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Real Discipleship Part I...


The Authority of Our Call...

Today there is a global trend back to the roots of our faith and the authority of the early church as described in Acts; specifically chapter 2:42-47. This is the result of many seeking to do what was done in the early church on a daily basis. We will explore several fundamental issues; then we will tackle the core question, "What should Real Discipleship look like today?"

First we must begin with the call to "go and make disciples of all nations (i.e. ethnic groups or people groups) as commanded by Yahshua in Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.' ” 

In verse 18, Messiah Yahshua begins our command to "go and make disciples" with the declaration of His authority. According to Strong's the word translated "authority" comes from the Greek word "exousia;"(G1849) and this is derived from G1832 which is defined as the right and public lawfulness of His authority.

"Exousia" is also translated as "jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, and strength" in the KJV Bible. 

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Messiah Yahshua's Authority has it's source Yahweh. In John's gospel over and again Yahshua declares, that the words He has spoken are from Abba Father. (John 8:23-59, 12:44-50, 14:9-11, and 17:1-8) He took all of the authority from our enemy according to Colossians 2:8-15. Verse 15 tells us that He spoiled or stripped of their authority. He removed their garment of strength and exposed them powerless and naked publicly as He triumphed over them. (see also 1 Cor 15:22-28)

When He declares that all authority or jurisdiction has been given unto Him, Satan can no longer be the god of this world. He can no longer be the prince and power of the air. All of his authority has been given taken away from him and now Messiah Yahshua is the legal authority in the land! Because of His authority He alone can grant liberty (John 8:31-36). 

And it is upon this authority that He has commissioned us to "go and make disciples of all nations." Who is the source of our authority? Is it not the very One Who has sent us? And He alone has all legal jurisdiction and the right to send us to the nations; even when earthly powers attempt to usurp His authority we must press on! (Acts 5:25-32)

We will continue to look at Real Discipleship in the coming days and weeks. As we do, it is my prayer that we will all "walk even and He walked" knowing that we have been given such a high calling from the King of kings! This will lead us to the point of decision and commitment...so prepare your hearts and lives for the harvest is truly plentiful and the laborers are few!

In Simple Obedience,
Larry Walters
Apostle to the Nations in India

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