Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them
power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Luke 9:1
Jesus told the religious leaders of the New Testament times. . .
Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29
The truth of the Gospel is two-fold. First, it is the Word of God as revealed in the Holy Bible. To know the Scriptures you must study, understand, and apply them.
But the truth of the Gospel is more than the Scriptures. It is also the power of God. To know the power of God we must understand and apply power principles. The power of God must become a reality in our life through experience.
The early church was born in a demonstration of the power of God, not through great public speakers or theological debate. Apostle Paul wrote:
And my speech, and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Apostle Paul recognized that. . .
For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
Jesus left believers with a great mission of reaching the world with the Gospel of the Kingdom. This task will not be accomplished by words alone. As in the early church, there also must be a demonstration of the power of God.
Many people know the Word of God but have not experienced the power of God. They do not really understand the power of the Gospel. Many clergymen today are well educated. They preach with enticing words of man's wisdom, but there is no demonstration of the Holy Spirit and its accompanying power.
In some churches the miraculous has been replaced with human reasoning that demands a logical, intellectual explanation for everything that happens. Power has been replaced by theological debate over whether the miraculous is for today or was only for the early church. When reason and debate take the place of the miraculous, the life flow of God is replaced by man-made religion through mans own ideology regarding the word of God.
They want to experience reality. They need to witness the visible manifestation of God's power.
If our faith is to stand in the power of God instead of the wisdom of man, we must experience the same flow of power as did the early church. Believers in the early church. . .
. . . went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Mark 16:20
We have talked of working for God. We plan our ministry and ask God to bless it. But the Biblical method of effective ministry is the Lord working with and through us, confirming His Word with miraculous signs.
The world is not interested in what we've done for God. What the world is attracted to is seeing Jesus in us as we witness the visible results of the power of the Gospel which has changed our life. The world is attracted by the demonstration of spiritual power as the Lord works with us and in us to confirm His Word with miraculous signs.
The first part of God’s battle plan is the word of God; also known as the Sword of the Spirit. The second part of the battle plan is based upon the power and authority over Satan which Jesus delegated to His followers:
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1
Authority and power are two different things. Consider the example of a policeman. He has a badge and a uniform which are symbolic of his authority. His authority comes because of the position he holds within the governmental realm. But because all people do not respect that authority, the policeman also carries a weapon. The weapon is his power.
Our authority over the enemy comes through Jesus Christ and our position in Him as believers. Our power over the enemy comes through the Holy Spirit:
And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
Like the policeman, we must have both authority and power to be effective. Some believers receive authority through the new birth experience and their position in Christ but they never go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which is to be combined with the authority in order for effective warfare to occur.
The power Jesus gave is directed power for specific purposes. These include:
Ø POWER OVER THE ENEMY:
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1
Ø POWER OVER SIN:
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:22-23
Ø POWER TO EXTEND THE GOSPEL:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
God, through His son and His Holy Spirit, has given us all that we need to be victorious in spiritual warfare, extend the gospel throughout the world and be successful in Him!
The truth of the Gospel is two-fold. First, it is the Word of God as revealed in the Holy Bible. To know the Scriptures you must study, understand, and apply them.
But the truth of the Gospel is more than the Scriptures. It is also the power of God. To know the power of God we must understand and apply power principles. The power of God must become a reality in our life through experience.
The early church was born in a demonstration of the power of God, not through great public speakers or theological debate. Apostle Paul wrote:
And my speech, and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Apostle Paul recognized that. . .
For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
Jesus left believers with a great mission of reaching the world with the Gospel of the Kingdom. This task will not be accomplished by words alone. As in the early church, there also must be a demonstration of the power of God.
Many people know the Word of God but have not experienced the power of God. They do not really understand the power of the Gospel. Many clergymen today are well educated. They preach with enticing words of man's wisdom, but there is no demonstration of the Holy Spirit and its accompanying power.
In some churches the miraculous has been replaced with human reasoning that demands a logical, intellectual explanation for everything that happens. Power has been replaced by theological debate over whether the miraculous is for today or was only for the early church. When reason and debate take the place of the miraculous, the life flow of God is replaced by man-made religion through mans own ideology regarding the word of God.
People have had their fill of religion and its accompanying ritual.
They want to experience reality. They need to witness the visible manifestation of God's power.
If our faith is to stand in the power of God instead of the wisdom of man, we must experience the same flow of power as did the early church. Believers in the early church. . .
. . . went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Mark 16:20
We have talked of working for God. We plan our ministry and ask God to bless it. But the Biblical method of effective ministry is the Lord working with and through us, confirming His Word with miraculous signs.
The world is not interested in what we've done for God. What the world is attracted to is seeing Jesus in us as we witness the visible results of the power of the Gospel which has changed our life. The world is attracted by the demonstration of spiritual power as the Lord works with us and in us to confirm His Word with miraculous signs.
The first part of God’s battle plan is the word of God; also known as the Sword of the Spirit. The second part of the battle plan is based upon the power and authority over Satan which Jesus delegated to His followers:
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1
Authority and power are two different things. Consider the example of a policeman. He has a badge and a uniform which are symbolic of his authority. His authority comes because of the position he holds within the governmental realm. But because all people do not respect that authority, the policeman also carries a weapon. The weapon is his power.
Our authority over the enemy comes through Jesus Christ and our position in Him as believers. Our power over the enemy comes through the Holy Spirit:
And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
Like the policeman, we must have both authority and power to be effective. Some believers receive authority through the new birth experience and their position in Christ but they never go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which is to be combined with the authority in order for effective warfare to occur.
The power Jesus gave is directed power for specific purposes. These include:
Ø POWER OVER THE ENEMY:
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1
Ø POWER OVER SIN:
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:22-23
Ø POWER TO EXTEND THE GOSPEL:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
God, through His son and His Holy Spirit, has given us all that we need to be victorious in spiritual warfare, extend the gospel throughout the world and be successful in Him!
(Biblical Studies)
9/24/13
11/17/14
10/31/15
12/9/16
05/01/19
11/17/14
10/31/15
12/9/16
05/01/19
12/05/20
10/07/22
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