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| Source: arrivealive.mobi |
As a mother of three children, I find myself speaking about the issue of authority often.
"Who says?" my son rebuffs in a snide tone.
"You can't make me!" my daughter cries, as she stomps up the stairs.
"You're not the boss of me!" one child roars to another.
Many of these conversations result in reminders to my children of who is actually in charge of things around the house--who has real authority. While my husband and I try to seek the children's input on a regular basis, the truth is, the task of decision making ultimately lies with us parents.
Although we have the authority as Mom and Dad over our children, we also answer to a higher authority, God Himself, who has entrusted us with our children to love, guide, and disciple.
What is astonishing when we read the Scriptures is the kind of authority that God has in life and over death.
The wind and waves obey Jesus' commands (see Mark 4:35-41).
Demons flee those whom they torment at the sound of Jesus' name (see Luke 4:41).
Sickness and death are defeated as people are healed and brought back to life through the ministry of Christ (see John 11:38-44).
At the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount teaching, the Scriptures say that the crowds were "astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29).
And yet, what is even more remarkable is that Christ has given us, His children, this authority over the enemy through prayer.
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." --Luke 10:19 (emphasis mine)
Having authority over my own children makes sense--they are younger than me and need me to provide for their needs and teach them as they grow into adults.
However, the spiritual authority we have as followers of Christ makes no sense.
It would be like me suddenly stepping off the curb into a busy intersection and starting to direct the traffic.
Who am I to do such a thing? And who would actually stop? How would I not get hit by an oncoming vehicle, laughed at, mocked, and ridiculed?
But the authority we have in the spiritual realm has been imputed to us through Christ.
It is as though Christ has given us His own uniform and badge, a bright yellow vest, and credentialed us to be a traffic cop, not based upon our own merit, but on His.
Wow!
The next time the Enemy whispers in your ear, "who are you to...share with that person, lead that Bible study class, teach that Sunday School lesson, speak to that women's group, fill-in-the-blank..." remember Whose authority you operate within! No, you don't have authority in your own person, but Christ has given you His!
May we as Christ followers be faithful to pray and to trust, to step out in faith and believe upon this authority today, dear one!
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" --Matthew 28:18-20
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