Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Closeness to Jesus Accesses His Authority
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Closeness to Jesus Accesses His Authority
Closeness to Jesus Accesses His Authority
David W Palmer
(Matthew 10:1 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Prior to sending his twelve disciples on their first supervised mission, Jesus “called” them “to him.” Our primary call is to “be with him”:
(Mark 3:14–15 NKJV) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, {15} and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.
(John 15:7 NKJV) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Jesus wants us to be with him, abiding in him, asking him questions, and listening to him. He alone gives us power to “heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” Our Lord wants intimacy, fellowship, closeness, and connection with each one of us.
Jesus also says that he wants his words abiding in us. Putting his words into our hearts, and drawing near to him are our responsibilities:
(James 4:8 NKJV) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
(Luke 8:15 NKJV) “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”
If we fulfill the responsibility of drawing near to him in relational intimacy—with no denial and no deception; if we fulfill the responsibility of hearing his word in a “noble and good heart”; and if we keep his word, and patiently allow it to grow to harvest—unrestricted with weeds and rocks; then we will be able to ask what we desire and have it done for us.
According to Jesus, if you meet these conditions, you will see his supernatural power released in you and through you. So go ahead and ask!
For the purpose of our topic today, and in the context of Matthew 10:1; we are focusing on healing sickness and disease, and expelling evil spirits. Jesus wants us to see ourselves receiving and ministering his supernatural healing, restoring ability:
(Matthew 10:1 APE) And he called his twelve disciples and he gave them authority over foul spirits to cast them out, and to heal every ailment and disease.
We note from this that Jesus “gave” “authority” to those who accepted his invitation to come to him. In other words, those who obey him, and who draw near to him in loving, relational closeness will be the ones who receive and operate in his power and authority, as he desires. We remember also, that Jesus—God’s word made flesh (John 1:14)—or the Living Word of God—said after his resurrection:
(Matthew 28:18 NKJV) “... All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
The authority that Jesus gives his close followers is in the resurrected living Word of God. That’s why he urges us to ensure that we have his words abiding in us; in the fertile soil of a “noble and good heart,” they can come alive, and that is when their authority shows forth in great power.
The Master is preparing to send you on your supervised missions for him. This is phase 3 of his apprenticeship program for you—where he watches you. Today, we have seen in the above passages that in preparation for this he wants you to:
First, respond to his call to be “with him,” by drawing near to him. If you do as he asks of you in this, he will draw near to you. So draw near to him today, right now!
Second, he then wants you to abide in him. That is, to stay in close personal fellowship with him in humble, worshipful submission and relational intimacy.
Third, he wants you to have his word abiding in you. He wants you to value his word—his pearl of great price; he wants you to hear it, receive it, do it, believe it, and allow it to take root in your heart. Then from there, it will come alive with great authority, and it will bring forth abundant fruit.
Fourth, he wants you to accept the authority that he gives you through this process; and then to apply it to heal sickness and diseases, and to cast out demons in his name. In other words, through his authority, power, and love, to relieve people’s debilitation and suffering, bringing them to wholeness.
You can begin in this now; be ready for today’s opportunity to put it into practice.
(Luke 10:19 NKJV) “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
View all episodes
By DAVID W. PALMERCloseness to Jesus Accesses His Authority
David W Palmer
(Matthew 10:1 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Prior to sending his twelve disciples on their first supervised mission, Jesus “called” them “to him.” Our primary call is to “be with him”:
(Mark 3:14–15 NKJV) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, {15} and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.
(John 15:7 NKJV) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Jesus wants us to be with him, abiding in him, asking him questions, and listening to him. He alone gives us power to “heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” Our Lord wants intimacy, fellowship, closeness, and connection with each one of us.
Jesus also says that he wants his words abiding in us. Putting his words into our hearts, and drawing near to him are our responsibilities:
(James 4:8 NKJV) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
(Luke 8:15 NKJV) “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”
If we fulfill the responsibility of drawing near to him in relational intimacy—with no denial and no deception; if we fulfill the responsibility of hearing his word in a “noble and good heart”; and if we keep his word, and patiently allow it to grow to harvest—unrestricted with weeds and rocks; then we will be able to ask what we desire and have it done for us.
According to Jesus, if you meet these conditions, you will see his supernatural power released in you and through you. So go ahead and ask!
For the purpose of our topic today, and in the context of Matthew 10:1; we are focusing on healing sickness and disease, and expelling evil spirits. Jesus wants us to see ourselves receiving and ministering his supernatural healing, restoring ability:
(Matthew 10:1 APE) And he called his twelve disciples and he gave them authority over foul spirits to cast them out, and to heal every ailment and disease.
We note from this that Jesus “gave” “authority” to those who accepted his invitation to come to him. In other words, those who obey him, and who draw near to him in loving, relational closeness will be the ones who receive and operate in his power and authority, as he desires. We remember also, that Jesus—God’s word made flesh (John 1:14)—or the Living Word of God—said after his resurrection:
(Matthew 28:18 NKJV) “... All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
The authority that Jesus gives his close followers is in the resurrected living Word of God. That’s why he urges us to ensure that we have his words abiding in us; in the fertile soil of a “noble and good heart,” they can come alive, and that is when their authority shows forth in great power.
The Master is preparing to send you on your supervised missions for him. This is phase 3 of his apprenticeship program for you—where he watches you. Today, we have seen in the above passages that in preparation for this he wants you to:
First, respond to his call to be “with him,” by drawing near to him. If you do as he asks of you in this, he will draw near to you. So draw near to him today, right now!
Second, he then wants you to abide in him. That is, to stay in close personal fellowship with him in humble, worshipful submission and relational intimacy.
Third, he wants you to have his word abiding in you. He wants you to value his word—his pearl of great price; he wants you to hear it, receive it, do it, believe it, and allow it to take root in your heart. Then from there, it will come alive with great authority, and it will bring forth abundant fruit.
Fourth, he wants you to accept the authority that he gives you through this process; and then to apply it to heal sickness and diseases, and to cast out demons in his name. In other words, through his authority, power, and love, to relieve people’s debilitation and suffering, bringing them to wholeness.
You can begin in this now; be ready for today’s opportunity to put it into practice.
(Luke 10:19 NKJV) “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”