We Have Power In The Name Of Jesus

We have the Power in the Name of Jesus

Romans 12:3-8/Luke 9:1-6

When we think of ministry, what do we think of? Preaching? Teaching? Evangelists? Ministry is much more than any of that. Ministry is the job of every Christian no matter where they are or what they do for a living.

Did you know that when you became a Christian you were called to be ministers of the gospel of Christ? If you claim Jesus Christ as your Savior you have a ministry to do. Not all of you know what that ministry is yet, but there is a ministry for you. For some it is teaching. For some it is music. For some it may be administration. But there is a ministry for you. Look at the list in Romans 12 starting in verse 3

RO 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Some may not be as good at their ministry as others are, but it’s still yours.

An usher met an elderly lady at the back door of church and asked her, "Where would you like to sit?"

"On the front row." Was her reply?

"You don’t want to do that," the usher said, "The pastor is really boring."

"Do you know who I am?"

"No."

"I’m the pastor’s mother."

He asked her, "Do you know who I am?"

"No" came the reply.

"Good!"

We all have a ministry to do and not of our own choosing, but Jesus sends us out. Today we are going to look at the sending out of the twelve disciples to see what is there for us to learn about ministry.

First, I want us to understand that any ministry we have is not because of us, but because of Jesus Christ. If He sends us to it, he will give us the grace to see us through it.

I. The ministry of a disciple. (Verses 1-2) First of all notice this; The call is from Jesus. I Corinthians 1:1, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God..."

People can’t just decide to do God’s work. They are called to the work. However, we have to answer the call. First we have to do is respond to God’s message of salvation. After we receive the Holy Spirit in baptism, we are then empowered to do the work we are called to do. There are those who tried to do it on their own, under their own power. Acts 19 tells of seven brothers who tried it and the results were disastrous.

Whomever God calls, He will empower. Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." I Corinthians 2:4-5, "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." That’s one of the problem with witnessing. We try to use convincing words. We tend to do it in our power. We do not allow the power of God to work in us. God wants to confirm His word with signs and wonders. That means He wants to

A. Confirm that the Word (Jesus) is true.

B. Confirm that His word (the Bible) is true.

C. Confirm that the gospel message is true.

Jesus gives us the authority to cast out demons. This is where spiritual gifts come into play.

Discernment. Not every person who makes poor choices in their lives is possessed. They can be demonically influenced or oppressed but not possessed.

There will be some, but you have to be sensitive to what the Spirit is revealing.

Test the spirits.

To cure diseases.

As an extension of Jesus? ministry.

John 14:12, ’Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." This is a way to draw attention to Christ. Jesus was always careful to see that people didn’t worship miracles, but the miracle worker, God. Every time He performed a miracle it opened a door for Him to preach the gospel. So if Jesus gives us authority to cast out demons and cure diseases He must have intended for that to lead into preaching.