Matthew 16:16-19 (King James Version)

16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
John 20:21-23 (King James Version)

21] Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

The Greatness of Its Authority

Have you ever been given a job that seemed totally overwhelming and for which you felt totally unqualified? Does the Great Commission affect you that way? Then be encouraged to realize that we are not to tackle it in our own strength or authority. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that He has all authority in heaven and earth and that He is the one commissioning us to do this job. We go with His authorization and in His name. We can speak with the authority of God's Word and guarantee to our hearers that repentance of sin will indeed bring forgiveness and that resistance to the gospel brings further condemnation. Heaven will back up our words as we share the truths of the gospel with the lost.

FOR TODAY: Thank God for His authority as we witness about Him.