Authority and Leadership

In one of my previous entries I talked about the authority that Jesus gave the disciples in Matthew chapter 10, I would like to revisit this topic again in light of the last few verses in the book of Matthew in the great commission.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus was very clear that He had all power and authority in both heaven and earth, this is the same authority he empowered the disciples with to go out and fulfill the mission of the great commission, the same mission that we as leaders in the church have today. As a leader Jesus gave them a clear and well-defined purpose for their mission to make disciples of all nations. Jesus sets for us the standard that raises the bar for us as leaders to be on mission with our leadership teams. We as leaders have to allow those within our influence to experience a little of what the disciples did when Jesus sent them out; we have to empower them to lead in the areas where they are gifted.

“And behold, I am with you always…” This for me is the best part; we are never alone in our journey as leaders. Jesus told the disciples that he would be there beside them till the end of the age. We are living and breathing the same promise that they received, we have the same assurance that Jesus is with us until he comes again. As we have this assurance we have to model this and stand with those who lead alongside us. In doing so we can lead effectively together “to cause the name of Jesus Christ to be exalted, God glorified, and believers to be built up as together we reach out with the gospel to the lost.”