Jesus' Authority Scrutinized, Jesus Authority Validated!

Authority. What is and who has it?? Matthew 7 verse 28 -29 says after Jesus finished speaking the crowds were amazed at His teaching. For he taught as one who had real authority....quite unlike the teachers of religious law. Matthew 9 verse 2. Some friends brought Jesus a man that was paralyzed. Jesus told the man your sins are forgiven. v 3 "Blasphemy! this man talks like he is God some of the religious law teachers said. Jesus knew what they were thinking so he asked them "why are you thinking such evil thoughts is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or get up and walk I will prove that I the Son of Man have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said stand up take up your mat and go home because you are healed. The man jumped up and went home. fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen right before their eyes. v8 They praised God for sending a man with such great authority.  In the law and in the courtroom authority is everything. Black's Law Dictionary says authority is the power present in any job needed to get it done. It can also be defined as any power that is formally given. Another definition for legal authority is the judgment of the court used to support an argument. Simply stated authority is legal support of an action. Power is defined as the ability to do something or act in a particular way. I get excited when I read scripture that says Jesus has authority. countless times in the courtroom a judge will ask an attorney what is your authority. The attorney will then proceed to quote a case from the California court from the federal court from the Constitution or from a code book or other legal source. An attorney's argument rests on the legal authorities he/she is citing or quoting.the authority is the legal basis for the argument a person is making. The legal authority is the power by which a judge can make a decision. Here we see Jesus has authority... He has authority when he speaks and he has authority to heal and forgive sins. Jesus has the power to do all that is within the Father's power. Jesus has authority to heal sin and to save people. Where does Jesus get his authority?? Jesus has the same authority that the Heavenly Father does. Jesus is Lord of creation Lord of the earth Lord of circumstances.....He is the Lord of all. We can come confidently to our advocate knowing that he always lives to intercede for us and he has the greatest Authority under heaven. This causes us to rejoice. I love the song by Gia Lucid that says over and over there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain break every chain. Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which you must be saved. Acts 4:12. There's power in the name of Jesus because there's authority in the name of Jesus.

First Jesus was Sleeping....and then He calmed the storm

Matthew 8 verse 23: "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly a terrible storm came up with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up shouting Lord save us we're going to drown. And Jesus answered why are you afraid you have so little faith then He stood up and rebuked the wind and waves and suddenly all was calm....." Jesus sleeps. It is amazing to me that the Jesus allowed himself to be human. He was exhausted. As I read this passage today I was reminded of the reason why Jesus was exhausted. Although the scripture does not say precisely, perhaps Jesus was exhausted from all the ministry and service to people. We have to remind ourselves of the context. The disciples and Jesus walked everywhere. They moved around from town to town ministering. I believe He was physically exhausted.....Full time ministry leaves little room for breaks I am sure. Raising my 2 little ones I  have often realized I never have time off....I am always a mom I am always on duty. The same goes for being a wife it is full time ministry to pour myself out for my husband and children. I have often heard people ask for prayer for balance between family and ministry. I am sure the reason is because serving the body of Christ and serving at home at the same time is extremely exhausting but of course it is completely worth it!!!! We must be about our father's business and continually be storing up our treasures in heaven. Here Jesus sleep....and the disciples panic. The disciples come to him in fear. God in human form is in the boat with them. Didn't the waves and wind get it? why would the very creation of God allow a storm to be where Jesus is? Did the eind miss the memo that day??? Since Jesus is Lord of all creation I believe he had orchestrated this exact incident. Jesus must have wanted his disciples to know that even the wind and waves obey him. Jesus asks why they are so afraid. However the disciples do not drown because of their own beliefs.... instead Jesus in His grace and mercy removes the source of their fear. Later in Matthew 18 verse 28 when Jesus arrives on the other side of the lake in the land of the Gaderenes 2 men who are possessed by demons meet him. Immediately after a faith building experience and mountain top moment where Jesus calms the wind and the waves the disciples and Jesus are mey by two demon possessed man. Again I believe this timing is God's timing. The disciples needed to learn that Jesus not only was God of creation but he was the God of the spiritual realm and even demons would have to flee at his word. An interesting thing occurred to me this morning why does the entire town beg Jesus to go away as stated in Matthew 8 chapter 34. Jesus heals two men possessed with demons. The 2 men were so dangerous they were living in a cemetery. Why isnt the town excited these 2 men that brought fear to the town are now healed. Instead the entire town came out to meet Jesus and they begged him to go away and leave them alone. Could it be that the economy was hurt when Jesus allowed the pigs to plunge into the lake and drown? I do not know.  I do believe the people living in the town did not want to change. When we encounter Jesus he will not leave us the same. We must change. the skeletons in the closet must be dealt with. The demons musr be dealt with. perhaps the people living in the town were content with leaving the 2 demon possessed men in the cemetery away from their families away from their children and away from their day to day lives. But Jesus is not content to leave anyone hurting.... He deals with spiritual oppression by Satan. Jesus wants to deal with it head on. Do not be mistaken....Jesus does deal with wickedness and rebukes it just the same way He rebuked the wind and the waves. In Psalm 10 verse 12 David says arise Oh Lord punish the wicked oh God do not forget the helpless. God has not forgetten the helpless. He will punish the wicked he will arise and show himself. We must wait patiently. Even though it may appear that Jesus is asleep....he is not asleep he is always actively working on our behalf.

Questions to God and Praying along the Journey....

Genesis 24:1 "Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way" I LOVE this! My favorite scripture, my life scripture is Matt 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Here we are way back in Genesis and we see a humble, obedient man, Abraham who gets the very same thing Jesus teaches His disciples years later. It makes sense. Abraham knew Yahweh which means Abraham knew Jesus (see John 8:58... Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.")
Abraham is now old...he is looking to his legacy. He understands the influence a woman has on a man. His wife Sarah is now in heaven and now his eyes turn to the future of his son. My son, Isaac must continue this life with God, he must have thought. He must continue to walk with Yahweh, the LORD. Abraham wisely looks to the "home." If Isaac marries a worldy, Canaanite woman, he will certainly fall into sin. If Isaac marries a woman who loves Yahweh, Isaac's walk (not guaranteed but may) continue to be tied to God. No doubt Abraham must have spoken to Isaac about how miracuously he was born. Abraham probably shared how Isaac was promised before hand. He was the son by which Abraham'sfuture generation would be blessed. Isaac is now mature and needs to be a "man." Now it is time for him to have his own wife and family. I love the servant's heart! The servant was so very loyal to Abraham. He could have questioned Abraham's judgment and Abraham's wisdom. He did not question his decision. He knew Abraham was in tune with God, talked with God and had intimacy with God. All though the servant had this "head knowledge" he still calls God "the God of my master" so the servant has questions.

The servant asks, Gen. 24:5 "But suppose I can't find a young woman who will travel so far from home? May I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives"

Abe responds: "No!" Be careful never to take my son there. For the LORD God of heaven who took me from my father's house and my native land solemnly promised to give this land to my offspring. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a young woman there to be my son's wife."

Abraham is so content in God's Word! He understands since God said it, it will come to pass.
The servant needed to be reminded about this. The servant had questions. It's ok to ask God questions. It's ok to pray, "LORD I want to be in your will. I want to move as you lead and follow your directions. But I don't get this Father! Show me. What if I move to another city and I can't find a job?" or "What if this man is not the one you want me to marry?" It's ok to take your "what ifs" to God. I can ASSURE you 100% God will speak back and He will use the promises from His WORD. Abraham tells the servant...I don't know exactly how this is going to play out...but I know Isaac needs a wife, I know the ladies around here are ungodly, and I know this land we live in is promised to my offspring. I know God will fulfill His WORD. I love this!!!

So we see it's ok to have questions as long as we present them to our Master, our God and remember His promises are sure and certain.

What do we do with questions? We take them to the cross and we PRAY ALONG THE JOURNEY. I love how Genesis 24 shows the servant praying, verse 12 "O LORD God of my master." he prayed "Give me success and show kindness to my master Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey..." The servant asks God to show him a woman that was kind that she agrees to give him water and goes beyond that, offers water to his camels too. "As he was still praying...a young woman named Rebekah arrived" Gen. 24:15

This completely shows the heart of God!! As we pray God reveals answers! God answers yes, no, or wait. He always answers the prayers of His saints. Check out Matthew 6:8b For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Even before we pray, God knows, God sees and God is waiting to answer. Isn't that wonderful? It causes my heart and spirit to praise Him!!

Here, the servant learns from watching his master Abraham. The servant learned that when you are on a journey YOU PRAY. That is what a Godly person does. Do I always do this? No. But I need the reminder. I need to remember to pray along the journey always!! (every step of the way, pray!)

Gen. 24:16 says, "Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin."
How awesome. God gave Rebekah wisdom to wait for the man. To wait for the man she would marry. She was old enough to marry. Perhaps she wondered why her time had not come? Perhaps she was praying and waiting on the LORD and knew God would bring her husband to her. I don't know....what I do know is that she was a virgin and she wisely saved herself for the man, the husband God would provide (Jehovah Jireh).

Today in Onew Year Bible NT Matthew 8:8 shows us a similiar picture of God's trust in God's Word. The Roman officer has a sick servant. He seeks after Jesus for the healing of his servant. "LORD I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are and my servant will be healed"
Jesus marveled at the servant's faith.
All the officer needed was Jesus' Word. This is the SAME FAITH Abraham had. All we need is Jesus' Word. His Word is enough. His promises are more than enough.
The officer says to Jesus, "say the word from where you are"
God speaks to us too. He speaks His Word to us as we read it, meditate on it and pray His promises back to Him. When we pray, it's ok to have questions....just remember to pray in faith, pray His promises back to Him and believe His Word is enough because His promises are sure! It's an exciting journey with twists and turns so pray along the way and God will guide you (Prov. 3:5-6) "Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths." Do not depend on your own understanding....Seek First His kingdom (Matt 6:33)

Obey Obey Obey and Be Blessed!

I think Genesis chapter 22 is one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible. I love the picture of Abraham's obedience to what the Lord asked him to do. Abraham was waiting and waiting... Finally (in God's perfect timing) Abraham was given a beautiful son named Isaac. This is the only time in the Bible where a human father is asked to sacrifice his son (of course God stops him...but the request was made). It is a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father's willingness to sacrifice his Son Jesus for our salvation. From a personal viewpoint, my Isaac is a 5 year old boy....a son of joy! He is the only grandson on my side of the family. My sister has 4 daughters and my brother has 2 daughters...we are family that waited and waited for a boy to be in the family. It was so funny to continue to celebrate every single babyshower with pink. Finally in 2007 I became pregnant with a boy. I truly believe God led us to name him Isaac as I must daily put him on the altar. I must daily submit my will my dreams my home my son and surrender all on the altar to my Heavenly Father. In Genesis 22 verse 16 reads (NLT), "Then the angel the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that that I will bless you richly I will multiply your descendants beyond number like the stars in the sky and the sound on the seashore. They will conquer the cities of their enemies and through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed all because you have obeyed me." There is no doubt God does ask us to sacrifice our children our marriages our finances our  pleasures and treasures at the foot of the Cross. Matthew chapter 7 vere 21 (paraphrase) Jesus said not all people who sound religious are really godly .....they may call me Lord but they still won't enter the kingdom of heaven the decisive issue is whether they OBEY my father in heaven. And Matthew 7 verse 24 Jesus says, " Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is like a person who built a house on solid rock." Abraham's faith was tested. In our lives our faith is tested. Thankfully we will never be asked to sacrifice our children in the manner that Abraham was asked. Please do not be mistaken. God does ask us to sacrifice!  He asks us to sacrifice our entire being to God. God blesses obedience. When we obey we recieve the blessing of intimacy with Jesus. Abraham was called the friend of God. Abraham talk with God and he walked with God. He had faith to believe that God would raise his son Isaac from the dead. In Genesis 22 verse 5 the Word reads, "stay here with the donkey" Abraham told the young men the boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there and then we will come right back." I love how Abraham believed. Even though his heart must have been full of confusion and pain in simple obedience he did exactly as God the Father asked him to do. We must do the same. Psalm 9 verse 1&2 says "I will thank you Lord with all my heart I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done I will be filled with joy because of you I will sing praises to your name Oh Most High" Abraham's life tells of all the marvelous things that God has done. Does yours? Let's be vocal and publish our thanks to God! Tell others, and tell God. Express your thankfulness for the marvelous things He has done. That God would take a simple man Abraham ask him to leave his land and go to an unknown land wait for nearly 100 years to have his first son and then later ask for that son that very same son of promise to be sacrificed....it was time for Abraham's life to be tested and he passes.  Abraham's life of obedience is beautiful and God honoring. I want that life of obdience LORD! Holy Spirit make me a woman that lives moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day in obeience to the Father's direction and leading.

Lot's wife and Fleeing Evil

so many things stood our for me today in the 1 year Bible. the first thing that was so powerful to me was the walk between a husband and wife ...in Gen 19 we see Lot and his wife fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19 verse 24 then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens....He uterally destroyed them along with the other cities and villages of the plain eliminating all life people plants and animals alike. 26 But Lot's wife looked back as she was following along behind him and she became a pillar of salt. You must know the story....what struck me 2 day was the way Lot and his wife were walking. I am 4 foot 11 and my husband is obviously taller than me. When we walk together he often stops and says I'm sorry I'm walking ahead of you. He does this because he says he likes to walk by my side not in front of me. In life as married people we desire to walk together to enjoy God together to grow more in love with the Lord together. As I look at lots wife I noticed something about her she was not walking right beside her husband she was following along. Yes she was fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah but really her heart stayed there. I picture her dragging her feet like a child who does not want to go to school in the morning. Jesus said the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. May we learn from this picture!!! May we flee violently from evil. May we hold our spouse's hand and walk with the Lord together!

Don't do it yourself.....Ask God first

Genesis chapter 16 verses 1 and 2 says but Sarai Abram's wife had no children. So Sarai took her servant an Egyption woman named Hagar and gave her to Abram so she could bear his children. Stop there. Sarai had no children so she figured out a way to solve the problem. She wanted children but now she was up in age and she had forgotten that God was the God of impossible. I hate it how we women try to fix things without consulting God first. I do this myself as well so this encouragement is for me first. Sarai wanted children she waited almost 100 years with no results so she took matters into our own hands. She was a problem solver and a leader....but she tried to do it herself before consulting God first. What problems she created not only for herself but for her husband and for many future generations. Why didn't she pray first why didn't she talk to her husband about it why didn't she wait on the Lord?? I believe Sarai was confused I believe she believed God's promises that Abraham was going to be blessed and his generation after him would be blessed but she didn't see how that could happen without children so she came up with a solution. She gave Hagar to Abram. Go sleep with Hagar Abram and those children will be the conduit of God's blessings. Today in the 1 year Bible Proverbs 2 verses 1-5 says --My Children listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord and you will gain knowledge of God. I am blown away by this contrast with Sarai's behavior. The person of understanding the person in tune with God concentrates on Him. She listens to God not herself. She has ears to hear the Spirit's wisdom. She waits on the Lord in prayer she knows that God's promise to her is to give her a future and a hope. A woman of wisdom is not quick to solve the problem but rather wait for the Lord to solve the problem in His timing in His perfect way. A woman of wisdom trusts in the Lord with all her heart and leans not on her own understanding. Sarai trusted in her  own understanding and it got her in trouble. Sarai trusted in herself and her own wit and creative mind to solve the problem. I was speaking with my sister the other day and we were talking about how some women date men with lots of problems... these women like "projects" they like to fix things and they feel it is their job to fix this man with a ton of problems. That is not what God designed us to do. God designed us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added on to you. Sarai wanted children. God saw that desire in her she just needed to wait and not enlist Hagar to be the surrogate mother. What area of your life are you enlisting another to be a surrogate mother? Are you trying to fix the problem instead of asking God to fix the problem? Perhaps God is testing you. Don't be like Sarai. Wait on the Lord sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from doing no physical action but do wait on God be in prayer and reading the Word. We live in a fast paced world and we do not like this 4 letter word wait. We want things our way now. But God says through His Word in the Proverbs that we are to seek out wisdom and we are to concentrate on understanding we are to cry out for insight and understanding... we are to search for wisdom as we would for lost money or forhidden treasure. I have lost my keys many times. When I look for them I don't walk around slowly looking here or there I search with all of my mind my intellect trying to retrace my steps trying to remember where did I leave my keys... when you're searching for something that's important you do it with all of your heart. Instead of trying to fix the problem may we learn to be people that search for God he is the 1 we are searching for... the solution to or problem is just a byproduct of our life pursuit to seek God out and seek His will. The other night as I was praying for Isaac it dawned on me all I have to do is to tap into God's will... If I pray according to God's will for Isaac Isaac is going to be fine.... God gave me such a peace in knowing that as I pray for Isaac asking for God's will to be done God hears and will honor those prayers. May the Lord make us people that instead of trying to be Mr. Fix It or Ms. Fix It, we learn to become God's princesses (Sarah means princess) women that are like Israel (not wrestlers like Jacob) governed by God.

Autism-May God Lead Us to the Pathway No One knew Was There

The other day I heard someone say, “I hate autism.”

We (I am speaking of parents of children with Autism) get so sad when we can’t understand our sons. Isaac has an iPad. He uses Pictures to communicate (PECS), he also knows some sign language signs, but sometimes we become overwhelmed with grief, sadness and hopelessness that he can’t talk like a typical child and express himself. Thank Jesus, these emotional "hopeless" moments are few and far between. For we know God understands all children whether they grunt, point, babble or speak, God hears them and He understands them perfectly.

I have been thinking a lot about the way God is using Isaac for His glory. I have had so many opportunities to share about breakthroughs, answers to prayers, and victories God has done through Isaac with others. It is truly a journey like no other.

I have taped on Isaac’s wall, Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts."

I need to remind myself that God’s ways are NOT our ways. This verse encourages me sooo very much.

Today I was blown away reading Psalms 77, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters---a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds." (Psalm 77:19-20 New Living Translation)

“A Pathway No One Knew Was There” I pondered…A pathway no one knew was there. A pathway no one knew was there.

The Israelites were pushed to the end of the line (literally). They were pushed and found themselves where the Red Sea and land met. There was nowhere to go. They could not walk on water. They could not walk over steep mountains. They were trapped. What would they do? They HAD NO IDEA God would create “a pathway no one knew was there.” Where was the pathway? The pathway was His way. The pathway no one knew was there was to part the Red Sea. The pathway was TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

I am approached by people often with these questions, “Do they know what causes Autism? Why is it so common these days? Why do children appear to be developing Autism more now than ever? Why is Autism more prevalent in boys?"

My answer to all these questions is the same as the medical and psychological communities- WE DON’T KNOW. Just like the Israelites did not know how God would help them. We as parents of special needs children often do not know how to help our kids or why they are considered part of the Autistic Spectrum.

Parents often cry out, "Am I doing all I can? Is there anything more I can do? I just don’t know…sometimes how to understand my child…"

However, God knows. He is El Roi, the God who sees. He is the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God of all the universe. Perhaps God is using my son Isaac down a road towards “a pathway no one knew was there” to teach me, my family and countless others what TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD truly is. Just think about it…

This is very encouraging to me. I pray it encourages you too!!