Turn with me to Matthew 28. We’re going to read verses 18, 19 and 20.
(18) And Jesus came and spake unto them (the disciples) saying, All power (this is the Greek word exousia and it means “authority”) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Because all authority is given unto me in heaven and earth, I am authorizing you to...
(19) Go ye therefore, and teach (the word “teach” means to “disciple”) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
(20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Now turn to Mark 16. We’re going to read verses 15 through 18. Another very familiar passage.
(15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Now, Jesus is not talking about teaching the gospel to dogs, cats, rabbits, salamanders or alligators. I just wanted to clear that up. Dogs don’t go to heaven. I know I just broke somebody’s heart.
(16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; [In my name] they shall speak with new tongues;
(18) [In my name] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, [in my name] it shall not hurt them; [and in my name] they shall lay hands on the sick, and [and in my name, those that they have laid hands on] they shall recover.
What we have just read: Jesus has given us the power and authority to do on earth what He did when He was here. For us, that will be what is called “power of attorney”.
A Power of Attorney, or POA, is a written authorization to represent or act on another person’s behalf in private or business affairs or in other legal matters. Sometimes the POA will act against the wishes of the person who has given him or her the POA.
The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor (of the power).
The one authorized to act is the agent – “Hello agents” – or, in some common law jurisdictions, the attorney in-fact.
A Power of Attorney will be enforced as long as it is signed by the grantor – as long as it is in writing (I held up my Bible.).
A Power of Attorney may be special or limited – for a specified act or type of act – or it can be general or temporary.
This next point is very, very important.
A Power of Attorney cannot grant powers to the agent that conflict with the rules and regulations governing people and companies the agent deals with.
For example, Kathy is my POA and she wants to go the bank and do a transaction. The bank has a policy that says the person for whom the transaction is to be executed must be present. So Kathy can’t transact any business for me at the bank because I am not present.
Here’s where I’m going ladies and gentlemen.
We have been given Power of Attorney by Jesus. Listen to me clearly. The only authority we have as Jesus’ Power of Attorney is written in Heaven. Every rule, every regulation that is in Heaven, we are authorized to use.
In my name Jesus says, they will cast out devils. That is our POA. That’s the power we’re authorized to use.
In my name they shall raise the dead. That is the power we’re authorized to use.
We are to act and function just like Jesus acted and functioned when He was here. That’s what it mean to have Jesus’ Power of Attorney! We have the legal right and authorization to conduct business just like Jesus conducted business – and you know what I mean! Do you hear me?
One of the rules of the kingdom: when light comes darkness flees. “Hello light!” That’s one of the rules of the kingdom. And do you know why darkness flees? It’s not because you ladies and gentlemen. It’s because you have the power given to you by the principal, the donor, the grantor of the power.
This is who you are ladies and gentlemen. We are so much more than we know.
What is the value of a Power of Attorney?
The value of a Power of Attorney depends entirely upon the authority and the power the name represents. In Philippians 2:9-11, and we’re not going to turn there, we know that God has given Jesus the name that’s above every name. So we have Power of Attorney of the one whose name is above every name!
We have Power of Attorney of the man, that at the mention of his name, every knee will bow!
We have Power of Attorney of the man, that at the mention of his name, every tongue shall confess!
Can I get a hallelujah? That’s who you are ladies and gentlemen! You are Jesus’ Power of Attorney. He’s given you the right to use His name to bring Heaven to earth.
When do we receive the Power of Attorney? We receive it the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But we entered the kingdom as babies. We have to learn how to use what we’ve been given. And that is what the Bible is all about – to teach us what we have and to teach us WHO we are.
We’re going to look at some examples of General Power of Attorney.
Let’s begin with Genesis 1:26-28.
(26) 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.
(27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
(28) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
What are we seeing here ladies and gentlemen? God gave Adam complete authority over the garden that He created. “You are my POA Adam.” The garden was Adam’s responsibility. He had the authority in the garden.
Remember I said earlier that sometimes the person with the POA uses it against the wishes of the person who gave it to him? Turn to Genesis 3.
(17) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
(18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
(19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Adam had General Power of Attorney over God’s creation but he did not use it the way God wanted him to use it.
Genesis 41 – we’re going to look at Joseph. He has already interpreted the dreams for Pharaoh. Joseph has told him that for the next 14 years God is telling you what is going to happen. The first seven years you will have so much plenty that you’ll need to build containers to store it in. The following seven years will be famine, devastating famine.
(39) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
(40) Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
(41) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Joseph had General Power of Attorney in Egypt. Only one person was more powerful in the throne – Pharaoh. The same is true for us today. God is the only one more spiritually powerful than us. What does this mean? We don’t have to worry about Satan. We have more power than he does.
(42) And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
(43) And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
(44) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh gave Joseph rule over Egypt. Joseph was his Power of Attorney.
Now let’s look at Peter and John in Acts 3.
(1) Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
(2) And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
(3) Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
(4) And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
(5) And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
(6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
What did they have? They had the authority to heal just like Jesus did because they had His Power of Attorney. Do you know why Peter said he didn’t have money? Peter was telling the man that money would not help him. He needed God to touch him. Peter and John. POAs.
(7) And he took him by the right hand, (Peter was letting the man know that he had no doubts that the man was going to walk. Let that sink in ladies and gentlemen.) and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is where we’re going. When we say something, we don’t wait for it to manifest. It will manifest on the spot. This is where we’re going.
(8) And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
(9) And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
Jump to verse 16. This is Peter talking: “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
What is the key point we see here? Peter and John had Power of Attorney. But if you don’t believe you have it then you will not exercise it. What did Peter say? He says that it was “through faith in his (Jesus) name.” You have to have faith that that name is all that the Bible says it is.
Let’s look at one example of limited or temporary Power of Attorney. Turn to Matthew 10. We’re going to look at the 12 apostles.
(1) And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power (Power of Attorney) against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
(7) (Jesus says) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Our Power of Attorney, ladies and gentlemen, is only as powerful as the kingdom of Heaven.
(8) Heal the sick...
What does it say? Heal the sick, not pray for the sick. Do you know why we pray for the sick? When we pray we feel like we’re accomplishing something. Ladies and gentlemen, when we pray for the sick that is nothing more than a participation trophy. You haven’t accomplished anything. Jesus said “Heal the sick” and when you heal the sick, the sick is no longer sick!
Let’s go back to verse 8 again.
(8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received (the Power of Attorney), freely give (freely use it for My purposes).
Jesus sent the disciples out with His Power of Attorney and they healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out devils. Do you see this?
Now, let’s turn our attention to talking about us – you and me. Just like the disciples, just like Peter and John, we have been given the Power of Attorney to operate in Jesus’ place.
Turn to John 14:12. This is a verse that’s very familiar to us. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me (He that believes that he actually has My Power of Attorney), the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
The works that Jesus did we “shall do also.” Not maybe. Not perhaps. Shall. There’s only one reason shall is not in our lives right now. It’s called unbelief. All of us have different levels of unbelief operating in our lives. And there’s nothing wrong with knowing this. The part that is wrong is when we don’t do anything to correct it. That’s one reason why we pray in tongues.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Only the person who has accepted Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior can make this statement. There are 300 million people in the United States of America and you have been chosen!
When you are chosen for something that means there is something God wants you to do. He has a job for you to do that only you can do! If we don’t do the job God has given us to do they will not get done.
Let’s look at one more.
John 16 (23) And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (24) Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
When we approach the Father, whose name do we use? Whose name guarantees we will receive what we ask for? Jesus! Why? He has given us the authority to use His name. Ladies and gentlemen, He has give us His Power of Attorney to use when we go before the Father! Oh, let that sink in!
Now let’s end this. Why did Jesus give us Power of Attorney?
Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
If God was with Jesus and Jesus has given us His Power of Attorney, where is God? He’s with us!
In First John 3:8 we read “He that committeth sin is of the devil (He’s talking about a person who lives in habitual sin. He’s talking about a person who has a lifestyle of sin.); for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
You have POA ladies and gentlemen. What is your job responsibility? It’s to destroy the works of the devil.
One more. Matthew 16. We’re going to read verses 15 through 19. Let’s pick up the record beginning with verse 13.
(13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
(14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
(15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Who do you believe I am? Do you believe I am he, and I know I’m looking forward because the disciples couldn’t answer this question but we can answer it.
Do you believe I am the one whose name is above every name?
Do you believe that I am the one that at my name every knee is going to bow?
Do you believe that I am the one that at my name every tongue is going to confess?
Do you believe that? If you don’t ladies and gentlemen, that Power of Attorney is not working for you. You have it. You have the authority but it is not working for you. We read in Acts where Peter says you must have faith in that name. Did we not read that?
(16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
What do gates do ladies and gentlemen? They keep you out. Gates are designed to protect those who are on the inside. Jesus says that the kingdom of darkness and their gates won’t be able to stand against you. You will go in and knock over the gates. Do you see that?
We are so focused on what Satan is doing to us. Not anymore. We have been so focused on him that it’s almost like we’re walking down the street and we look up and see the gates of hell running toward us. Gates don’t run! Gates only do two things: open and close. And Jesus is saying that those gates will not prevail against you because you have my Power of Attorney.
Here’s the last verse ladies and gentlemen. Hold on to your seats because this verse – this one – is all you need to truly understand what Power of Attorney means.
(19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven...
When you have the key you can go anywhere you like. I don’t care what gate there is. If you have the key, you can go anywhere you like. Jesus is telling us: “I am giving you Power of Attorney, I am giving you the key to go anywhere you like in My name.”
We’ve got the keys. And if we have the keys guess who does not have them? The enemy of the soul. You are so much more than you realize.
I want to close with a dream that I had about three years ago that fits so well here. Some of you may remember it. I titled it “The dead babies.”
I drove up to an intersection and across from me was a couple. They would have gone through the intersection if I hadn’t gotten out of my car. For some reason, maybe it was the look on their faces, I got out of my car and walked over to them. In the back seat there were three small babies – beautiful little things. They were in a wash tub and they were dead.
My heart went out to the parents. The babies were so precious. As I looked at them I simply extended my hand and said “You will live.” Before I could walk away, they began to move. One by one they opened their eyes. They yawned, as if they had been asleep, and then they smiled.
That morning I thought about the dream. It had been so vivid, so real. I want you to hear what the Holy Spirit said to me: “It’s that easy.” That is all He said. “It’s that easy.”
When we read the Gospels, we see Jesus simply speaking and blind eyes see, the lame are made whole, the cripple walk, and the dead live. He simply spoke out of who He was – God’s Son. Ladies and gentlemen, are we not the daughters and the sons of the same God? Are we not seated in Heaven with Jesus at the Father’s right hand? Didn’t Jesus say the works he did we would do?
Thinking about what the Holy Spirit said a little over a week later, I see how, in my dream, I simply responded out of who I truly am – a person who has God’s life and nature, just like Jesus. I didn’t hesitate to speak “You will live.” My heart simply responded to the hurt I saw in the eyes of the parents. I didn’t care if someone was watching me. I extended the love of my Heavenly Father.
The lesson for Barry and I hope for all of you: in my “dream world” I was not hindered by fear or the thought of what people would say. I should have no hindrances when I’m awake in “the devil’s world” either.
Amen. Please stand.
