Daily Bread – May 31, 2023 (The Fourth Day – Genesis 1:14-19) Matthew 7:29 – For His teaching was as One with authority, and not as the scribes. Heavenly authority was the power given to Jesus by God the Father, which Jesus also gave to His disciples. God’s authority is superior to all other authorities because His power, judgment, and right to act is superior to all others. Authority is the right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. Thus, Jesus had no need to quote rabbis or other authorities as did the scribes, but spoke with direct authority from God Himself. The heavenly authority that was given to Jesus was exemplified by the fact that when He spoke all other spiritual authorities obeyed (Matthew 8:8-13; Mark 1:27). Jesus, as the Head of the Church, is given a place that is superior to all others and to which every authority and power must submit (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9; Colossians 2:10; 1 Peter 3:22). Jesus was given authority by God the Father to tear down everything that Satan had established, and to bring an end to his power and influence over mankind (Colossians 2:15 – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it”). Jesus has given to us His authority to execute His will over every spiritual authority (Mark 3:15, 6:7; Ephesians 6:12). In the dominion of Satan, there is an authority to seduce and enslave mankind, but Christ has given us the power to overthrow their authority and to have dominion over every one of their satanic works of destruction and sin (Luke 10:19; Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:12). Father handed the charge of all things over to Jesus, and Jesus has handed the charge of all things over to us (Matthew 11:27, 28:18-20). The authority of sonship is a glorious liberty that has given us the right to destroy all the works of the devil wherever we encounter them through the authority of the One Who has been exalted as the supreme power and authority over all things, Christ Jesus. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen