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Wednesday, January 14th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/KTWh48
Commentary from Pastor Mike White:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8). Jesus did not tell His disciples to pray for the sick; He told them to heal the sick. He did not tell His disciples to pray for the lepers, He told them to cleanse the lepers. Jesus did not tell His disciples to pray for the dead, or for the demon-possessed; He told them to raise the dead and cast out demons.
It is good to be prayer-focused. However, there are very specific instances in Scripture where Jesus calls us to be command-focused. He has given us authority to go out and use His Name to bring heaven to earth. We have received His authority freely; now we must exercise it. We must not pray for the sick and wonder if it is God’s will to heal them. Instead, we must command their bodies to be healed, knowing the power of the name Jesus Christ!
Jesus told His disciples to be confident that if He could do it, they should do it. He gave them, “…power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matt 10:1). Jesus transferred His authority to His disciples; and then He transferred it to us (see Mark 16:14-18). Now let’s go out and use it!
Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ left us – His disciples – with power of attorney. Thank You that He didn’t simply ascend to heaven without making ample spiritual provision for us. He told us to go out and do the same, and even greater, works than He was able to perform! He told us to do all things in His name!