Gaining Spiritual Authority

It takes effort to learn to walk in spiritual authority. I hear so often when a crisis comes upon people, that they cry out. They realize that they have not spent the time it takes to learn to walk in spiritual authority.

Asa learned how to walk in spiritual authority. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. ” (2 Chronicles 14:2, NIV84) What is good and right in the eyes of God? God desires that we seek Him, we Love Him and we obey Him. When we do that our life will begin to change to bring all things around us under the authority of God. As we bring the things in our lives under God’s authority, we grow in spiritual authority.

Asa did many things that developed His spiritual authority. Asa daily spent time obeying the Word of God. “He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest. “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men. ” (2 Chronicles 14:3–8, NIV84)

Asa took the time to get rid of anything and everything that did not honor God. Asa spent time encouraging others to seek God. Asa sought the Lord. Asa obeyed God and helped others to learn to obey God. Asa understood the promises of God to prosper him, so Asa built. Asa also understood that there would be times of war, so Asa prepared himself for battle.

How often do we read books or watch shows that displease God? We should destroy those idols like Asa did. How often do we compromise the Word of God in our own life? How can we expect that others will obey God if our lives reflect a half hearted devotion to God?

The time of crisis came for Asa. “Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. ” (2 Chronicles 14:9–10, NIV84) And in spite of all the time Asa spent preparing, Asa did not rely on himself. All those years of studying Gods Word and obeying God had taught Asa that the Lord will protect and fight for those who Love Him. “Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” ” (2 Chronicles 14:11, NIV84)

Asa gained spiritual authority. God listened when Asa prayed. God fought for Asa. God turned the crisis and the attack of the enemy into a blessing for Asa. “The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder. They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror of the Lord had fallen upon them. They plundered all these villages, since there was much booty there. They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. ” (2 Chronicles 14:12–15, NIV84)

Asa did not gloat in his spiritual authority. God sent a prophetic word to Asa, a reminder about spiritual authority. “The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. […] But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” ” (2 Chronicles 15:1–7, NIV84)

Asa was reminded that spiritual authority came from a daily and a lifelong love and obedience for God. Asa was encouraged to pursue and obey God even more. “When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple. ” (2 Chronicles 15:8, NIV84) Asa kept removing that which was sin and building that which was holy in his life.

The outcome of spiritual authority is not winning a battle. The outcome of spiritual authority is the ability to help others find the path to God. The outcome of true spiritual authority is the authority to turn a nation and a generation back to God. Asa did this. “They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side. ” (2 Chronicles 15:12–15, NIV84)

If you want to bring change to your family, your city, your nation, then follow the example of Asa. Start where you are at. Begin to tear down that which is sinful in your life. Begin to seek God. Begin to obey God. Continue each day to remove the sin and to grow in obedience. Trust God in every crisis. Do not gloat in victory but let the victory propel you into even greater consecration to God. Then you will become God’s history maker.

My heart’s desire is that like Asa, people would see that my heart is fully committed to the Lord ALL the days of my life. “Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. ” (2 Chronicles 15:17, NIV84)

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