what authority does the average christian today have?

what authority does the average christian today have?

The "average Christian"? Authority? Perhaps it would be helpful if you gave some context to your question.

They can start with training their children.

In Christ's day there were many scholars who claimed authority in interpreting scripture. Many of those scholars were wrong. It is the same today-----we have over the 2,000 plus years since Christ had man scholars who claim authority in interpreting scripture. There are many disagreements. One side of each disagreement must be right and the other wrong.

Scripture itself is our only authority, and to rightly interpret it correctly we must have a vast knowledge of every word of truth in that scripture. If we search for a human to help us, that person must have spent years in scripture study that is free of man's interpretation.

Lets see Christ said "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." That is power/authority and greater is He that is in you than he thats in the world. God gave man aka us the works of His hands "You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,"

What has never changed is "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

I think man forgets we have no power over man/woman The enemy truly likes the fact that we do not know our true authority in this world. Like some use the name of Jesus.. they will SHOUT IT as if that has more power haha. The sharper the knife the easier it cuts. Our sword is dubbed sided and cuts to the heart. Yes its ALWAYS Christ yet He gave it to us something even the angels can not do. To just think about that.. we have GOD JESUS Holy Spirit in us we are one.. no angel is like this. Nothing in all creation like us...so humbling. Its just another reason why we want to lay all our crowns at HIS feet!

Or is it the case that you're never wrong?

Luke 10
King James Version
1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

In context, Jesus is sending the 70 out, verse 1 is a commission for them to go out. This text is not addressed to every christian of all time.

It is still possible that all sides are wrong.

Matthew 23:1-3
King James Version
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Every interpretation is done by humans. Therefore your interpretations are wrong too. The problem with that last statement and what others are saying they are painting with a very big wide brush.

Please explain because that makes no sense.

All authority and power comes from God. We cannot do anything on our own so any authority we do have is used for God's glory by God Himself.

I think what you are trying to ask is what can believers do. Believers can pray and then anything that God wants to happen can happen. Though God can accomplish all of His goals without our prayers.

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Zechariah 4:6&version=NKJV

So.....Not by power (our own authority and human reasoning and understanding) or by might (our own physical strength) but by the power of My Spirit declares the Lord.

Shut the flesh up, deny it and be filled with the Holy Spirit of God then, the Lord walks in us and us with Him on the Earth in power and authority.

The power and authority is full based on the measure of Jesus Christ in us.....how mature we are....how much our souls have been restored with God’s Word and Holy Spirit.

Only Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit without measure and we have power and authority based on how full Jesus Christ is operating in us.

ALL authority

We are to discuss scripture, it tells us so in Isaiah, and being human we probably have something wrong. That doesn't mean that the Lord does not want us to discuss scripture. In Acts 5 it speaks of this. Acts 5: 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

we are flesh not saintly, but we are asked to do the best we can. That is what is meant by living in a state of repentance. We can want to not be wrong, that is the best we can do.

no thats not the best . the path of the just is like a shining light shining brighter and brighter unto the perfect day it is written . yes the believer may manifest in seasons for now but when Jesus returns we see his full Glory even in the believer when transformed totally saint

You say no, and speak of the path of shining light. If you say no to the discussion of scripture, then preachers must not, in your eyes discuss scripture. Scripture is a shining light but we see darkly. Where do you think we can find this shining light that you say no to discussing?

It depends on what it is that "average" Christians are supposed to have authority over. In the home, the father and husband has authority over the whole family, and the mother has authority over her minor children. The husband is the "head" or authority over the wife, just as Christ is the Head over the Church. In the church (or local assembly) the elders have authority over the flock, provided that they themselves are fully submitted to the authority of Christ.

No Christian needs to remain "average" since God expects every believer to exercise his or her spiritual gift(s). So by exercising your gift, you have authority in that particular area.

At the same time all authority (power) in Heaven and in earth belongs to Christ. Therefore prayers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (dependent on His authority) have power to deal with issues on earth (whether temporal or spiritual). Therefore James says that the prayer of faith shall heal the sick.

Only when you oppose me.

Otherwise:

"Hey - I have been wrong before..."

My post was intended as a general statement. It was not meant to 'target' anyone. Nor was it meant to "self-boast" in any way.

It was just a general statement.

If two people disagree, there is no guarantee that one of them has to be right.