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Complete Sermon Notes

He Gave Them Power & Authority

INTRODUCTION: Context – “Who gave You this authority?”

“We need more prophets in our pulpits and less puppets” (Leonard Ravenhill).

Matt. 21:14 NKJV Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

We need to come to Him to receive from Him.

How we act after seeing the “wonderful things of God” reveals a great deal.

“Perfected praise” is praise with the right heart.

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

“Found nothing on it but leaves” – FRUIT is what matters.

. . . We wither spiritually when we lack fruit.

“Whatever things you ask in prayer” is a lifestyle centered on God’s will.

Without faith it’s impossible to please God – “if you have faith”.

This Doubt is tied to a bad attitude vs. recognizing our human condition: “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.”

PRAYER IGNITES PASSION! PRAYER IGNITES POWER:

Prayer pulls heaven down – you engage God’s poweer: “We must spend much time on our knees before God if we are to continue in the power of the Holy Spirit” (R.A. Torrey).

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23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority [e.g., power]?” Lives were being radically changed!

E.M. Bounds, “Preaching is God’s great institution for the planting and maturing of spiritual life. When properly executed, its benefits are untold; when wrongly executed, no evil can exceed its damaging results.”

There is nothing to fear when preaching the truth with AUTHORITY. God ordained it, and He blesses it. When God gives people authority to passionately and lovingly proclaim His Word, souls are converted, lives are changed, and families are restored.

THIS IS SO SERIOUS THAT: If pastors, teachers, or preachers challenge the authority or authenticity of the Word of God, they should step away from leadership.

A few years back, I listened in astonishment as postmodern leaders talked about replacing “preaching” with “having a conversation.”

In the book, Spirit Empowered Preaching, the author said, “It must be understood that the preacher does not share, he declares…Preaching is not a little talk. It is not a fireside chat. To substitute sharing and discussion for preaching is to risk the integrity of the gospel itself.”

Where are the Isaiahs and Jeremiahs calling nations to repentance? Where are the Peters and Pauls who spoke with such authority that martyrdom did not silence them? Though they are dead, they still speak! Where are the Wycliffs who stood so unyielding for the truth that he was called The Morning Star of Reformation? Where are the Tyndales and Huss’ who were burned at the stake for simply declaring the truth? Where are the Luthers who, when asked to recant or face possible execution, said, “Here I stand; I can do no other”? Where are the John Calvins who shape the religious thoughts of our Western culture? Where are the John Knoxs who cried, “Give me Scotland [for the cause of Christ] or I die”? Where are the Whitefields who shook continents?

Jesus Gave Them Authority – “In My name you shall…”

He gives you power and authority to guard your home; save your marriage; overcome temptation; protect your children.

It’s NOT YOUR unlimited Power and absolute Authority; its GODs.

EPHESIANS 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

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CLOSING TEXT: 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The first step into the Kingdom WAS/IS repentance – John’s baptism prepared the hearts for the coming Messiah.

Are you prepared?

Next week – Overcoming the Pain of Regret