All authority comes from God.  Human beings often seek power and authority.  Some have sought absolute power and authority.  Others believe they are best suited to be in authority because they know what's best for others.  Only one person has ever held God's authority:  Jesus.  In today's Scripture, which is a continuation of our look at Revelation 5, we find that the Lamb, Jesus:  7... stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.  

That may not seem like such a big deal as we read it, but the one sitting on the throne is God!  The right hand is considered to be the seat of power, so Jesus took something from God, and from God's seat of power!  That tells us the kind of authority Jesus has.  He has ALL authority, too.  Jesus told us that in Matthew 28:16-20, what we call the Great Commission.  He said, that ALL authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him.  Then Jesus did something amazing--He delegated the authority to us!  He said ALL authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him, and then said, "Therefore, YOU go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and I will be with you always to the very end of the age."  Human power and authority are limited.  God's power and authority are limited only by God's own self-limiting, and that's the authority we have in Jesus' name!

As we focus on the demographics of heaven this week, what we find from today's Scripture is that Jesus has given us the authority to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.  That means we are given authority to offer salvation in Jesus' name to others, and to teach them to live in Jesus' ways.  As that happens people from every nation on the planet will follow Him, and the demographics of earth, will reflect the demographics of heaven.  That's the goal, and it starts when you and I receive His authority and use it to spread His Good News in word and action.  Let's go!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us authority to go and make disciples!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may have the courage that goes with the authority to offer the Good News to those we meet today.  Use us to extend Your glory.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.