When I speak of Jesus, I am not speaking of a religion. Jesus didn't come to represent or to give us a religion. He came to restore what we lost--a kingdom. In the conversation that Pilate had with the Jews, he was not concerned with Jesus' religious state; but their statement of Him being a king put him on notice. From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” Jesus was king, and He represented the ultimate authority. A religion deals with membership. A kingdom entails citizenship. If you obey the king's words, then you are a citizen in good standing.
As I have previously shared with you what authority is and it's operation; allow me to share what it isn't. These false ideas are what many people think of when they hear this word because authority has been defined or modeled for them in distorted ways through their oppressive, negative, stifling or even deadly experiences.
Understand what authority isn't--dominating others, overpowering others, dictating to others, oppressing others, mastering others, forcing people to do what you want them to do, controlling others, restricting others, tyrannizing others, and subjecting others to do your will. To summarize it, we often perceive authority as any person, party or position that dominates, controls or manipulates other people or situations, usually to that perceived authority's advantage. I don't know about you, but I hate for someone to try to dominate, manipulate or control me!
Those who exhibit false authority not only hurt everyone around them but also stifle the true authority that is within them and that they could be offering to others. They are not operating in their proper authority and domain, but in a false domain of abuse.
When you are authorized, those around you will know that you speak with authority. They recognized it in Jesus immediately. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Remember, when you are obedient and obey God's Word, you will receive power from above in the form of the Holy Spirit; but not if you are disobedient.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
John 19:12 Matthew 7:28-29 Acts 1:8
~~W.R. Luchie
As I have previously shared with you what authority is and it's operation; allow me to share what it isn't. These false ideas are what many people think of when they hear this word because authority has been defined or modeled for them in distorted ways through their oppressive, negative, stifling or even deadly experiences.
Understand what authority isn't--dominating others, overpowering others, dictating to others, oppressing others, mastering others, forcing people to do what you want them to do, controlling others, restricting others, tyrannizing others, and subjecting others to do your will. To summarize it, we often perceive authority as any person, party or position that dominates, controls or manipulates other people or situations, usually to that perceived authority's advantage. I don't know about you, but I hate for someone to try to dominate, manipulate or control me!
Those who exhibit false authority not only hurt everyone around them but also stifle the true authority that is within them and that they could be offering to others. They are not operating in their proper authority and domain, but in a false domain of abuse.
When you are authorized, those around you will know that you speak with authority. They recognized it in Jesus immediately. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Remember, when you are obedient and obey God's Word, you will receive power from above in the form of the Holy Spirit; but not if you are disobedient.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
John 19:12 Matthew 7:28-29 Acts 1:8
~~W.R. Luchie
