The restoration of God’s Kingdom on earth means a restoration of God’s authority structure on earth. So, the natural result of the coming of the Kingdom is people doing what they were made to do. In other words, the manifestation of the Kingdom is not just that we see God do things but that we see people do things in God’s name. Jesus commissioned his disciples to go to Israel first but, once they had done this, he would commission them (and us) to take the transforming power of Jesus to all people. If you feel that this task is out of reach then you are absolutely right. You do not have the resources in yourself to do what God wants you to do. Neither did the disciples. This is why Jesus gave them authority. ‘Authority’ is the right to exercise power, in this case, a power not derived from ourselves but from God. It is just like a political leader who is given authority to wield a power given to him/her by a nation. The pattern of Christian ministry is therefore that of receiving and giving. We receive from God and we give out of what God puts into us. To do things ‘in Jesus’ name’ means representing his agenda and exercising his power which is at work within us. Inasmuch as God has worked in your life you have something to give. The power at work in you is like a positively transformative virus. And like a virus it is catching. God wants you to spread it around.
Ask God to transform you.
Read Matthew 10:1-16 and Mark 3:13-19
