Power Words of Authority

Power

Words of Authority

Authority

It is very hard to handle

Only one thing will equip you to handle authority

And only one thing will give you authority

The Scriptures

God’s Word

 

Words of Authority

Words have power.

Words change lives.

Words can wound

and words can heal.

In the information age, words are

as common as the air we breathe.

Image how many words you hear,

 how many you see every day.

I bet you would like to have

a dollar for each one of them.

But the values of most of these

words had no or little value to you.

When Jesus was in Capernaum, He

taught the people in the synagogue.

It is recorded that…

They were amazed at his teaching,

because his message had authority.

Luke 4:32

What gave Jesus’ words “Authority”?

It wasn’t the religious

leaders or the civil leaders.

Early in Jesus’ ministry people did not

know or believe He was the Son of God.

So what gave His words authority?

For the people to say His message had authority

would suggest that they had heard a lot of teaching

that was not so convincing or words lacking authority.

Did Jesus shout and point His finger?

Did He play on people’s heart strings?

If we look at the beginning of Luke 4, we

see this is the start of His public ministry.

Jesus was tested by the Devil.

  

In all three temptations,

Jesus responded with…

 “It is written”

Jesus started His ministry in

His home town, Nazareth.

Jesus read Isaiah 61:1,2 and says…

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 

Luke 4:21

The people responded…

 All spoke well of him and were amazed

at the gracious words that came from his lips.

"Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

Luke 4:22

They spoke well of Him and

His words were gracious.

BUT!!! He is Joseph’s son.

What authority could He have?

Jesus picked up on their thoughts and rebuked

them for not taking His words with authority.

Jesus says…

 "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”

 Luke 4:26

Then the people tried to kill Him.

So far we see in Luke 4 when Jesus

spoke He spoke from the scriptures…

When He was tempted and when He

rebuked the town’s people in Nazareth.

 When Jesus got to Capernaum,

Jesus taught and cast out demons.

And the people said…

  

“They were amazed at his teaching,

because His message had authority.”

So what gave Jesus’ words authority?

It was not His background as

a good person or popularity.

It was not the grace in which He spoke.

Jesus’ words had authority because

He spoke the scriptures.

Paul told the young pastor, Timothy…

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able

to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

The reason Timothy should

continue in the scriptures is…

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,

correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of

God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

The scriptures can be misused,

 but Scripture is the authority.

Scripture will confirm or deny our words.

Scripture is the authority.

God’s Word, the Scriptures will be confirmed…

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

When Jesus spoke His words

were confirmed with miracles.

When we speak God’s Word

the scripture says in Mark 16…

signs will follow those who believe

 

We should remember that in Jesus’ home town

the people spoke well of Him but did not

believe because they were familiar with Him.

This kept Jesus from doing miracles there.

God’s Word does not need miracles

to be proven it is the authority.

The Scriptures confirm

themselves and can stand alone.

But God’s Word is more than a

book of knowledge it is powerful.

God’s Word has spoken

the world into existence.

God’s Word cannot lie.

God’s Word changes lives.

God’s words do not sit idle.

So when we read God’s Word or speak it

we should believe God will confirm His Word.

Popularity did not give Jesus’ words authority.

It is the Word of God that has authority.

And if our words are to have authority we must…

First let God’s Word change us.

And second we must use God’s Words.

 And let God confirm it with signs and wonders.

Scripture Reading

Luke 4:31-37 NIV

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!"

35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.