Those hearing Jesus teach said, “…they were ASTONISHED at His teaching, for His word was WITH AUTHORITY.” (Luke 4:32) Some men brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you…some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” (Matt. 9:2-3) So Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “…which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Matt. 9:5-6) As the man departed to his house, “…the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had GIVEN SUCH POWER TO MEN.” (Matt. 9:8)
Now, my dear friends The Lord said, “Let Us make man in Our IMAGE, according to Our LIKENESS…” (Gen. 1:26) Paul tells us, “…we are AMBASSADORS (presbeuō: a representative of Christ, authorized to speak as God’s emissary) for Christ, as though God were pleading through us…” (2 Corin. 5:20) Just think about this, we were created in the image and likeness of God and we are His ambassadors, filled with His Holy Spirit, so when we speak the Word of God it will be with POWER AND AUTHORITY…
Jesus said, “…as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Jesus told us to) HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEMONS…(Matt. 10:7-8)
-Bill Stockham