Evangelism Part 15: Proclaiming with Authority
Matthew 10:7-8 September 17, 2023
Intro
Matthew 10:5-8 “5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among
the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received
without paying; give without pay.”
We’ve listened well, asked wise and insightful questions, discerned the lies, and
understand where the attacks of the enemy are taking place – now it is time to act
o Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You
received without paying; give without pay.”
Listen to the Spirit and walk in the authority we have had delegated to us.
Jesus has sent out His disciples (and us) to engage with the world
Jesus’s Authority
Commissioning and giving of authority in rabbinical culture. 2-3 other rabbis were
necessary and needed to affirm someone in the giving of Heb. semikhah – meaning
ordination or leaning of hands, root Hebrew word means to be authorized (authority)
(See e.g. Deuteronomy 34:9 Moses to Joshua) – and recognized as one who could
disciple others. Jesus never had this happen from man, therefore:
o Matthew 7:28-29 “28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were
astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had
authority, and not as their scribes.”(see also Mark 1:22, 27, Luke 4:32, 36)
You have heard it said, but I say to you (6 times in the sermon on the
mount)
Matthew 3:16-17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he
went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to
him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming
to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”” (see also, Mark 1:11,
Luke 3:22)
o At baptism
Matthew 17:5 “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”” (see also,
Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35)
o At transfiguration
Not just authority to teach, but authority over everything
o Matthew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father…”
o John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” (see
also, John 13:3)
All authority – means over power over all things
He created all (see John 1:3)
He holds all things together by the power of His word (See Hebrews
1:3, Col. 1:17)
His miracles show his power over nature (Luke 8:25)
Over satan and his demons (Mark 1:27, 3:15)
Over all diseases and afflictions (Matthew 9:35)
Over all sin and death (Mark 2:10, 1 Cor. 15:54-56)
Luke 7:8 “For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to
one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do
this,’ and he does it.””
o Authority (Gk. exousia from éxesti = it is permitted, it is lawful) means the power
to do something and was a technical term used in the law courts, of a legal right.)
Legal right – God is a God of covenant, of legal order.
It is that authority—wielding the word by the Spirit—that Jesus used to apply the word
in the various situations He came across throughout His ministry
o Knowing the truth leads to the proper exercise of authority in action (cleansing,
healing, casting out, etc.)
o The enemy cannot withstand the one who has the legal right over it – Jesus’s right
– and we have been given the same right as Jesus through adoption
John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”(See also Rev.
22:14 on other spiritual legal right in Christ)
o But not only adoption, it is that same authority that Jesus delegates to us to
exercise in His name.
Matthew 10:1 “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them
authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease
and every affliction.”(see also Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1, 10:19)
Delegated Authority
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal
through us…”
Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
o “Authority” = same as Luke 7:8
John 17:1-2, 18 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven,
and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2
since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you
have given him….18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
o “Authority” = same as Luke 7:8
Ephesians 1:20-23 “20…[God] raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and
above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
o “Authority” = same as Luke 7:8
Acts 26:16-18 “16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this
purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen
me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and
from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may
turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
o Words to Paul apply equally to our call
Need to see and experience and learn both word of God and power of God
Mark 12:24 “Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are
wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of
God?”
Matthew 11:29-30 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.””
o Rabbi’s teaching = yoke
o Gentle (Gk. praus) = meek
Meekness = power under control
Specifically, under the Spirit’s control
Having authority means that we have the power of the Lord to
accomplish the work He sets us to, but we follow the
prerogative/leading of the Spirit as we go out into the world as sent
ones – ambassadors – to do the kingdom work we are called to.
What I want to do may not be God’s plan in the moment.
Theologically, there’s a difference between permissive/practical will
and perfect will of God in saving/healing/etc. in any given moment
o The key is that we obediently and faithfully follow the leading
of the Spirit as He calls us to exercise the authority of Christ
that has been delegated to us as His sent ones.
Galatians 5:16-17, 25 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify
the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to
each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do….25 If we live
by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
The Disney World FastPass (which no longer exists) is like our
authority card. Sometimes we might feel guilty about using it or
sheepish about “cutting in line”.
o Our FastPass (the Holy Spirit) might turn on and when it does
we need to learn how to move forward in power and
authority, but it may sometimes not turn on. Learning to listen
to and obediently following the Spirit takes practice but is
absolutely something we can grow in as we obediently and
humbly seek to listen for his prompting.
Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You
received without paying; give without pay.”
o Each call to action expresses an area Christ has authority – over death, over the
body, over provision, over the mind and heart.
Growing in being a proclaimer of the Kingdom means we grow in
recognizing where the King is showing us to intervene in this world. The
kingdom of God is at hand and the present darkness hasn’t stopped so we
cannot stop battling death, lies, corruption, and sickness.
When I am in a situation I should seek discern and understand lies/afflictions and I listen
for the leading of the Spirit.
o I know I am an instrument for truth, light, life, healing – these are all
manifestations and evidences of the nearness/present reality of the kingdom of
heaven.
o How that manifestation shows itself is completely up to the Lord – the results are
in His hands – our place is to be the obedient and faithful tool that He uses in a
given situation.
o We don’t walk in fear/doubt, but trust/expectation that the Lord will move. If the
Lord doesn’t move or show the result instantly, we didn’t do something wrong.
Listen for the Spirit, discern what He would have us to if there is something more
to press into. Otherwise, we trust that the Lord is moving even if we don’t see it.
I’ve prayed for many people, only rarely are results immediate, often
results reveal themselves over time, sometimes the results are very
different than what I prayed for. It does not mean I didn’t do it right; it
means the Lord is in charge of the results. Understanding this emboldens us
to act (Acts 4). Speak truth and respond in a given moment. Matthew 10:8
can and does still happen today as the Lord wills it.
The key is that we seek to submit to the Spirit’s leading and walk in the power and
authority that Jesus has delegated to us.
Enemy will seek to get us not to do this…speaking lies and mistruths and proclaiming we
don’t have authority
o 1974 Milgram Experiment (following points quoted from Milgram's Experiment on
Obedience to Authority (berkeley.edu))
Respondents were told the experiment would study the effects of
punishment on learning ability.
The “learner” was an actor working as a cohort of the experimenter.
"Teachers" were asked to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to
the "learner" when questions were answered incorrectly.
Shock levels were labeled from 15 to 450 volts. Besides the numerical scale,
verbal anchors added to the frightful appearance of the instrument.
Beginning from the lower end, jolt levels were labeled: "slight shock,"
"moderate shock," "strong shock," "very strong shock," "intense shock,"
and "extreme intensity shock." The next two anchors were "Danger: Severe
Shock," and, past that, a simple but ghastly "XXX."
In response to the supposed jolts, the "learner" (actor) would begin to
grunt at 75 volts; complain at 120 volts; ask to be released at 150 volts;
plead with increasing vigor, next; and let out agonized screams at 285 volts.
Eventually, in desperation, the learner was to yell loudly and complain of
heart pain.
At some point the actor would refuse to answer any more questions.
Finally, at 330 volts the actor would be totally silent-that is, if any of the
teacher participants got so far without rebelling first.
Teachers were instructed to treat silence as an incorrect answer and apply
the next shock level to the student.
If at any point the innocent teacher hesitated to inflict the shocks, the
experimenter would pressure him to proceed. Such demands would take
the form of increasingly severe statements, such as "The experiment
requires that you continue."
Some teachers refused to continue with the shocks early on, despite urging
from the experimenter. This is the type of response Milgram expected as
the norm. But Milgram was shocked to find those who questioned
authority were in the minority. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the teachers
were willing to progress to the maximum voltage level.
o Once we have given our lives to Jesus, the Enemy will try to get us to conform to
the idea that we are passive worshippers who have no power or authority in this
life. That is a lie.
He will try to get us to be ignorant of the authority we have – sadly, for
many followers of Jesus, that has worked.
o Alternatively, the culture is trying to conform us to a way of thinking and acting
that does not walk by the Spirit, but is instead controlled by fear or enticed by
hedonism or belittled into inaction or silence. We cannot fall victim to this.
o Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men.”
Our God has not sent us out to be mindless people-pleasers or self-
indulgent world-seekers. He has sent us out in His name, with His authority
and power, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and dispel the
lies of the anything wherever the Lord sends us.
Conclusion
o We pray in Jesus’ name – i.e. His power and authority
o Grow in the confidence of the power of Jesus – just like the centurion – and
expectantly wait to see the Lord move in the hearts, minds, bodies, and souls of
those whose lives we touch with the Kingdom of Heaven.