Defining Discipleship
Step Five: Authority

As we said in the last article, immediately after Jesus told his disciples to ask for more labourers to go into the harvest field, he commissioned them to go themselves. He doesn't send them out ill-equipped though. Matthew's gospel says this:

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness

Matthew 10: 1 (NIV)

What authority do you have?

When you go to make disciples in Jesus' name, you are acting under his authority. In the great commission, Jesus says this of himself:

Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...”

Matthew 28: 18-19 (NIV)

Authority to go

This is not a limited authority, or remit. It is the ultimate. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to him. This means that there is nowhere that we cannot go. When we step out to proclaim the gospel, we have the full authority of Christ himself. The scope is all nations. The entire world.

This has been God's plan from the beginning. We see this in his promise to Abraham.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.“

Genesis 12: 1-3 (NIV)

And he promises us in Revelation that it will be fulfilled.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb

Revelation 7: 9 (NIV)

So wherever we are called to go, we can be confident that we have God's authority to do so.

Authority to speak to all people

At the beginning of Jesus mission, he announces the types of people who he has come to save.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4: 18-19 (NIV)

He also says:

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9: 12-13 (NIV)

In following him, our authority is for the lost, the sinners, the poor, the sick and the afflicted.

Our authority is not restricted to just these people. Jesus tells his disciples that they can speak to anyone regardless of their status. In fact, he makes it clear that we will be expected to go before the powerful.

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.“

Luke 12: 11-12 (NIV)

We are there under his authority, and he will give us the words to say.

Authority over sickness

One of the interesting things in the gospel, is that Jesus never tells his disciples to pray for the sick. Instead, he gives them authority, and tells them to heal the sick (Matthew 10: 8, Luke 9: 2, Mark 16:18).

Healing the sick, driving out demons and even raising the dead are all things that Jesus gave his disciples the authority to do. When we are sent out by him, we have his authority to lay hands on people and command their illnesses to be healed.

We need to be careful when we do so, that we ask in faith. One of the tensions of modern Christianity is that we do not see healing every time we ask for it. This should not stop us asking. Nor should it lead us to blame people. Healing requires faith on the part of both the sick person and the person requesting it. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the work of man. So step out, have faith and don't be discouraged if you do not see it. God is responsible for the honour of his own name (Ezekiel 36: 23).

Take action

One of my concerns as a Christian is that I often find myself asking God to do something which on reflection he as already commanded me to do. The authority of God comes with his commission. He expects us to step out in his authority.

• Ask God what authority he has given you?
• Step out in faith and go to the people he has laid on your heart
• Ask God for the authority to heal. Pray that when you lay hands on people you will see them cured
• When you are with the sick, lay hands on them and command their illnesses to leave