Mk 6:13   They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

      

This is the first glimpse of the future church. So far it had just been Jesus ministering, but then he took the twelve and gave them authority to do what he had been doing. What does that mean? It means he imparted power to them to withstand the enemy and to reverse the works of the enemy.

 

Notice the word ‘many' that is used twice. This wasn't just an occasional act of power. This was the power of God that was there for them to help whoever would turn to them. They first preached and called people to repentance and when they responded to the word, God's power was there through these twelve disciples to set free those who were possessed and wanted to enter God's kingdom, and to heal those who wanted to come to God.

 

This speaks about a religion of power, not just of words. Paul was later to tell the church at Corinth , “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Cor 4:20 ). To Timothy he said, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7). The Gospel is all about life transforming power.

 

This power is greater than Satan, and when we are moving under the direction of our Lord, He grants us the authority to deliver those who turn to Him but who are being held by the enemy. When the enemy has brought affliction then His power is there to heal. Hallelujah! The Gospel is the power of God for salvation said the apostle Paul (Rom 1:16), power to bring change to whoever believes, every single one of us, power to change us from the self-centred, godless people we once were to God-centred, holy and righteous believers. It is all about His power in us, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 8:11). Wonderful!