Authority

Well, I have to be honest. My time here in Washington has been so richly rewarding that it has my heart doing jumping jacks. Yes, it has been good to see friends, spend time with family, even experience Washington from a new perspective… but can I tell you what has excited me most about being back home? It is God- the one True Father that continues to speak truth and work miraculously today.

He is bringing me to new understandings that I have never quite embraced before. So, this is my feeble attempt at bringing what my “learning playground” has looked like to you.

As believers, we have authority. It isn’t authority that comes from being great, or anything we have done… it is His authority that came to dwell richly within us at salvation. He is in us- Now here comes the part that I have failed as a Christian to understand… His authority is still real and powerful today.

Acts 1:8
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Luke 24:49
And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.

Ephesians 1:19-22
I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

So, what does that authority look like… well, if we look at what happened when people obeyed and believed in Christ’s power in the early churches, we see great intensity- great change- great defeat over the enemy.

Luke 10:1, 17-19
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit…When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes, “he told them, “I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning! And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13: 8) wouldn’t that mean that His impact and His supremacy are still just as it was 2,000 years ago? Yes.

Why do we, myself included, doubt that He works in these ways today? Or why do we blanket all of these miraculous acts of the early church with the thought process of, “Well, sure God works like this today- in other countries… I just haven’t seen it.” Friends, perhaps the reason why we have not see it is because we are not looking for it. Or maybe it is because we- deep down don’t trust that God’s strength- which is in us- is only exercised in other people who are maybe “more spiritual… maybe they have more training…”

Guys, this is a lie. God richly dwells in us. Because He does, we are covered by Him, we are filled with Him, and we are called to step out in faith and follow Him. Did the twelve disciples attend Seminary before they followed? Did Ananias (with whom God told to go help one of the most feared men around) wait, gear up, or flee when God told him to “arise and go?” Did Rahab wait until she “had been cleaned up or had some time pass by” before she was ready to do battle for the Lord? No.

Brothers and sisters, all of these things are important… gaining further knowledge and understanding is crucial (Seminary is an incredible place), waiting on the Lord is good, allowing God to heal you and renew you through a process is essential…. But God calls us and uses us AS WE ARE. We do not need to appear “shiny and new” before the Lord can use us… we already are by His grace. So yes, strive to be more like Him… but don’t be deceived that you need to change or be like someone “more spiritual” before He can use you.

Because He is in you, you are already changed- you already have His authority. Let Him work in the ways He promises. Let Him heal, let Him cast out demons, let Him speak, let Him love, let Him do all of the bold crazy things that He wants to do. Let’s just be obedient and open to Him using us.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
Romans 12:2