Numbers 32:1-42; Luke 4:31-44; Psalms 64:10; Proverbs 16:28-30
NT: “Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all… After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.” (Luke 4:31-35, 38-41 CSB)
Anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the Christ in a body, spoke with authority and moved in power. He claimed that He was anointed to heal and set people free, and that is exactly what He did. In verse 43 of this same chapter, Jesus stated that He was also sent to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God… that the Kingdom of God had come and was at hand. The Kingdom of God on earth is not a physical place – at least not yet. It is the rightful rule, power, and authority of God. Not only did Jesus demonstrate that He was indeed the Anointed One, but that He represented the fullness of the Kingdom of God, and that the kingdom of darkness had no power or authority over Him. That is what signs and wonders do – they validate the claims of the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus, filled with and anointed by the Holy Spirit, went throughout the region speaking in the authority of the Kingdom and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom… and signs and wonders followed Him to validate His claims. The same can be and should be true of us. If we truly are in Christ, this His anointing is on us. If we have truly been redeemed by His sacrifice, then we are agents of the Kingdom of God and endowed with Kingdom authority. If we have been filled with His Holy Spirit, then we are empowered with Kingdom power. That is why, in Mark 16, Jesus said that as we go into all the world preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, signs and wonders would follow us. We don’t have to become weird and try to “manufacture” signs and wonders. The supernatural will naturally follow those who follow Jesus’ example. That begs the question, why do we not experience what we can and should be experiencing? Are we fully in Christ or are we in our flesh? Have we been baptized and remaining full of the Holy Spirit or are we walking in our own limited abilities? Are we proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom or are we keeping that glorious good news to ourselves? Are we making bold claims of God or do we hold back because we don’t really believe in the power and authority of the Kingdom, and that it rules and reigns in us… or perhaps that’s it: the King and His Kingdom doesn’t have dominion because we would rather be lord of our own lives. Lord, show me where and why I am not fully walking in Kingdom power and authority, and work in me to will and do Your good pleasure.
Psalms: “The righteous one rejoices in the Lord and takes refuge in him; all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.” (Psalms 64:10 CSB)
The righteous are those who have placed their complete trust in God. The righteous are those who set aside their own desires and agendas and pursue the plans of God. The righteous are those who have placed there faith on God, on His word, who His word has revealed Him to be, and in His Son Who is the Word if God made flesh. The righteous are the people of God – citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, and they take their refuge in the preeminent power and authority of the Righteous and Just One from whom all righteousness and justice originates. All those who are upright in heart – who have had their hardened heart of stone reborn into a fully alive heart of flesh – offer praise to God. How could they not, for God, above all, is worthy.
Jamie Hicks 