JANUARY 30: “BENEFITS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD – AUTHORITY FOR LIVING”

As children of God, we have been endowed with power and authority by the reason of our relationship with Jesus. We may look ordinary and unimportant to the world, but who we are in Christ Jesus is not hidden throughout the scriptures. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” 2 Peter 1:3. It must be noted that God has already given us all that we need here on earth for an effective Christian life. It is not that God is just preparing it, but He did that long ago, even before you knew Him as your Lord and Saviour.

Among several benefits of intimacy with God is the release of Authority to us. From our text for today, while the Lord was commissioning His disciples, He made them know that all authority both in heaven and on earth had been given to Him by the Father and in the same He commissioned them to go everywhere preaching the gospel. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy and drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” The Lord discharged them to go everywhere exercising the authority He had given to them.

Beloved, as a child of God you have been given authority over all things and you had better begin to exercise it. Is any situation challenging God’s presence in your life or in the life of any of your children or your business? Arise in faith and make use of what you have been given. Those disciples came back to testify to the potency of the authority they had received, “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we used your name!” The same authority have you, Go and put it to use. God bless you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for the authority I have in your name. I receive boldness and courage to put it to use in Jesus name, Amen