How to Teach With Authority as Jesus Did - Matt. 7:28,29
"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching. Because he taught as one who had authority and not as their teachers of the law." (Matt. 7:28,29)
Quote:Behavioral studies show that if 2% of a homogeneous group are strongly dedicated to a given cause, and that small minority can eventually move the whole. Jesus said to twelve men, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matt 28:18-20)
Association of Church Missions Commissions Newsletter, Autumn, 1989, p. 1.
Illustration:One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.
Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.
Steve Blankenship in God Came Near by Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 95.
In contrast, many parents, teachers and leaders feel that people do not respect their authority. By definition, authority is the power or right to enforce obedience; this power has been delegated to one who is in a position of authority or who has a message of authority.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. He authorizes us, empowers us and bestows us with the abilities to teach people all that He has commanded. (Matt 28:18-20) Why is it that many people do not properly exercise the authority that they have been given by God?
The following are some of the possible reasons why people do not utilize the power given to them by Jesus Christ.
1. FAILURE TO TAP IN TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD. Paul wrote, "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. So that the man of God could be equipped, thoroughly furnished for all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16,17) God propels, upholds, maintains and guides the universe by His might word of power. (Heb. 1:3) We are only as authoritative as we know and employ God’s word to every situation.
2. FAILURE TO INTIMATELY COMMUNE WITH THE VINE. Jesus said, "Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself withoout abiding (being united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me." (John 15:3) Praise God for His greatness, power, and authority in your life. He wants His authority to resonate from every aspect of your personal life, relationships and ministry activities.
3. FAILURE TO DEMONSTRATE POWER. Paul wrote, "My language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausibel) words of wisdom, but they wer in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power (a proof by the Spirit and power of God) operating on me and stirrgin in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them. So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy) but in the power of God." (2 Cor. 2:4,5)
Ask the Lord to help you demonstrate His mighty power in all aspects of your verbal and non-verbal communications. Only 7% of what we communicate is with the words we speak, 35% is with the tone of voice and 57% is conveyed in non-verbal means.
People of godly character have a way of communicating the greatest authority.
4. FAILURE TO SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST. Paul wrote, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God." We become filled with God’s fullness when we fill our minds and hearts with praise of all of God’s attributes of His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. When we praise God we recognize that everything pertaining to life and godliness is given to us through a true knowledge of Jesus Christ.
People who spend time in worship, praise and communion with the Lord through the scriptures and prayer fill themselves with His the mind of Christ.
Quote: Let us make the famous song our prayer, "May the mind of Christ my Savior, live in me from day to day. By His love and POWER controlling. All I do and say."
There may be times when we need to fast in order to concentrate filling up our whole body, soul and mind and spirit with His love, truth and power.
5. FAILURE TO LEARN WHAT AUTHORITY IS AVAILABLE TO A BELIEVER. Too many Christians are suffering from a power shortage in their lives, relationships and ministries because they are unaware of what is available to them in the Spirit and through the Word.
Too many Christians never learn that they have been given authority. Paul wrote, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7) Be filled with the Spirit and do not fulfill the desires of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16-18) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22,23)
Illustration: If you had millions of dollars in the bank but did not know how to write a check on your account it would tend to make you feel poor, powerless and weak.
6. FAILURE TO REALIZE THE PROBLEMS OF BEING LUKEWARM. Too many Christians are living as if they were rich not realizing that they are poor in their spiritual empowerment. Jesus told the church of Laodicea, "Because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.You say, "I am rich: I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." (Rev. 3:16-18)
Let us repent and ask the Lord to help us find our true riches in Him and doing His will. Let us part with self-sufficiency and find our total adequacy in Him. (2 Cor. 3:5,6) Paul writes, "Not that we are adequate to have anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God... Not by the letter, but by the Spirit." Get your wisdom, power, motivation and love from the Lord instead of from yourself or culture.
7. FAILURE TO USE GOD’S FULL AUTHORITY. Christians who fail to utilize’ Gods authority tend to be defeated Christians. Some believers say to themselves, "Whenever I speak out for the truth I get criticized and so I tend to not say anything controversial every again.
Paul wrote, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Eph. 6:10,11) Other Christians despair and say, "I have a hard time consistently living in victory over my feelings. "
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world." (I John 5:4,5) David wrote, in Psalms 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all."
Finally, some believers give in to discouragement and depression. They take a resigned attitude and develop a self-pitying mentality whenever adversity comes in to their lives. James wrote, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the trial of your faith works steadfastness, endurance, and patience. Let them endurance, steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed (with no defects) lacking in nothing." (James 1:2,3)
Illustration:Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: ’We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’"
Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."
The captain said, "Send: "I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’"
"I’m a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees."
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: ’I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’"
Back came the flashing light, "I’m a lighthouse."
We changed course.
Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 153.
8. FAILURE TO USE THE KEYS WE HAVE TO OPEN DOORS. Jesus has given us the keys to heaven. (Matt 16:19) Jesus said, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven and whatever you loose (declare unlawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven).
Illustration: It would be a difficult life if we did not use the keys to our house, to our car or to our offices, but that is how some Christians are trying to live out their lives and ministries.
9. FAILURE TO UTILIZE THE POWER OF PRAYER. Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." Some believers are not ministering with authority because they have not spent time in Biblical prayer. We let us be sure to adore the Lord, confess our sins, thank Him for what He has given us and then ask Him for our needs. We often have not because we ask not.
10. FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN SPIRITUAL BATTLES. Do not worry if people try to defy the authority you have in Christ and in His word and in His Spirit. Those who want to grow in their authority will have to engage in spiritual warfare against all that is evil. We are fighting against the kingdom of darkness with the purpose of expanding the kingdom of light in quantitative and qualitative measures. Paul wrote, "
For even though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
11. FAILURE TO CHOOSE TO BE AN OVERCOMER. Persevering Christians are determined to complete God’s will regardless of the difficulties. Paul wrote, "We are more than conquerors, through Him who loves us." (Rom. 8:37) Victorious Christians know that nothing the world, the flesh or the devil throws up against us can defeat us.
Jesus said, "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."
12. FAILURE TO PUT OURSELVES IN COMBAT. Some Christians are afraid to go the battle front and remain in the rear all their lives.
It was only when David ran to the battle front to engage Goliath that God showed His authority through him. (I Sam 17)
13. FAILURE TO BOLDLY STAND IN CHRIST’S AUTHORITY. Some people fail to boldy and courageously stand in the authority they have been given in Christ.
Do not give in to discouragement, critcisms or hardship.
Persevere knowing that Christ’s authority and power are needed by billions in trillions of ways.
Illustration: Nothing can hinder those who work in the authority of the One who has commissioned us. (Matt 28:18-20)
When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished.
As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”
“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”
“But I’m starved,” the governor said.
“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”
Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.
“Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.”
“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.” Speak with the authority you are given by God.
Bits & Pieces, May 28, 1992, Page 5-6
