INTRODUCTION

Why did men marvel when they heard the Lord Jesus speak? The reason is quite simple. The Lord spoke not as the other religious leaders spoke, but with authority! No scribe or man could have any greater authority to speak on the behalf of God than He who was  God come to earth in flesh. Everything the Lord did during His earthly ministry testified of His absolute authority. At one point, the Bible says that all people were amazed when they saw the Lord command unclean spirits with authority and those spirits obeyed Him. In addition to this, the Bible declares that God the Father gave authority to the Son to execute judgment (John 5:27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
See All...). Ultimately, any authority possessed by the people of God stems from the authority of God’s Son.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Read Acts 4:5-14 [5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, [6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? [8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, [9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; [10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. [14] And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
  See All.... The religious rulers asked Peter and John who gave them the power and authority to heal the lame man (Acts 4:7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
  See All...). Peter’s answer and the leaders’ response to his answer proved Peter had no doubt that the Lord has authority.
• (For everyone): Why should it concern you whether or not the Saviour had authority? What would it say of Him if He did not possess this authority? How would that change your ability to speak or work with authority?
• How or why was the Saviour able to speak with authority when the scribes could not? Why is it that some believers today are unable to speak with authority while others boldly do so?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord that your Saviour both had and continues to have authority.
• Ask God to remind you that your authority depends upon His authority.

HYMN

O HOW I LOVE JESUS

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