by Rev. Manson B. Johnson
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times
Matthew 16:19-21
Bible Fact: Jesus expects all of His disciples to demonstrate the authority and power of His kingdom as a witness to a weak and wicked world.
The Big Idea: To get Christian disciples to surrender their faith beyond the traditional to be offered the opportunity to engage with God without restrictions to do miraculous works that represent God.
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.” —Bits & Pieces, May 28, 1992, pp. 5-6.
It is evident and clear from the illustration above that you do not have to be the governor to possess authority and power to exhibit influence. Everyone within his/her sphere of living has authority over something that they can influence others with. All believers should take seriously the authority and power God has given them to make impact over people, situations, things and life events. God made his children to have authority and to exercise supernatural power. Question: Is your kingdom authority and power unlocked with in you? They can be.
- How we ended up in God’s favor (Psalm 30:5a)
- God made man to live in the kingdom of God under kingdom rules and man was to exercise power over whatever God made.
- God blessed Abraham for his faith and made him eternal promises of favor and covenant;
- God made another choice to reclaim a people to Him that would be His treasure;
- Then Christ came as the Living Word and Authority of God to establish the kingdom of God among mankind;
- Making the meaning of authority and power clear
- Authority is the right to proceed to act.
- Power is the ability to proceed to act.
III. Every individual has a God-given built-in opportunity and ability to tap into undiscovered promises and joys of live and living; Romans 12:1-3
- Potential in v.1
- Power in v. 2
- Purpose in v.3
- Christians are made righteous to inherit blessings and favors of righteousness.
- Jesus took our offenses of sin to make us righteous with God; Romans 5:18-19; II Corinthians 5:17-21
- Jesus made every Christian eligible for the transition to be the righteousness of God; Ephesians 4:17-24
- Jesus Christ through Abraham by faith connected us to all covenant promises of God; Romans 4:16-21
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