POWER AND AUTHORITY

By Jay Pearson

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

 

Stirring up your perception and awareness of the God given power from on high and the authority to the born again Christian is a daily prerequisite to abundant living in Christ. Receiving the promise of the new birth is addressed in the opening chapters of the Book of Acts.

Acts 2:38-39:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

As a Christian you are to be a representation of Christ and the power of his resurrection until he returns. Representing Christ requires humility and obedience. Let us consider these five topics in our quest to utilize God’s power and authority.

1. Power is the ability to do or act.
2. Strength is the ability to sustain force without breaking or yielding.
3. Control is to regulate, dominate, or command.
4. Authority is the power given to command, act or control.
5. Resource is a source of aid or support, the ability to deal with any problem or situation.

You are only as strong as your resources. If you confront a foe bigger than yourself, your own strength is not enough to over power him. You must resort to a resource other than your own strength. I usually carry a knife. It is handy for certain tasks from time to time. However my knife is not a strong enough resource to protect me in all situations. If I am attacked, I might try to defend myself with my knife. If my assailant has a tank, I’m in trouble. I could call on my friends, but they probably won’t have effective resources either. Given the power and authority, I could commission an F-18 fighter jet to destroy the tank.

The creator of the heavens and earth, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us authority to utilize His power. Jesus Christ has already defeated our enemy. God has given Jesus all power in heaven and earth. Jesus Christ has given us limited power with the authority to command, act, and control any situation. This power and authority is limited to union with him. Without him we are on our own. Thank God for mercy and grace because sometimes we have a tendency to run ahead of his direction. Only after we run into numerous complications or experience defeat do we stop and wonder what happened.

Have you ever helped a friend move a large heavy box? After deciding where the box needs to go, you stoop down bending your knees, make eye contact with your helper, and lift on the count of three. Without direction and communication you might reach down, yank the box up before your helper is ready, strain your back, drop the box, and hurt your friend.

Just as it is important to work together with your partner to accomplish a task, it is even more crucial that we work together with our Lord under his direction to accomplish his purposes.

2 Corinthians 6:1:
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

John 15:5:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Our initial instruction from the Lord is: Go and teach.

Matthew 28:19:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

One of the best ways to teach is by being a living example. Our living example is a reflection of what we represent. Therefore we should reflect Jesus and not project ourselves.

One of our first responsibilities after the new birth is to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ and his accomplishments. Our first struggle takes place within our minds. By the ongoing process of casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, we are more suited for his purpose. His purpose is one of ambassadorship. An ambassador has support, resources, and authority of the one he represents. We represent Jesus Christ here on earth. We are to represent him in our homes, communities, and our very beings. Jesus has given us the ability, resources, and authority to represent him. He encourages us to do so.

John 14:12:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We are in the power of his might when we are in his will. We do not control God’s power. That control is for God and his Son alone. We utilize God’s power as directed by him. As workers together with Jesus Christ we utilize the power as directed by him. We don’t control God’s power. We only submit in obedience and allow his power to work within us as directed.

Psalm 62:11:
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Lamentations 3:37:
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

There is great victory in Christ and your obedience to him. You can walk around Christ for years and nothing will happen. Try standing in the power of his might and putting on the whole armor of God and see your life change. God has called you to him. He has not called you to stand in the world unprotected. He is your life and your resource to prevail in obedience to him. God will not disappoint you.

Isaiah 41:10:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

 

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From the December 2006 issue of The Vine & Branches