“All authority has been given unto Me in heaven and on earth, …But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Matthew 28:18, Acts 1:8
In several accounts in the gospels we find where Christ taught in a manner different from the religious scribes of His day, for His teaching and words were with authority. Those who heard him, if they were truly honestly willing to be open to believing in Jesus, would recognize this, and be moved by it. Not only did Jesus speak with an authority that was not in and of Himself, but He exercised that authority and power in the casting out of demons. What was this authority, manifested by the power of God, by which Jesus’ teaching would reach the depths of lost souls, and deliver from spiritual bondage those who had given ground and authority to Satan, primarily because of sin? Concerning this very matter, the chief priests and the elders of the people would confront Jesus by asking, “By what authority are You doing these things,” and “…who gave You this authority,” Jesus would not declare it unless they were willing to recognize and accept the truth. If those who asked Him these questions were not willing to recognize that the baptism that John the Baptist preached and practiced was not recognized as being “from heaven,” then Jesus would not give His adversaries an answer. Willingness to truly see and understand the matter of the authority and power of God comes first when one is truly willing, committed to obey and follow Christ. But what is this “authority” with which Christ spoke, and the “power” which was manifested as a result?
During the ministry of Christ, there was the account in the Gospels of a Centurion who had a servant who was very sick, suffering greatly, and would certainly die. When the centurion asked the Lord to come and heal him, the Lord responded by saying, “I WILL come and heal him.” (Matt. 8:7) At that point the centurion answered Jesus by saying: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.” (8:9) The Lord Jesus would say later concerning this centurion, “I have not found so great faith, not even in Israel.” (8:10) Not only would the Lord Jesus heal the centurion’s servant, but would reveal to His disciples then, and today, the relationship between authority and faith, a relationship that is essential if there is to be a life lived victoriously, overcoming the enemies of sin and Satan. The authority of Christ was that “right,” “that command and charge of the Father,” with its total provision from Heaven, which was greater than anything, or anyone who would oppose it. Sin, death, and Satan could not overcome it, for it was from God. Jesus declared this in Matthew’s gospel when He said, “All authority has been given unto Me in Heaven and earth…” The authority of God the Father, over heaven and earth, and all things in them, was given to His Beloved Son, the Lamb of God who would lay down His life by this authority, and to the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” who would again “take up” His life at the resurrection. The manifestation of this authority was the power by which the resurrection occurred. But also, the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, first in Jerusalem, and then to the ends of the earth.
Why is spiritual authority so very important, and the manifest power of God so essential? Man was born a spiritual creature, or creation. He was born into a context of spiritual blessing, but also of spiritual conflict. Praise God, Christ, by the victory over sin and the devil on the cross, demonstrated for time and eternity that the authority of God, His authority, was greater than all. This authority has been given to every believer. In submitting to it, Christ’s power is communicated to the soul.
Dear Father, Be our Authority today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.