Now I would like to speak to you in the next few days concerning authority. I trust that you will embrace it. What I have learned is these false but commonly accepted concepts of authority have permeated the nations and cultures of the world. Now we first need to explore what true authority is not so that we can become free of our misconceptions and clearly understand what true authority is.
Let us concern ourselves with an individual who wields power. One of the false conceptions of authority that has led to its misuse and abuse is that power is synonymous with authority. Many individuals have come to see authority as a greater strength that is able to subdue others. That thinking just isn't true. Power is the capacity to move something by force or energy, whether it is an object, an idea or a person. It is the ability to cause, activate, initiate, transform or impact. Power can be exercised through position, knowledge, strength, force, integrity, influence, personality or threats. Power isn't the same as authority, by no means. The difference is that true authority is always sanctioned or authorized, whereas power can be illegitimate, or unauthorized. Power that is used to harm people in some way is clearly unauthorized; it has then become a weapon. They are bullies of all ages who choose to use power in this way. I had some of them in my elementary school while growing up. But I soon learned that there was strength in the masses. So I started a gang of all those individuals who were bullied. Then we had the power.
Jesus made this statement: ...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Jesus made this assertion doing His great commission. Although King Jesus was given this authority by His Father, He has yet to exercise all of it. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In due season, Christ the King will come, but meanwhile, we must stay in our purpose. And for those of you who don't know your purpose or aren't sure of your purpose, Seek the Kingdom, for the kingdom is within you.
Matthew 28:18 Philippians 2:9-11 Matthew 6:33 Luke 17:21
~~W.R. Luchie
Let us concern ourselves with an individual who wields power. One of the false conceptions of authority that has led to its misuse and abuse is that power is synonymous with authority. Many individuals have come to see authority as a greater strength that is able to subdue others. That thinking just isn't true. Power is the capacity to move something by force or energy, whether it is an object, an idea or a person. It is the ability to cause, activate, initiate, transform or impact. Power can be exercised through position, knowledge, strength, force, integrity, influence, personality or threats. Power isn't the same as authority, by no means. The difference is that true authority is always sanctioned or authorized, whereas power can be illegitimate, or unauthorized. Power that is used to harm people in some way is clearly unauthorized; it has then become a weapon. They are bullies of all ages who choose to use power in this way. I had some of them in my elementary school while growing up. But I soon learned that there was strength in the masses. So I started a gang of all those individuals who were bullied. Then we had the power.
Jesus made this statement: ...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Jesus made this assertion doing His great commission. Although King Jesus was given this authority by His Father, He has yet to exercise all of it. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In due season, Christ the King will come, but meanwhile, we must stay in our purpose. And for those of you who don't know your purpose or aren't sure of your purpose, Seek the Kingdom, for the kingdom is within you.
Matthew 28:18 Philippians 2:9-11 Matthew 6:33 Luke 17:21
~~W.R. Luchie
