AUTHORITY TO ACT IN CHRIST'S NAME.
Men have no right to choose for themselves to be Christ's apostles or ministers of His Gospel. He said to His disciples,
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you." (John 15: 16).
St. Paul says concerning the holy priesthood of Christ,
"No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5: 4).
He also says, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." (I Corinthians 12: 28). This shows that it was not man's right to place men in positions in the church, unless God authorized them to do so.
Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest of prophets, yet he did not presume to baptize with the Holy Ghost, although he had the right to baptize with water. John understood that men should be specially authorized to act in any calling.
RESULT OF ACTING WITHOUT AUTHORITY.
We read in the scriptures, (Acts 1: 13-17), that certain Jews at one time undertook to act in the name of the Lord. They tried to cast out evil spirits. But they had no authority, and were overpowered by the evil spirits, and duly punished for taking upon themselves to act in the name of the Messiah without authority.