Walking In The Power And Authority of Jesus Christ

By Ernie Yoder

May 1, 2010

Jesus said, ...'Upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it'.

So why is it that the church seems to be in a state of confusion and powerlessness? It seems there is an ungodly fear of darkness, evil, wickedness, etc. creeping into our plain churches.

There may be several reasons why Christian people lose their power and authority that Jesus commissioned to His people.

Lets take a look at Luke chapter 9.

Luke 9:1-2, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Here we see that Jesus gave his disciples power and authority over ALL devils... but as we continue to read in this chapter, we will see that the disciples lost that power and authority that Jesus had commissioned to them. In verse 40, we can clearly see that the disciples were unable to cast the spirit out.

Luke 9:38-40, And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Do you think the disciples were puzzled as to why they lost what they were commissioned to do?

Today, this may be where many of us will stop and decide, we need more than what Jesus has promised us, because it appears as though Jesus was unable to keep what he commissioned His people to have. This kind of thinking comes from the enemy as he is trying to destroy our faith.

Verse 44, Jesus said, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Verse 45, But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Here in verse 45, is another observation; Once we lose the power and authority that Jesus wants us to live in, according to verse 45, we may also be unable to understand what Jesus is telling us.

Now in verse 46, I believe we will find why the disciples lost their power and authority that Jesus wanted them to walk in.

Verse 46, Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

This makes a clear picture to me. Once we as individuals, families, churches, or denominations start reasoning amongst ourselves on who is the greatest, we lose the power and authority that Jesus has commissioned to us. I think this mindset also includes thoughts like,

I have a closer relationship with Jesus than you do.
Our church has a closer walk with Jesus than 'their' church does.

Let's stay clear of thoughts that will make us powerless. These thoughts will bring us into captivity, whether we know it or not.

Remember how Moses went to Egypt with special instructions from God; To deliver the Hebrew Children from captivity.

It seemed that ever since Moses showed up there the Hebrews had to work harder and faster. The Hebrews asked Moses to leave. They saw him as one that's agitating Pharaoh's anger, which in turn was making their own lives more difficult.

Exodus 5:21-23, And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Moses turned to the Lord, because things were not going as Moses had planned. This looked like an impossible situation to Moses. He's telling God that He's not delivering His people at all. All of Egypt is stirred up. It seemed like Moses is rejected by Pharaoh, Egyptians, and also the Hebrews who were to be delivered by him. Here it looked like God is not keeping His Word. Why this??

Exodus 6:1, Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Notice 'when'? The Lord's first word to Moses, "Now" Moses was at the end of his personal recourses. God was building a strong leader by getting Moses to humble himself and come to the end of 'himself'.

Notice 'Who will do'? God!! Once Moses was undone, then God was ready to use him in a special way.

How is it with you and me, my Christian brothers and sisters? Do we still have personal abilities, talents, capabilities, intellect, etc. that actually interfere with the purpose that God has for you and me?

1Peter 5:6-7, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Let's walk in the power and authority that God wants us to walk in. The gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Keywords: amish, amish voice, christian living, ernie yoder, map ministry, mission to amish people