Larry Ray Hafley
Jesus spoke and taught "as one having authority" (Matt. 7:29). Knowing him as
we do, this does not surprise us, but those who first heard him were amazed and
perplexed (Mk. 6:2).
First, do we take the Lord's authority for granted? Do we accept it without
understanding what power his word should have over our lives? I suspect we often
do. We are not troubled by his mighty claims, words, and deeds as the people of
his day were. Are we indifferent to the meaning of who Jesus is? Are we
negligent of his word? "No," we would reply, being offended by even the
suggestion of such a thing.
But how are we better than those who rejected his power and authority, if,
while we acknowledge it, we ignore and disobey him and his word? What makes us
any better than they if we refuse his word, knowing its divine origin, while
condemning them for rejecting his Deity and power?
Second, the power of his word must be spoken today. It must be preached, for
it is stamped with the signs, seal, and signature of heaven (Heb. 2:1-4). Its
majesty and authority is not determined by the preacher. We no longer have the
"inspired" pen writing in the hands of "inspired" men, but we have the
"inspired" word they left us (1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Thess. 2:15). His word has its own
intrinsic power; hence, we speak of the power of his word. He himself has his
own inherent power; thus, we speak of the word of his power (Heb. 1:3).
Neither he nor his word can be diminished or supplied by our response or
reaction. He is the same. He abideth forever. So does his word (Mk. 13:31; Heb.
13:8). And "he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1 Jn. 2:17). That is
spoken with the support and foundation of the word of his power and the power of
his word. Let no man despise it (Titus 2:15).
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