The Spirit of Elijah 4 - Jesus' Authority Questioned

 

J esus' Authority Questioned

Matthew 21:23-27   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?   And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.   The baptism of John, whence was it?   from heaven?   or of men?   And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven;   he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?   But if we shall say, Of men;  we fear the people;  for all hold John as a prophet.   And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell.   And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Coats, Publicans and Soldiers

Luke 3:10-14   And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?   He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none;  and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.   Then came also publicans to be baptised, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?   And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.   And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?   And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely;  and be content with your wages.

Rejecting the Counsel of God

Luke 7:29-30   And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptised with the baptism of John.   But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Samaritans Refuse Jesus

Luke 9:51-56   And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face:   and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.   And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.   And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord,  wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?   But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.   For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.   And they went to another village.

John the Baptist Teaches Prayer

Luke 11:1   And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples,

 

The Word of the Lord Came to John

Luke 3:2   Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

 

The Law and the Prophets

Luke 16:16,17   The law and the prophets were until John:   since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.   And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

 

Requirements for an Apostle

Acts 1:21,22   Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism  of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

 

John Baptizes With Water

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire!   This statement recurs throughout the book of Acts.  Both teachings and experiences are absolutely necessary.