Fire On Your Head

Matthew chapter 10: “as YOU go, preach this message” They had to go do it. Simple enough, right?

Imagine seeing someone standing on a street corner with their mouth open, and going up to them asking what they are doing. Imagine they tell you that God told them to go preach the Gospel, and you ask “well why aren’t you doing it then?” and they tell you they are waiting for God to speak through them. Wouldn’t that sound ridiculous?

Why do I bring that up? Because we’ve missed this next part as a Church, and I listen to countless people tell me they won’t lay hands on the sick or practice healing because “only Jesus has power to do it.” This sounds noble and spiritual, but it’s a slap in the face to Jesus Who has given His authority to anyone who is saved through Him. Whenever people tell me this, I remind them “well, if Jesus lives in you, then let Him IN you do it through you.“ Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If responsibility that the Church has been commanded to do is not included in “all things”, then by all means place some liquid paper over this verse in your Bible.

He gave His disciples authority to drive out spirits, and gave them authority to heal the sick. This was a temporary endowment with power. When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost in Acts 2, that was a permanent empowerment, and not just for the disciples. (see Acts 1:8, 2:39-40)

Luke 9:2 basically says He told them “preach and heal”. Do you think it would be conceivable to these disciples if you went back in time 2000 years, and stopped them before going on this mission, and told them the modern day evangelical view of healing, and taught them–as many do today–that “you can preach the Gospel without any power accompanying it”? Sorry, Jesus–no less God Himself, didn’t seem to think His disciples should go preach without power accompanying.

Stuff to observe and think about:

• In Luke 10, when Jesus sends out the seventy-two, He says “heal the sick, and preach”. This is described in the opposite order than the instructions he gave in the previous chapter when Jesus sent out the twelve. Also keep in mind, this passage effectively demonstrates that it was NOT just the disciples who healed or performed miracles.
  
• Mark 6:10-13 records how they went out and preached that people should repent, then says they healed them –
• In Acts 3, Peter and John said “what I have I give you” to the cripple who asked alms of them
• Acts 2:43 – many miraculous signs and wonders were done by the apostles, Acts 5:12 says the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. It does not say Jesus showed up as an answer to prayers for Him to do it.
• Acts 6:8 – Stephen full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs amongst the people.
• Acts 8:6 – when the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
• Acts 14 – when the people saw what Paul did, they tried to worship him but he stopped them and said he’s just a man
• Acts 28:8 – Paul laid hands on Publius and healed him

In each of these instances, we have human vessels doing the work of the Anointed One they follow and represent.

So far in life I’ve been unable to obtain a credit card in my name. Missionary work, and having monthly support, is not considered ‘income’ in the eyes of any bank I’ve gone to to apply for a credit card in Canada. So my mom signed me up to be under hers. I carry a visa card in my wallet that has my name on it. It’s my mom’s credit, and her credit background and her income that provides me the ability to use it when it’s not possible to use cash to order or pay for something. But I am the one who goes into a store and uses it–she “gave me the authority” to. I make the transaction, but for all intents and purposes of this analogy, I make the transaction on my mom’s “authority”. I carry the card in my wallet and it has my name on the card I keep in my wallet–but it’s ‘her’ credit. She gave, and I ‘have’. This is similiar to what the Lord has given His followers out of HIS power, but WE have it in His name and authority.

If you want to compare authority and power, just think of police officers directing traffic. I’ve seen police officers pointing and waving their hands for giant mack trucks and large vehicles, indicating with hand gestures when it’s appropriate for that truck driver to pass or turn. A truck could crush a police officer in an instant, no questions about it, but the officer, just by wearing that uniform and standing in the middle of a road can demonstrate his authority. If said truck driver did not obey, then power would be used when say a tank or something more powerful than the truck is brought in to blow that truck away. Power is the enablement to DO something. Authority is the command that requires obedience towards those being commanded. Believers in Christ have been given both.

Asking God to drive out the demon is insulting the authority God has given you.
All we are doing is reasserting God’s authority and power over peoples’ lives. “But Steve, who do you think you are trying to do what God does”–I’m a child of the King, stating we are to do what He instructed us to do; set the captives free. “But Steve, you’re interfering with the Sovereingty of God when you do things like this and advocate others are to as well”. We’re not interfering with God’s sovereignty, we’re enforcing it using the power He’s given us, His children.

Matthew 4:23 – every healing is a deliverance on some level; this passage says Christ healed the sick, but then people brought to Him the demon possessed, and they were healed.
Compare this with Matthew 8:16-17.

Yes, it’s true that in Matthew 10 the commission to only go to the lost sheep of Israel was a commission to those twelve disciples in this passage. But the Great Commission is for all of us, every generation, to all nations. Later, in Matt 10:11, 17-18 Jesus tells the disciples they will be flogged in the synagogues—when did this happen? In Acts, not before. Interestingly, Smith Wigglesworth said “you don’t get persecuted until you get the Holy Spirit.” Later in the chapter, Jesus goes on to say they will bear witness before the Gentiles–when did that happen? Not on that particular trip, but years later in the book of Acts. Jesus also said “he who stands firm until the end will be saved” (v.22). “You will not finish going through the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes” (v.23).

This is obviously continuing ministry, not just the mission trip they went on in that chapter. And we see this applies to anyone who believes in Jesus’ name.

So Church, let’s start doing those things in Jesus’ name and authority. If He could use them, He can use us.