SALVATION AND FAITH SERMONS
Authorized Person
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Last week there was a note left on the door of the company. There was a letter at the post office for the company. I went over there but I didn’t take the company stamp or the authorized signature sheet.
After I gave the name of the company to the postal worker he said to me, “Are you the authorized person?”
I said, “Yes.”
He asked, “Do you have your authorized signature sheet?”
“Not with me” I answered.
“Then I can’t give you the letter. Bring your authorized signature sheet and your I.D. card and I will give you the letter” he said.
An authorized signature sheet shows someone to be authorized. Authority is important. One day we were on the road. We tried to use our credit card. It didn’t work. What happened? There was no debt on the card. We called the credit card company on the phone.
“We can’t use the card” I said.
The woman on the telephone said to me, “We suspended use of your card. Because the card was used far from your home, as a precaution against theft we suspended use of your card just in case.”
“Thank you but the card was not stolen. I want to open the card and use it please” I said.
“O.K. sir. I need to get some information from you. What is your name and surname?”
After I gave my name and surname, the woman on the phone said to me, “I need to ask a few security questions to you. Is there another authorized person on the card?”
I gave that information. The woman said to me, “What is the registered address for the card?”
After I gave the address the woman opened my card. Why was it felt necessary to ask so many questions to open my card? Because as a precaution against theft it was necessary to know who was authorized on the card.
Authority is important.
Is authority important in the realm of the spiritual? It is important!
Matthew 8:1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Jesus had authority over disease and sickness. He healed people. Where did He get this authority?
Matthew 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The centurion was not a Jew. He was a Roman. The man who came from paganism saw an authority in Jesus. He was a man under authority. Whose authority? The general’s authority. And where did the general get his authority? From the emperor and the senate. O.K., where did Jesus get His authority? It came from God. The centurion understood this and he believed in Him. Jesus marveled at the faith of this foreigner who came from paganism. In Israel and even among His disciples He had not found such a faith. Jesus had authority. Jesus’ authority was not restricted to the arena of healing people.
Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
Jesus’ authority extended to driving out demons.
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Jesus had authority over nature.
Matthew 9:1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? 6 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he arose and departed to his house. 8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
Jesus had authority to forgive sins. To demonstrate this He healed the paralytic. When Jesus forgave someone’s sins, the Jews said that He blasphemed God. If that was so, God would not have given Him authority to heal. But we see that He gave it! Jesus’ authority came from God.
John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
In Turkey a power of attorney is a very important document. A power of attorney is a document that shows authority. In the company, I am the authorized person. But I am not always here, I am on the road. I give a power of attorney to another to get some of the company’s business done. We go to the notary public. At the notary the officer prepares a power of attorney loaded with all kinds of special legal terms. Then, to show my authority I present the authorized signature sheet and my I.D. card. I need to show to whom I am giving authority with an I.D. card. Thus a power of attorney is secured. Another person can carry out actions for the company in my place. The authority comes from me. The power of attorney is a document which shows that another has authority to actions in my stead.
The miracles that Jesus did were Jesus’ power of attorney.
John 10:36-38 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
Jesus said, “I am the Son of God.” The Jews said, “You blaspheme.” Jesus’ answer reflects the following logic: If I blaspheme, why does Almighty God work miracles among you through Me? Does God ever bless a blasphemer with the gift of working miracles? Can you work these miracles? You cannot. The miracles that I do confirm that I come from God and that I am preaching His words and message. The miracles of Jesus were His document of authority, His power of attorney. Jesus repeated this truth to His disciples and added to it:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
No one will enter God’s presence without obtaining authority from Jesus. Do you want to go to heaven? Where is your authority? How will you get there? Without Jesus it won’t happen!
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 ¶ Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
Jesus’ works were His authority power of attorney. He worked miracles. He explained the Old Testament. He didn’t sin. God verified Jesus’ words, teaching and authority. Jesus gave authority to His disciples:
John 14:12 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus’ name is authorized. The Father, in order to exalt the Son, will do what is asked in Jesus’ name. Of course this must be according to His will.
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them -- walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Jesus’ disciples did what Jesus did by using His name. Authority was given to them. Later, Peter and John were arrested.
Acts 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 "If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
When it comes to salvation, there is one authorized name: Jesus Christ. There is salvation in no one else.
Be careful: in the last days demons will be permitted to work miracles.
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
How will you know if a miracle is from God or if it is false?
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
You test everything by the word of God. All of Jesus’s words conformed to the Old Testament.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "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, 20 "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." Amen.
There is authority in Jesus’ name.
After I gave the name of the company to the postal worker he said to me, “Are you the authorized person?”
I said, “Yes.”
He asked, “Do you have your authorized signature sheet?”
“Not with me” I answered.
“Then I can’t give you the letter. Bring your authorized signature sheet and your I.D. card and I will give you the letter” he said.
An authorized signature sheet shows someone to be authorized. Authority is important. One day we were on the road. We tried to use our credit card. It didn’t work. What happened? There was no debt on the card. We called the credit card company on the phone.
“We can’t use the card” I said.
The woman on the telephone said to me, “We suspended use of your card. Because the card was used far from your home, as a precaution against theft we suspended use of your card just in case.”
“Thank you but the card was not stolen. I want to open the card and use it please” I said.
“O.K. sir. I need to get some information from you. What is your name and surname?”
After I gave my name and surname, the woman on the phone said to me, “I need to ask a few security questions to you. Is there another authorized person on the card?”
I gave that information. The woman said to me, “What is the registered address for the card?”
After I gave the address the woman opened my card. Why was it felt necessary to ask so many questions to open my card? Because as a precaution against theft it was necessary to know who was authorized on the card.
Authority is important.
Is authority important in the realm of the spiritual? It is important!
Matthew 8:1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Jesus had authority over disease and sickness. He healed people. Where did He get this authority?
Matthew 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The centurion was not a Jew. He was a Roman. The man who came from paganism saw an authority in Jesus. He was a man under authority. Whose authority? The general’s authority. And where did the general get his authority? From the emperor and the senate. O.K., where did Jesus get His authority? It came from God. The centurion understood this and he believed in Him. Jesus marveled at the faith of this foreigner who came from paganism. In Israel and even among His disciples He had not found such a faith. Jesus had authority. Jesus’ authority was not restricted to the arena of healing people.
Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
Jesus’ authority extended to driving out demons.
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Jesus had authority over nature.
Matthew 9:1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? 6 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he arose and departed to his house. 8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
Jesus had authority to forgive sins. To demonstrate this He healed the paralytic. When Jesus forgave someone’s sins, the Jews said that He blasphemed God. If that was so, God would not have given Him authority to heal. But we see that He gave it! Jesus’ authority came from God.
John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
In Turkey a power of attorney is a very important document. A power of attorney is a document that shows authority. In the company, I am the authorized person. But I am not always here, I am on the road. I give a power of attorney to another to get some of the company’s business done. We go to the notary public. At the notary the officer prepares a power of attorney loaded with all kinds of special legal terms. Then, to show my authority I present the authorized signature sheet and my I.D. card. I need to show to whom I am giving authority with an I.D. card. Thus a power of attorney is secured. Another person can carry out actions for the company in my place. The authority comes from me. The power of attorney is a document which shows that another has authority to actions in my stead.
The miracles that Jesus did were Jesus’ power of attorney.
John 10:36-38 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
Jesus said, “I am the Son of God.” The Jews said, “You blaspheme.” Jesus’ answer reflects the following logic: If I blaspheme, why does Almighty God work miracles among you through Me? Does God ever bless a blasphemer with the gift of working miracles? Can you work these miracles? You cannot. The miracles that I do confirm that I come from God and that I am preaching His words and message. The miracles of Jesus were His document of authority, His power of attorney. Jesus repeated this truth to His disciples and added to it:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
No one will enter God’s presence without obtaining authority from Jesus. Do you want to go to heaven? Where is your authority? How will you get there? Without Jesus it won’t happen!
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 ¶ Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
Jesus’ works were His authority power of attorney. He worked miracles. He explained the Old Testament. He didn’t sin. God verified Jesus’ words, teaching and authority. Jesus gave authority to His disciples:
John 14:12 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus’ name is authorized. The Father, in order to exalt the Son, will do what is asked in Jesus’ name. Of course this must be according to His will.
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them -- walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Jesus’ disciples did what Jesus did by using His name. Authority was given to them. Later, Peter and John were arrested.
Acts 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 "If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
When it comes to salvation, there is one authorized name: Jesus Christ. There is salvation in no one else.
Be careful: in the last days demons will be permitted to work miracles.
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
How will you know if a miracle is from God or if it is false?
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
You test everything by the word of God. All of Jesus’s words conformed to the Old Testament.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "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, 20 "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." Amen.
There is authority in Jesus’ name.