What is Hindering You From Using Your Authority in Jesus Name?
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD
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What is Hindering You From Using Your Authority in Jesus Name?
Welcome to the OABG Daily Blog and Podcast!
Today was a real struggle to get out of bed. And I knew that meant God had some work for me to do today! It is amazing how when you learn more about yourself and who God created you to be, you recognize more easily the tactics of the enemy to keep you from that very thing. Think about it for a moment. What has God called or assigned you to do? Now why is it, that’s the very thing you avoid, procrastinate on, hesitate on, or sometimes flat out don’t do? Of course you have what you think is a legit excuse for why you’re not doing it. Oh my head hurts. Oh I didn’t sleep well. Oh my kids got this going on. Oh my spouse and I are dealing with this house situation. Oh my car is doing this. I mean we literally come up with everything other than just doing the thing God said do. But like I said, when you know your purpose, you don’t let anything stop you from it.
Today as we wrap up the Scriptural Bible Study on the book of Acts, we can see throughout this entire book of Acts that once Paul knew his purpose, he was on a mission. It didn’t matter what came up, nothing would keep Paul from preaching and teaching about Jesus. Period. He was in prison still preaching. How many of us can say the same? Some of us have imprisoned ourselves with our busyness; with our oh-so-important schedules, and must-do things. And God is saying, but what about me though? I got a whole purpose for you and you’re making that job or your business or your family priority number one. And it’s not like God doesn’t want you to be active in those things, otherwise he wouldn’t have blessed you with them. But nothing should come before your relationship and time spent with God. And we see that fully displayed with Paul. That’s how God spoke to me this morning. It was a specific word to me, it was in my reading His word that He showed me what being ON ASSIGNMENT BY GOD looks like with Paul’s transformed life.
In Chapter 28, Paul and crew end up on this island called Malta. And the people there were really kind to Paul and all the people that had been on the boat with him. Remember they ended up there because their boat was shipwrecked. One of the first things that happened is Paul got bit by snake while making a fire and the people on the island thought for sure he was going to swell up or cause him to die. But Paul shook the snake off and suffered no harm. The people thought he was a god since the snake didn’t harm him. But Paul was about to show them who he was and who his God actually was.
In verses 7-10, there was a man named Publius who owned an estate on the island and his father was suffering and really sick. In verse 8 it says that Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
This got me to thinking, what if we were like Paul and started healing the sick around us? What if people told other people that we were healing the sick and other people started coming to get healed too? Think about it. We have the authority to heal in Jesus name as born again believers, but why aren’t we being like Paul. Paul went to the sick man, prayed and laid hands on him and healed him. What is hindering us from using our authority in Jesus name?
After only a few days on the island of Malta, Paul and crew finally set sail to Rome (which was their original destination) where Paul was to appeal his case to Caesar. Paul met with the Jews in Rome and told them what happened with the Jews in Jerusalem. He wanted them know that he had no animosity against his fellow Jews in Jerusalem and had only be imprisoned because of his believe in the hope of Israel, the resurrection of the dead.
Paul spent the entire day from dawn to dusk expounding and testifying about the Kingdom of God. He tried to persuade all the Roman Jews about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. The Bible says some were persuaded and others did not believe. They began to disagree among themselves and started leaving in anger when they heard Paul say that the Holy Spirit was right about their ancestors when he chastised them through the prophet Isaiah for failing to believe the Word of God. And because they didn’t believe, verse 28 says that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles because they will listen. The study notes in my Bible say that God’s gift of grace will not go unappreciated. If some reject it, there are others who will gladly accept it.
The chapter ends with Paul staying for two more years, welcoming all those who visited him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Paul knew his assignment and he didn’t let anything hinder him from doing it with all boldness!
What’s hindering you from doing your assignment from God? What are you being bold about when it comes to sharing the Good News of the Lord Jesus?
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YOUR ASSIGNMENTS
What did the Lord God say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?
What’s hindering you from doing your assignments from God?
REMINDER: Don’t forget to read the Scriptural Bible Study below and see what the Lord says to you about it.
SALVATION PRAYER
If you’re not a believer and have a desire to be, openly confess and declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer out loud, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community and start having a conversation through prayer with God every day. And let me be the first to welcome you to your new life with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. YAAAAY!!!!! You made the best decision you could ever make! Feel free to email me at info@onassignmentbyGod.com and let me know about your newfound life or if you need prayer for anything.
Check out today’s Scriptural Bible Study!!