by David Scott Robertson
Authority.
How you feel about this one word reveals much about you. Your understanding of it is paramount. Your submission to it will determine your success or failure. God ascribes incredible significance to authority.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
I have observed that the higher up you rise (or are promoted) in levels of authority the less you have to speak to produce results. Action happens when true authority speaks.
MILITARY PERSONELL UNDERSTAND THIS…
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:8-10).
DEMONS UNDERSTAND THIS…
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he [Jesus] drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" Matthew 8:16).
All it took was "a [single] word!"
THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29).
DEAD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!") (Mark 5:41).
"And when he [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" John 11:43).
Authority brings results in short order. It's been this way since creation:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
And whatever God orders will continue to be until Creator God repeals His command.
JESUS HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY…
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
SUBSEQUENTLY, GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS FOLLOWERS…
"I [Jesus] have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, line up under God's authority and walk in it every day. Your times of refreshing through sweet communion with your Heavenly Father will expand as you begin to walk with a right attitude concerning His authority in you and over you. You may even begin to notice that your verbal declarations against Satan are transformed from "empty threats" into "powerful commands" that bear the non-negotiable authority of God delivered by one of His sanctioned deputies on the earth.
The more authority and government of God that you and I walk in, the more spiritual power we will possess. The more spiritual power we possess, the shorter our commands will need to be to see results. We will begin to see results in short order! Let me further illustrate this principle…
The prophet Elijah prayed a sixty word prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-37) and the fire of God fell from heaven and so consumed the sacrifice in his contest with the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel that the fire of God burned up the rocks!
The military general Joshua prayed a thirteen word prayer (see Joshua 10:12) and the sun and moon stood still for about a full day!
The obscure Israelite "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain...'" (1 Chronicles 4:10). And what was the result of that short prayer? "…And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).
When we begin to walk in the governmental authority of God we can "with a word" destroy the works of the devil! (I John 3:8).
And do you know what else? It gets even better than this! Let me tell you where walking in obedience to the authority of God and respecting, obeying, and submitting to those whom He has delegated to rule over us as church, political, and civic leaders will lead you:
When you get a handle on this concept, your life will begin to radiate the power of God so that words are not even necessary to bring about results in short order.
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment" (Matthew 9:20-22).
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:15-16).
":Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21).
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Do you see it? If we get a firm grasp on walking "under" and "in" the authority and government of God, our very lives can become "an act of spiritual war" combating the forces of darkness and illuminating the world with the glory of God in us! And results with come in short order!
DSR
6/8/03