Matthew 28:18 · Preached by Dr. Nana Boadum · May 18, 2025
Part 3 of The Believer's Authority opens with Jesus' parting declaration — "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" — and lands one charge: the power is yours, and using it is your responsibility.
The seven movements
The Head has delegated to the body. Christ is the head of the church, seated in heaven, and we are seated with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Every power of darkness is under His feet — and if we are His body, it is under our feet. Opening with a Captain Planet nod, Pastor Nana had the whole house preaching: "Neighbor, you've got the power."
The exceeding greatness of His power — to us who believe. Paul prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened to know "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe... according to the mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead" (Ephesians 1:18-23). The same power that raised Jesus is working in and for every believer.
Jesus is not doing anything about the devil right now. Revelation 20:1-3 shows the devil's final binding is future — but between now and then, Jesus has already done all He would do: He disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Now He is trusting His body to act. The authority has been handed over (Matthew 28:18; Luke 10:19), with signs following those who believe (Mark 16:15-18).
Demand — don't plead. "Until now you have not asked anything in My name" (John 14) carries the sense of demand. Like the police officer whose uniform, not muscles, stops the truck, the believer stands on life's battlefront in full armor and makes demands — as Peter did at the Beautiful Gate: "What I have I give you — in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk."
He will flee from YOU. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7) — the subject of the sentence is you, not Jesus. Flee means terror, not a polite retreat. Your adversary prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8-9), and the instruction is to resist him, steadfast in your faith.
Faith grows by reason of use. Hebrews 5:12-14 — solid food belongs to those "who by reason of use have their senses exercised." Faith is a muscle that needs professional development like any workplace skill: use it in the work challenge, the relationship, the health report — not only in Sunday songs. Those who receive the abundance of grace reign in life (Romans 5:17).
No gree for the devil. Ephesians 4:27 — "give no place to the devil" — rendered memorably in Pidgin: no gree for the devil. Don't let one disappointment, layoff, or heartbreak become the story of your life; see who you are in Christ and jump over it. The prince of this world "has nothing in Me" — and nothing in you.
The message closed with an extended prayer ministration — praying strong for enlightened eyes, for loved ones on Operation Andrew cards, binding addictions, demanding open doors — and flowed into a worship ministration with healing declarations before the service turned to celebration.