When we receive the Holy Spirit, at the new birth, our spirit is reborn and the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God.
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
(John 20:22)
After Jesus completely, totally, entirely and absolutely paid the full price for sin being raised from the dead and reveling Himself to His disciples, Jesus eventually commissions, or gives specific instructions to His disciples. Reading John 20:21-22 and Matthew 28:18-20 gives great insight to the commission from Jesus.

Jesus says, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” According to the Word of God, Jesus received Holy Spirit and then the Father proclaims the Son-ship/authority of Jesus. (Refer to Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:10-11 and Luke 3:22). At the commission, Jesus is now sending His disciples and He breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." You must receive the Holy Spirit for your identification of authority and guidance.

The commission from Jesus is the last scripture written in the Gospel according to Matthew. In Matthew, Jesus says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus is sending His disciples according to His authority. Some translations translate the word authority in this passage of scripture as power. The word used here in the Greek is exousia and means the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege). The word best used is authority because is denotes something subject to rule as in the authoritative power of a king.

We must view these two passages of scripture together, John 20:21-22 and Matthew 28:18-20, since they are both referring to the same commission. From Matthew we can see the specific instruction Jesus gives to His disciples and from John we can see the source of authority because Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on His disciples. When we receive the Holy Spirit, at the new birth, our spirit is reborn and the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God. The proclamation of our son-ship and authority is with the Holy Spirit.

In love, receive the Holy Spirit and walk in your authority.

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