Luke 4:31-37 – Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
 
 He performed no miracles in His hometown, but Jesus exercised His authority and power when He went to Capernaum.  He taught with authority – not the obnoxious pompous kind of “know-it-all” or arrogant “smarter-than-you” authority, but with the message of one who was truly understanding of the Truth and capable of articulating it clearly.  He taught as one who had been there from the beginning and was a first-hand witness to all that is right and true.  He taught as one who had been the creator and author – One who was indeed Himself THE TRUTH!  And then… He turned around and validated His authority by driving an evil spirit out a man who was possessed.  His authoritative message was backed up with a power that ordered demons and they obeyed!
While Jesus was teaching the people in the synagogue, there was a man possessed by an evil spirit.  This spirit challenged Jesus and His authority as he cried out at the top of his voice.  This demon recognized the Holy One of God had arrived on the scene in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.  The spirit knew that this meant destruction to him and all his minions.  He knew 1 John 3:8 was inevitable – “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.”  And, he may well have realized the message found in Hebrews 2:14 – “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil…”  On this occasion, Jesus merely silenced the demon and ordered him to come out of the man.  After one short final “fling” the demon came out without any injury to the man.  Of course no one had ever experienced such teaching and authority as this before – since God had never visited earth in human form prior to the coming of Christ!  This was indeed a most amazing moment in time!  How could anyone who witnessed such things remain silent about it?  “And the news about Him spread…”  Let there be no doubt, this combination of authority and power bore witness to the deity of the One who exercised it!  Only ONE can destroy the devil’s work and silence his demons! 
 
Thursday:                                                                                                          
  • Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
  • Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.         
Friday:                                         
  • Thank God for His Omnipotence and Supreme Authority.
  • Pray for the Good News families of the week: Christina Greisch (Derek, Alisha), Ryan Hackett, Matt & Becky Hakes (Stevie, Lydia)
Saturday:       
  • Worship the True God who revealed Himself and His power and authority in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday:                                                                  
  • Give thanks that the devil and his demons are subject to the authority of Christ Jesus. 
 Monday:                                                                                              
  • Pray that the Lord Jesus will destroy the work of the devil in your sphere of relationships!
  • Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
 Tuesday:       
  • Pray that Christ’s authority and power will be realized and honored in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, land and nation.
Wednesday:   
  • Pray that news about His power and authority will gain prime time attention around the world.
 
Prayer Challenge: Pray that those who claim the name of Christ will honor His power and authority as we faithfully and fervently fulfill His Great Commission as He declared: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – Matthew 28:18-20.
 
 

6 thoughts on “Week #6 – Authority and Power”

  4. Hsta donde me he informado el dia de hoy jueves 27 de enero del 2011me han dicho que los niños que ya han estudiado el año anterior ya tienen ficha de estudios por tanto no hay ningun problema para que continue su educacion segun corresponda al año que le corresponde segun lo estudiado.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to http://www./ Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *