Challenging Authority

January 29

(Luke 4:33-35 NIV) “In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, {34} "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" {35} "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.”

(Luke 20:1-2 NIV) “One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. {2} "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?""

Among the first to recognize Christ were the demons. They knew God’s Son before we were created. In Luke 4, some demons recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God and made the mistake of challenging His authority. Demons have great power, but they are no match for God. Jesus silenced them and cast them out of the man. Christ spoke, and the demons obeyed. That’s authority. When we speak God’s word, we will be challenged. Evil spirits and evil men always challenge the authority of God. When we shake the world’s tree, all kinds of rotten fruit will fall out. Anyone with power they want to keep will challenge the authority of Christ, including us. If you have a call on your life, but have been ignoring it, you are challenging the authority of Jesus. If you have a sin you are protecting, you are challenging the authority of Jesus. And we all know how that will turn out in the end. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day