Power and Authority

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Matthew 10:1).

Matthew states Jesus summoned His 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Mark 3:14-15 states Jesus ‘appointed’ 12, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.

This was no ‘happen-stance’ event for Jesus. Scripture tells us He spent all night in prayer before selecting these 12 men (Luke 6:12-13). He didn’t pray all night because He wasn’t sure about those He would choose. Everything Jesus did, He did under the guidance of His Heavenly Father. Something as significant as choose those who would carry on the work of the Kingdom after His resurrection and ascension could not be left to chance. He needed the Father’s wisdom and guidance in who those men would be.

Note that after being selected, Jesus gave the 12 disciples power and authority to not only to preach the Gospel, but to have the Gospel verified through signs and wonders. Even Judas Iscariot was given this power and authority - a matter we will deal with later on.

Jesus gave these men the authority and power to do exactly what He had been doing in His ministry. So their ministry would simply be an extension of His ministry. We must never forget that today. Churches, pastors, missionaries, evangelists, teachers, in fact all who serve the Lord Jesus Christ do so as an extension of His ministry. We serve Him. We expand His Kingdom. We are under His authority. He gives us His Holy Spirit to empower and lead us in that ministry. He bestows gifts (supernatural powers) to do His ministry. And yet how many men and women treat the ministry as ‘theirs’, new Christians as ‘their’ converts, churches as ‘their’ church!

These disciples did what Jesus was able to do. They were faithful in the work to which Jesus called them. That is why they turned Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and eventually the world ‘upside down’ (I prefer ‘right-side up’) for Jesus Christ (Acts 17:6).

“Lord Jesus, thank You for these men that were called and equipped and sent out into the world to bring the Kingdom of God to the lost house of Abraham. Thank You that You still call men and women today to that same task. Remind me, Lord, that all I am, all I have, and all I am able to do is because of You. These are not mine, but Yours, and I am to be a faithful steward of what You have graciously allowed me to have and to do. May I honor You with all the resources You place at my disposal and entrust to me. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor