July 14 2024 —
When a child asks a sibling to do something there isn’t much certainty as to the results. The sibling might simply ignore the request. However, if that same child goes to a brother or sister with “Dad said so,” it’s a very different story! Now the father’s authority is behind the child’s request.
As believers carry out gospel ministry, encouraging others to turn to Christ in repentance, people might push back. “What gives you the right?” Maybe we ask that question ourselves. “I’m far from perfect. So, what gives me the right to talk about things like sin?” This week we are given the answer to that question. “Dad said so.” When our God calls us to do ministry, he also gives us authority. In calling us to ministry, God isn’t asking us to share our advice or our opinion or even our values. We are sharing God’s own authoritative Word. Gospel ministry is conducted by believers but with God’s own authority behind the effort.
In our Old Testament Lesson, our sermon text, wicked high-priest Amaziah questions the prophet Amos’s right to rebuke the king. Amos explains that he has authority only because the LORD told him to speak on God’s behalf. Jesus gave that authority to the 12. Ministers today have that authority from God by holding tightly to God’s authoritative Word.