May 1, 2024 … The Authority of Our Lord …

May 1, 2024 …  The Authority of Our Lord …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from the group Elevation Worship singing … Authority … Poignantly and yet powerfully singing of how Jesus, our Lord, has authority over all things in this world and our lives. 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 28:18 [NLT] … 

18 Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ,,  

…  Jesus declares to His remaining disciples (and to all Christians) that He, Jesus, has authority over all things from God, the Father.                                                   

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Matthew 28:16-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus, before returning to heaven after the resurrection appears to His 11 remaining disciples and declares that His authority from God, the Father in heaven will be imparted by Him, thru His Spirit, to carry out God’s commission for those who believe and follow His will and His way.         

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Reference Passage: … Mark 1:27  [NLT] …   

27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”     

… Late in Jesus’ earthly ministry, His followers were amazed at the authority Jesus appeared to have in healing sickness, casting out demons, and even raising the dead to life.        

Reference Passage: … John 5:25-27, 10:18  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… Jesus assures His followers that His authority as the Son of God and The Son of Man comes from God, the Father.      

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] …  

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  

… Jesus assures his worried disciples that He will give them peace and power to deal with the influences of this world.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 1:8 [NLT] …  

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”.  

… Jesus declares that born-again Christians have been given empowering grace from Christ to be His witnesses in this world.      

 

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:8 [NLT] …  

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  

…God’s word clearly states that the authority of Christ over all mankind and all creation will NEVER change.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, James Banks -  AT THIS LINK  -   wrote about his worries for his son, Geoff, who had been delivered to freedom from drug addiction but that Satan has great power in the world to bring about destructive influences into our human weaknesses.  But Goeff assured his dad, the ODB author today, that He had Christ leading his life now, saying to his dad about Satan, … “He has power but he has NO authority!”  

And being one whom Christ is delivering from a behavioral addiction to sexual sin, I needed that assurance from God’s word and the linked song today (and all days) … that Jesus, my Lord, and Savior is the same ALWAYS … with God empowered grace to lead me from my weaknesses to His glory and out from any dark influences in my life thru the light of His authority.   Perhaps you, or some of my readers today, need to dwell on the truths in today’s Scriptures as well.                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for Your grace today for any of us needing Your authority and power today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to claim and use Your authority, Lord, over the challenges we face today.    … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.