Reflection: How can you begin to view someone in your life through God's lens of love and potential, and what specific action can you take to encourage their God-given destiny?
Day 5: A Lifestyle of Loosing and Setting Free
The act of loosing and setting free is a continuous commitment to intercession and proclamation. It is not a one-time event but a lifestyle that believers are called to embrace. Through consistent declaration of God's word, believers engage in spiritual warfare with eternal significance. Their words, empowered by the Holy Spirit, have the power to break chains and open doors to freedom and salvation for themselves and for those God brings into their lives. [01:00:16]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" (Mark 16:15-16 ESV)
Reflection: What are the chains that need breaking in your life or in the life of someone you know, and how can you incorporate the practice of declaring freedom into your daily spiritual routine?
Quotes
"We started to walk around the house saying our son's a history maker, a world shaker. Our son's a man of God. He's gonna be a godly husband, a godly father, a godly businessman, a godly pastor. All the things that I felt in my heart since he was born. And so we started saying those things because God can't bless it until you stop cursing it. And so I'm saying those things, we just declared God's word over our son." [56:48]
"For eight years I prayed and nothing happened. But when I started loosing the word of God over my son, praying God's will, praying God's word, praying the promise, not the problem, about eight weeks into it, he was playing university basketball. He hadn't been to church four or five years, and he wanted to date a pretty cheerleader." [57:31]
"The problem was there was a man of God that Sunday. The man of God interrupted his message and said there's someone here who's running from God with a broken heart, you're fighting addiction, your family's been through trauma, and tonight Jesus Christ is going to set you free. Tonight you're getting loosed. The moment he said that, my son who was disinterested fell on the floor." [58:38]
"Instead, fight for your families. Nehemiah said in chapter four, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of that nonsense. Don't be afraid of the critics and the hostile resistance. And he said this. Look to God. Remember the Lord your God, great and powerful, and fight for your families. Fight for your brothers and your sisters, your sons and your daughters." [59:43]
"Declare God's word over them. Tell the devil he can't have them. Prophesy, pray. Let God's promises be so powerfully spoken that it drowns out the sound of the problems, the noise of the devil, and the fear the enemy is trying to bring you concerning that person or event. Loose the colt and bring it to me, Jesus said." [01:00:53]
"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you... Now he's talking to Peter, who he's surnamed Peter, Petros, a small rock. I will give unto you that he is to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." [01:01:36]
"We declare Auckland is having revival, that the greatest season of harvest that Life.Church has ever seen is going to happen in these next five years. Lord, we declare from the north, south, east, and west, every campus, the north, the south, the east, the west campus, the Tonga campus, we declare revival in all your regions, your cities, your churches, your families." [01:02:09]
"Thank you, God, for all you've done, but we loose and declare and prophesy and pray for the greatest thing that God would do to begin. Thank you, God, for this beloved, very spiritual country. If there's any country in the whole world that can be an example of a discipled country, a transformed country, it is New Zealand, the beautiful people of New Zealand." [01:02:47]
"But it's not a weapon until you add your voice to God's voice. And so when you say it, it becomes a sword. When you declare it over your family, I had a doctor this year, 20 years, this year I was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given a pretty dire prediction about the outcomes of it, and I could barely, I was in his office, and I could barely speak." [01:05:25]
"God did it when they said it, when they put God's word in their mouth, God's will was done in their life. And something happens when we see people rightly and declare over them the will of God, what God wants for them, not where they are, but what God wants for them. Their purpose, their destiny, their calling, their freedom, their salvation." [56:05]
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