Author: Lori Casto

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

 …for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:5, 8

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-18

I hope you’ve taken the opportunity over the last few days to read, re-read, and ponder the above scriptures. I found myself leaping with joy as I read these scriptures again this morning. We’ve been talking about how powerful God is. We’ve reminded ourselves of How His power is made perfect in our weakness. Today I want to discuss the authority we have as Christ followers and why authority is so important.

When Jesus is getting ready to ascend into heaven, He understands his physical, human body will no longer be on earth. Throughout His ministry, He exercised His authority given Him by His Father God through The Holy Spirit. Jesus demonstrates his God-given power & authority throughout His ministry. He didn’t have power without authority given to Him by His Father. Without authority, there is no power.

The Great commission, (Matthew 28: 18-20) is Jesus exercising the authority His Father has given Him and giving that same authority to us. God considers us Joint heirs with His own Son. The same authority He gave Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, is the same authority He gave His own Son, who in turn, gave it to you and me.

The same power He gave Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, is the same power He gave His own Son, who in turn, gave it to you and me.

If we weren’t given authority, we can’t demonstrate His power.  However, we have been given this authority, and it can be demonstrated through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Something very important to remember as I move forward. Yes, we’ve been given authority and power, but it’s important to remember it’s not our power, its God’s power through the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The more we are in total surrender, the more The Holy Spirit is able to work through us. We tend to get in the way of the Holy Spirit’s ability to work. I tend to get in the way of the Holy Spirit’s ability to work. Maybe that’s why “His power is made perfect in our weakness.” The weaker we are, the harder it is for us to get in the way of The Holy Spirit’s ability to work.

I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot for my brain to comprehend. Jesus said… “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore Go …” What does it mean to exercise the power and authority given to us by Jesus from His (our)Father, God? What does it mean to make disciples of all nations? What does “Therefore go.” mean in our lives today?

We have big shoes to represent. We represent Jesus. He took on pain, suffering, rejection, hurt, and humiliation for mankind. He was despised and rejected, yet He still showed love and forgave those who hurt Him.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss 2 simple words. “Therefore, go,” as I try to comprehend the importance of the authority we’ve been given as Christians.

How will you Devote2day?

We’ve been talking about how powerful God is. Next, we’ll explore our authority as Christians and what the power of God at work in our lives can mean. Here are a few scriptures to ponder before we move forward.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

…for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:5, 8

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-18

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:23-33

As we continue to discuss just how powerful God really is, I’m reminded of Peter. I’m more intrigued with Peter walking on water than I am Jesus. After all, by this time, we’ve read miracle after miracle. We’ve read everything from Jesus turning water into wine and demons being driven out of men to a leper cleansed and everything in between.

Could you imagine being a disciple and witnessing these miracles in person? It seems like if we saw first-hand all of Jesus’s miracles, it would be so easy to believe in Peter’s ability to walk on water. Furthermore, if we witnessed these miracles in person, wouldn’t we naturally believe Jesus was the one walking on water?

The disciples witnessed Jesus’ miracles in person. They lived life with God’s Son and had physical, real life access to the Power of God, yet even they still struggled with understanding the power of the Son of God. Peter was so close to understanding it fully. He trusted Jesus’ power so much that He was willing to walk on water. When He took His eyes off Jesus and instead looked at the wind and waves, he began to sink. He trusted Jesus enough to cry out… “Lord save me.”

What Peter had a hard time understanding, was that once Jesus said… “Come”, It was both a command and a promise. If Jesus told Him to come, Peter could guarantee He would be safe. Jesus wouldn’t have commanded Peter to come only to watch him drowned in the sea. God’s son, Jesus is so powerful He not only could walk on water, but He could also instruct Peter to do the same. He can make the impossible, possible.

God is so powerful that whatever He instructs us to do, He will see to it that we can do what He asks. Just like Jesus commanded Peter to come and enabled him to walk on water, He will enable us to do whatever He commands of us. What seems impossible to us, is entirely possible through the power of God at work in our lives.

We’ve taken a deeper look at just how powerful God is. We also know His power is made perfect in our weakness. What does that mean for you and me in our daily lives? I hope you’ll continue reading as we discuss the authority we have in Christ.

How will you Devote2Day?

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.  Exodus 14:13-14

Fear is gripping. The children of Israel finally made it out of Egypt and now they’re facing a huge body of water ahead of them and the Egyptian army behind. Death is imminent. The people are afraid, so after crying out to God, they begin to grumble and blame Moses. Moses’ responded with the best leadershipy- type leadership that any leader would lead with. He told them to stand still and don’t be afraid. He explained how they wouldn’t even have to fight. He told them to hold their peace. Such a great word as a leader, right? Words from God’s heart to Moses’s lips.

The next few words of the next verse jump out at me, though… And the Lord said to Moses, why do YOU cry to me?

Could it be that the leader was just as afraid as those he’s leading? Yes, He knows what God said He would do. He has seen God work in the past, right? You know, with the 10 plagues and the whole leading them out of Egypt thing?

We’ve been talking about the power of God.

As you know, Moses did just as God instructed him to do. He stretched out His rod and the sea divided. The children of Israel crossed through the water. They were kept completely from harm while the Egyptian army drowned behind them.

God worked despite the grumbling, questioning, and fear. He worked in the midst of a leader’s cry. God worked with the one thing Moses had going for him- obedience. Moses did exactly what God asked him to do. Even though Moses was afraid, Moses obeyed.

Even though Moses was afraid, Moses obeyed.

God is powerful. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same God who parted the Red Sea can reveal His power in the circumstances of our lives. It required a leader’s compliance despite the presence of fear. God will work with any little nugget of faith or obedience we have to accomplish His will.

God is powerful. Isn’t it great to be reminded of just how powerful a God we serve? He is working in the middle of our circumstance with the same power He used parting the sea. Today I plan on living in His obedience.

How will you devote2day?

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4: 35-41

The Lord has prompted me to dig a little deeper while trying to understand just how powerful He is. If God’s power is made perfect our weakness and His power is at work in us, it’s important to try to grasp just how powerful God really is.

In Mark chapter 4, the disciples and Jesus are crossing over to the other side of the sea. Jesus is tired, so He decided to take a nap. The storm is getting aggressive, and the disciples are beginning to fear they may drown.  Jesus is still sleeping soundly when the disciples approach Him.

I’m sure the disciples were wondering how Jesus could possibly be sleeping during such a great storm. They have forgotten it was Jesus’ idea they cross over to the other side. Jesus said in verse 35 of Mark 4- “Let us cross over to the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let’s attempt to cross over and see if we make it.” Jesus said with confidence… “Let us cross over to the other side.” It doesn’t matter what they may run up against. If Jesus said let’s cross to the other side, they were absolutely going to make it the other side. We find out in verse 38 Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, and the sea calmed.

Jesus was able to sleep soundly because He knew who His father was. He understood the power of The Holy Spirit in His life. He understood the power He had through His father and The Holy Spirit.

The disciples clearly didn’t understand who Jesus was or the power He had. (v.41) Aren’t we the same? We know Jesus had the power and used it to calm the wind and the waves and we’ve read miracle after miracle He performed. It’s difficult, however, to truly grasp just how powerful The Savior of The World is.

I want to understand His power so fully that like Jesus, I can sleep soundly when I’m in the middle of the sea and the big storm hits.

Stay with me as we continue to explore the overwhelming power of God.

How will you Devote2Day?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11

• Delight- a high degree of gratification or pleasure : joy -extreme satisfaction

Every time I read the above scripture, I scratch my head. A few verses prior to Paul saying he delights in insults, difficulties, etc., he begs the Lord 3 times to take away a “thorn in his flesh.” It seems as if he is contradicting himself. How could anyone delight in an insult? How could anyone delight in difficulties or hardships? How could anyone delight in weakness?

Maybe the apostle Paul is exaggerating just a bit.

Then the light bulb hits. When Paul hears the still small voice of God and the Holy Spirit speaking to him, his attitude changes.

“My grace is sufficient for you, Paul. My infinite power is made perfect in your weakness.”

My grace is sufficient for you, Lori. My infinite power is made perfect in your weakness.”

Wow!! When I think about His power at work in my life, I suddenly settle within my spirit. I suddenly have the overwhelming, unexplained peace of God. All the sudden my weakness feels like strength. It’s not my strength, but the strength and power of the Holy Spirit at work in me.

It gets better. The weaker I am, the stronger His power is at work in me. The greater the hardship or the worse the insult, the greater His power at work in me.

The only way we can delight in hardships is if we truly believe the word of God.

We must truly believe ‘His power is made perfect in our weakness.’ The only way to truly believe in His word is to meditate on it and speak it out loud day and night.

Say it over and over my friends… HIS Power is made perfect in MY weakness.

How will you Devote2Day?