Dear Rangers,
When I was in the Army I was told to lead a section of ten men through the bush to
act as an enemy for an Infantry Regiment. I split the section into three groups and
told where to lay the ambushes and when to strike. Each Soldier did what I said
without question. Why? Because I had 2 stripes (corporal, it is interesting that the
word corporal also means to convert to Christianity) it gave me the authority to tell
them what to do. I placed one person in charge of each group to carry out my
orders. When Jesus was on this earth he acted on the Father's authority. We read
in Matthew 28:18 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me." He then gave us his commission to go and make
Disciples. So Jesus has the Authority of the Father and endowers us to use that
Authority through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave the promise of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples. In John 14:23-27 we
read "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will
love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not
love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they
belong to the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But
the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach
you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus foretold what was going to
happen after his death and resurrection. He said that the Holy Spirit would come
and will teach and remind us of what Jesus has done. Before Jesus was taken back
to heaven he breathed on the Disciples so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:21-22 "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy
Spirit." He then told them to wait for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which
happened on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:1-4 we read "When the day of
Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the
blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they
were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came
to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Throughout Acts we read of a
number times where the Disciples laid hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit.
So now ALL believers were empowered to do what Jesus commanded us to do.
Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:2 says "For you know what instructions we gave you by
the authority of the Lord Jesus." Paul is using the authority that Jesus gave to build
up the Church. We also have the Authority to "Go and make disciples and teach
them." Jesus did not suggest that we go when we feel like it, he said GO. Just as I
gave the order for the groups of soldiers to go and do the tasks I had assigned
them, Jesus has assigned us to go into the world. The first two letters of God spell
GO, the first three letters of the loser�s name, satan spell SAT. Jesus wants us to
go and satan wants us to sit. Who will you obey? We have the authority to do the
things that Jesus did and more. Jesus wants us to break out of our comfort zone
and trust him.
So now we have the authority we should use our faith. In John 14:12 we read "I tell
you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will
do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." It is time we
started to use our authority that cost Jesus his life to get. It was in his
resurrection
that the authority is given because the resurrection is the victory over sin and death.
So let us go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age."
There's a storm coming, our Storm.
PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO A DYING WORLD
Say to the captives, 'come out,' and those in darkness, 'Be free!'
Isaiah 49:9
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham aka Morning Light, The Larrikin
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Outpost 49
Hawkesbury Royal Rangers
Windsor, N.S.W.
Australia
F.C.F. 94
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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