Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Nov. 18, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF JESUS

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-29

Text: Matthew 7:29

Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Introduction: The Bible uses the word, “authority,” in 34 verses. One of the main issues of the Bible is AUTHORITY. One of the main issues of society is AUTHORITY. Who has authority in this world? Who has the authority in this country? Who has authority in this church?

One of the main issues in fundamentalism is AUTHORITY. One of the main things that people hate about our Bible is its authority. It is the AUTHORIZED Version, 1611, commonly called the King James Version, or by those who believe it, the King James BIBLE. I said, the KING James Bible:

Ecclesiastes 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

This Book doesn’t have power because of King JAMES, but because of King JESUS!

Liberals hate the fact that we fundamentalists preach with authority, even though Paul commanded Titus to do that in Titus 2:15.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day envied the fact that He spoke with AUTHORITY. They wanted to know where He got His authority for what He did.

Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

According to our text, the word of Jesus was PECULIAR (“not as the scribes”) and POWERFUL (“he taught them as one having authority”). The word, “power,” by the way, refers both to ABILITY and to AUTHORITY. One who has strength has “the say.”

I want us to think today about the authority of Jesus’ word. Consider with me some examples from the New Testament:

I. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER SICKNESS

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

The Lord can heal! The Lord DOES heal, even though He does not give out the apostolic GIFT of healing today. Keep two things in mind:

1. Some sickness is unavoidable. We shall all die some day as our bodies decay.

2. Some sickness is unnecessary. It is the result of foolishness or sin and chastisement.

Also, in addition to healing of the body, many people today need:

A. Healing of their mind

B. Healing of their marriage

C. Healing of their morals

Remember that there was “death in the pot” until the meal was added to make it safe again. Likewise, the word of God must saturate our daily lives in order for us to not “self-destruct”!

II. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER SPIRITS

Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Lost people are OPERATED by unclean spirits!
The Lord’s people are OPPOSED by unclean spirits!

I don’t believe that the apostolic GIFT of casting out spirits is available today, but I DO believe that the word of God will still rid a person of them!

A. RECEIVE God’s word to banish them

B. READ God’s word to banish them

C. RECITE God’s word to banish them!

That’s how Jesus fought the devil on “the mount of temptation.”

III. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER SINNERS

John 5:26-27 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

A. It defines the character of sinners

B. It describes their acts

C. It determines their punishment

IV. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER SIN

Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

“… the son of man hath POWER on earth to forgive sins …”

“… then SAITH he to the sick of the palsy …”

A. His word FINDS our sin – Heb. 4:12-13

B. His word FORGIVES our sin

The word of the gospel – 1 Corinthians. 15:1-4

C. His word FREES us from sin

He declared on the cross, “It is FINISHED!”

V. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE STORMY SEA

Matthew 8:26-27 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Notice in verse 26, there was a GREAT calm:

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

The word of Jesus has authority to

A. Send the storm

The Lord allows some storms and actually sends others that we might learn to trust Him.

B. Steer the storm

He has His way, the Bible says in Nah. 1:8, in the whirlwind and in the storm.

C. Stop the storm!

Jesus can say, “Peace, be still,” to whatever storm is threatening YOUR vessel and YOUR voyage today!

VI. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER SAINTS

Mark 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

The word of Jesus was able to

A. Draw the saints

He said, “Follow me …”

B. Disciple the saints

“… and I will make you fishers of men.”

C. Direct the saints

He told them which city to visit and even which house to go to.
God’s word is a lamp and a light to direct us – Psalms 119:105.

VII. THE WORD OF JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE SEPULCHRE

John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

The word of Jesus will

A. Rouse the bodies of the dead

B. Raise the bodies of the dead

C. Regenerate the bodies of the dead

D. Revise or redeem the bodies of the dead!

Are you listening for the SHOUT from HEAVEN? Jesus is coming soon with a SHOUT! And we will experience in a wonderful way the AUTHORITY of His word!

Jesus just might say TODAY:

COME FORTH!

COME AWAY!

COME UP!

COME HOME!

GLORY! Thank God for the authority of the word of Jesus! Let’s glorify the word of the Lord! Let’s keep His word! Let’s live by His word! Let’s memorize His word! Let’s hold it fast! Let’s believe His word!