Matthew 28: 18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
One reason we don’t see God’s power is because we do not know who we are. From the Hellenistic viewpoint, you are just a single person no different or greater than anyone else. Being a Christian merely means someone who will get to Heaven some day. The world has denigrated you to another face in the crowd.
When you end your prayer, “In Jesus's name" do you know what you are saying? I think we tack those words onto the end of our prayers without really understanding what we are doing.
If a king sent an emissary to someone, and that person went “In the name of the King” it was as if the king himself was there in person. What the emissary said or did was as if the king himself said and did it. If the person commanded something, it was as if the king had spoken it himself. If he insulted someone, it was as if the king, himself has done the insult.
We are God’s emissary in this world according to 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
This is a heavy responsibility which God has given to us. We are here in this world representing Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus walked the earth, we are to walk the earth. Just as Jesus spoke to the people, we are to speak to the people. We are the body of Christ, in the flesh, in the world today. Do not ever think of yourself merely another person in the world who is a nobody. Each Christian has a God given purpose to fulfill as if Jesus Himself was here to fulfill that mission.
God does not send you out powerless. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” If the Holy Spirit lives in you, then you have that same power within you now. All power was given to Jesus, and all power is now available to you when you need it.
A Hellenistic viewpoint says, “You have to live in this world under your own power, wisdom and knowledge.” Jesus says, “You are my ambassador. Go in my name teaching all nations. I will be with you in power so you can fulfill your mission.
Read Part 2 of this post here.
Note: This post is based on my reading of the book” Viral Jesus by Ross Rohde
Photo Credit: Aristotle by Nick in exsilio
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