Recently, archeologists discovered a new portion of scripture that scholars have deemed authentic and are currently debating how to incorporate it into new revisions of the Bible.  The discovery equates to what will soon be labeled as Acts 29.  Within this text, Paul describes the final acts of the Apostles and the turning point in which the Holy Spirit removes the authority Christ gave to man to heal the sick and cast out demons. The passage also revokes the spiritual gifts for the church.  Paul goes on to say that the final commands of Christ are complete, and that we are to continue spreading the good news of the gospel as powerless Christians against a mighty adversary.  Surely you’re not buying this… but why is it that most modern day Christians live this way?

In Matthew 10:1 it says, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”  So is it any wonder why Jesus seemed so frustrated with his disciples in Matthew 17 when a man brings his son to Jesus for healing because His disciples were unable to help him.  Later, the disciples question Jesus about this, and His answer was not that they lacked the authority He had given them, but He told them that they failed because of their lack of faith.  How frustrated must Christ be today as we hold our cookie cutter church services, in our pretty little buildings, with our ever-abounding plans and programs, yet all the while DENYING the power of Christ within us? What does Christ think of us leaving captives in bondage and the sick to their misery?  Christ promised us in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, 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 the Father.”  Was He lying or did we stop believing?

We have all read the great commission in Matthew 28, but what about the version in Mark 16.  The commission in Mark goes on to say, “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  Strange… it doesn’t sound like we were meant to be powerless.  All throughout the New Testament, we are given promise after promise (and more provision than we could ever ask for) to help equip us for our day-to-day struggles against carnality and to be warriors for the Kingdom.

We live in a world where nation is rising against nation.  We have arms races to see who can develop the most powerful and technologically advanced weapons.  War, destruction, and despair seem to inevitable. However, in 2 Corinthians, it says that the weapons of our warfare are not of this world, but “mighty in bringing down strongholds.”  We are all apart of this war, but Christ never intended for us to be powerless. So, the question remains – Will we recognize and stand up with the authority Christ gave us?  Do we dare to become the warrior Christ intended us to be? There are some that may decide to stand on the sidelines and be passive, but I believe the Lord is raising up a generation (an entire body of people) who will answer His call for warriors. We need to let the Lord know that there are still people here, ready, and willing to serve under our capable Commander-in-Chief.