SBS Sermon Notes

The Power of Jesus

Without a doubt one of the most meaningful statements made by the Son of God concerns the authority and power he received after his resurrection. He said this:

Matthew 28:18

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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Let us examine this statement as it relates to things in this universe.

1. Over All Heavenly and Earthly Powers

Luke 4:36	And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
Ephesians 1:20	Which he (God) wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

See also Colossians 2:10 and Hebrews 1:1-7.

2. Over the Natural Elements

Matt.8:26-27	Then he arose and rebuked the wind* ...*
Matthew 21:19-20	Tell story of the fig tree
Matthew 14:28-29	Power to walk on water - and allow others to do likewise.

Note: Christ performed these amazing miracles by the power of the LORD God; power which is available to believers even today.

3. Over the Human Body

There are literally hundreds of recorded miracles in Scripture to prove the staggering power Christ received from his Father over the human body; the most astonishing being when he raised the dead at a command. The miraculous healings recorded in the Gospels are very different from the dubious claims of the bogus miracle-workers of today. See the SBS article entitled Miracles

Luke 7:1-10	... Speak the word, and my servant shall be healed.
Luke 5:17	and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
John 11:43	And he cried with a loud voice 'Lazarus come forth.' And he that was dead came forth.

Yeshua's power extends not merely over the bodies of others but even over his own.

John 10:17

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

4. Over the Human Mind

Luke 8:35	...Sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.
Hebrews 8:10	I will put my laws into their minds. (See paragraph 7)
Phil.2:5	Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2:16	... But now we have the mind of Christ ...

5. Over Life and Death

Revelation 2:7	To him who is victorious, I will give the right to the Tree of Life. See also verse 10.
Revelation 1:18	*I am he that liveth and was dead: and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen: and have the keys of hell and of death.*

Note: In other, words the Messiah decides whether a person lives or dies and at which resurrection he/she will come forth. Furthermore he will be the Judge on the Day of Judgement. These are awesome powers which everyone, everywhere must consider before it is eternally too late. Yeshua is offering life to all; let no one foolishly ignore so great an offer.

6. Power to Confer Authority upon others

Before his resurrection - healing power
Luke 9:1	He called the 12 together and gave them power and authority to overcome all the devils and to cure diseases.
After his resurrection - witnessing power
Acts 1:8	But you will receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and you will bear witness* of me ... to all the earth.*
In the millennial age - ruling power
Revelation 2:26	And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 3:21	To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

7. Power over Sin

Romans 7:1-23. Read this chapter or parts of it to the audience.

This chapter describes the power of sin in our carnal natures. One may inwardly admire the Law of God, but inherent sin, the carnal nature with which each and everyone is born, overcomes the pull of the good within and the person sins. In other words, this inherent downward tendency to sin - which Paul calls the law of sin and death - generally (if help from God is not sought) overcomes any desire to obey the Law of the Most High.

Question:
v24	O wretched man that I am! who shall deliever me from the body of this death?
Answer:
	I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion:
8:1	There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

This last fact - the making of a saint out of a sinner - demonstrates the power of Christ more than anything else ever can. To be sure we may marvel at Yeshua's various gifts, stand aghast at his creative ability, be astonished at his power over the elements and the human body, quake before his mighty authority over the angel host; but it is only when we witness his power to overcome sin in our own lives - over the downward pull of our own sinful human minds - that we can say 'I know the power of Yeshua.' I know from personal experience that he is mighty to save me from sin over my evil thoughts, my evil words and my evil actions. And till such time as we recognise and realise his all-encompassing power in our own lives, we are simply playing with words and scratching the surface of religious understanding and experience. Listen to these personal testimonies concerning Yeshua's redeeming power:

Job 19:25	For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Psalm 135:5	I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 140:12	*I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor.*
2 Timothy 1:12	... For I know* whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.*

Can you dear friend say that? Can you say I know that my Redeemer liveth ? If you can then Yeshua's power is working in your life.

MLC Sermon Notes More sermons about Yeshua

July 1999
Matanyah Learning Centre, Duiwelskloof, South Africa
matanyah.cjb.net/snotes/note0202.html