evangelist-7
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Following is a super-short version of this information.
During their personal ministry, Jesus gave His disciples
great spiritual power and authority before sending them out
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him,
He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” (Matthew 10:1)
“(Jesus) gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2)
“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also …
‘Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy … the spirits are subject to you’ ” (Luke 10:1-20)
Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples
“And Jesus came and spoke to them (His 11 disciples), saying,
‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Note in the first section above what Jesus had instructed His disciples to do.
He sent them out to do such things as heal the sick and cast out demons!
Note in Matthew 28 above: Jesus promised to be with them (providing the power).
Mark’s version of Jesus’ Great Commission
“And he said to them (His 11 disciples),
‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes
and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will follow those who believe:
In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means
hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ ” (Mark 16:15-18)
Later, the Lord gave power and authority to many obedient apostles
“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done
among the people … And believers were increasingly added to the Lord,
multitudes of both men and women … sick people and those who were
tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:12-16)
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be
in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4)
“… in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that
from Jerusalem … I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19)
The gospel was always intended to be accompanied by demonstrations of spiritual power.
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