Astounding Authority

By Beverly Hill McKinney

In Matthew 28:18 Christ states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Christ did not leave the disciples powerless when he went into Heaven but through His death and resurrection He gave the power and authority of the Holy Spirit to all those who believe.

With our acceptance of Christ into our lives, we can also claim that authority as a child of God. God’s Word gives us authority not only over fear, illness and discouragement, but over principalities and powers as well. That means that through Christ’s death on the cross, we are given the authority that the Father had given to Him.

The Old Testament is full of stories of God’s authority over evil. We think of the authority Moses displayed to Pharaoh when he told Pharaoh to let God’s people go. And when Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued the children of Israel, God showed his authority over nature by parting the Red Sea for the Israelites.

In the New Testament authority from the Heavenly Father was given to the disciples after Christ’s death. In Luke 9:1 Jesus calls the disciples together and “he gave them power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases.”

When I was quite young, I experienced an event in my family which brought to mind once again Christ’s authority in our modern world.

On a visit to my uncle’s home in El Paso, Texas, my family visited his large cotton farm. While there my uncle mentioned that one of the houses on his property was haunted. He was a devout Christian so said this in jest, but explained that all of his workers were frightened to live in that particular house. My mother standing by and hearing this looked at my uncle and said, “I’ll stay in that house. I’m not afraid. All I need to take with me is my Bible.” Although my uncle insisted Mom not stay in the house she was willing and would not have been afraid. Mom was raised on the mission field and had a great love for the Word of God. She had seen as a child the power and authority of God over evil. She remembered miracles and healings that took place through the authority of the Bible and had confidence in God’s Word.

As Christians we, too, can claim the authority that God gives us through his Word.

Remember, the One who parted the Red Sea, stilled the storms and raised the dead is still working in our lives today. We can trust His astounding authority today and see miracles happen in our lives.

Beverly Hill McKinney writes from Rogue River, Oregon. bmckinnehill@yahoo.com