I live in a region where many immature believers have competed for authority. This competition has brought harm to many sincere Christians who just want to live and grow in Christ. The competition has led to the establishment of a culture of false authority that is positional and is based upon titles. True authority is relational and is based upon trust and character.
Authority with God is crucial for Christians. It is only with authority that we are able to overcome darkness. It is only with authority that we can bring freedom to others. “”The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”” (Luke 4:18–19, NIV84) It is only with authority that we can establish the Kingdom of God. “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:18–19, NIV84)
The evidence that the church has authority is seen in a strong church. A strong church will be conquering. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NASB95) A strong church will be building people. “For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.” (2 Corinthians 10:8, NIV84) A strong church is bold and proclaims the love of God with signs and wonders following. “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20, NIV84) A strong church grows in the character of the Holy Spirit because it yields to the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22–25, NIV84)
The evidence that the church does NOT have authority is also seen. A weak church will struggle with sin. “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19–21, NIV84) A weak church cannot overcome darkness. “But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23, NIV84) A weak church pretends to have power but truly has none. “One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19:15–16, NIV84)
If a community is not being transformed by the love and power of God, then the church is NOT strong in that community. Transformation is God’s purpose for us as individuals and as the church. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV84) Transformed people bring life and freedom to others. Transformed people reflect God’s light in a dark world. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17–18, NIV84)
I hear many people condemn others for the problems and the darkness they see in the world. However, the problem truly resides with a church that fails to seek, to gain, and to walk in the authority of God. It is very easy to point fingers at others for problems when we lack authority. It is much harder to pay the price to find the road that brings us into a place to true authority and transformation.
Those who point fingers of blame at others for the invasion of darkness in our world demonstrate by their critical spirit that they lack any true authority from God.
Those who have authority from God will take full responsibility for the problems of darkness and start to become light that will transform the darkness. Those with true authority from God will lay their lives down for others just as Jesus did so we could live. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:12–17, NIV84)
It is time to find the road to seek true authority from God. It is time to stop playing games with imitation authority that values titles over love.
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