An Invitation to Authority and Power

Authority comes from relationship. Power is the result of authority. Someone came up with a brilliant illustration of this concept. Imagine a police officer with a badge and a gun. The officer has authority to enforce the laws of the land. His authority comes from his relationship with the government and his position in that government. His gun represents his power but he need only use it to enforce the authority he’s already been given.

Jesus gave us the perfect teaching on this in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus healed a paralytic and showed us the role of authority and power. Jesus was trying to show the scribes that the Father had given Him authority on earth. The authority He received from the Father gave Him the ability to exercise power. We know Jesus had a close relationship with the Father, hence He had authority. In verse 9, Jesus points out something interesting about the dynamic between authority and power. He asks “which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘your sins are forgiven you’ or to say ‘arise, take up your bed and walk?’” I believe that Jesus is explaining that without authority, we couldn’t possibly have power.

In verses 10-11, Jesus did something amazing! He healed (power) someone to demonstrate and prove that He had “authority” to forgive sins.

“But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins–He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home.” Mark 2:10-11AMP

If Jesus put a requirement on Himself to validate His authority with power then what right do we have to create a lesser standard? Even Paul would not let himself off the hook. He was determined not to boast in his intellect but to preach a gospel confirmed with power. The gospel of Christ isn’t complete until we can demonstrate what we say. “Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.” Romans 15:18-19 NLT Paul is saying that we haven’t given the world a clear presentation of the Good News until they experience the power of the Holy Spirit.

Authority comes from an intimate relationship with God and from a revelation (experience) of our identity. It is beyond head knowledge. You must believe that He took the keys back from the enemy and desires to give you the kingdom. Revelation 1:18, Luke 12:32

You need to know that you are a “sent-one” and because you’ve been sent, you have authority. Welcome.

Other scriptures

Luke 4:36

Luke 9:1

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Matthew 28:18-19

© Solape Osoba 2010

Chasing After God

There’s an interesting paradigm out there about seeking God.  This point of view stands up confident, chest-out and declares “real Christians shouldn’t chase after signs and wonders.”  Then it proceeds to quote supporting scriptures and add strict warning.  They read this verse “and these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” Mark 16:17.  The thing is, what the listener just heard is “I must stay put and never go beyond these borders or something terrible might happen or worse yet, people will think awful things about me.”  I am in total agreement with Mark 16:17.  However, most people don’t emphasize this verse they teach the reverse.  The only issue is, the reverse is not explicitly stated in the scriptures.  I find it interesting that few ask “well, why aren’t the signs and wonders following me if Jesus said they would?”

Jesus gives us insight into something profound in John 2:11.  It says “this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”  The scripture clearly shows that wherever the glory is, signs should be present.  And when you see signs it’s a good indicator that the glory is present.  So by discouraging people from being where miracles are happening, are we cutting them off from the one thing they need?  They need the glory.

The thing is, it’s not even about seeking signs; we must seek the Presence.  Throughout the New Testament, you can read accounts of people seeking after the presence of Jesus.  These encounters resulted in a sign, wonder or breakthrough that they needed. The Lord Himself told us to seek His face Psalm 27:8.  In the New Testament, there’s a long list of desperate, hungry people that sought to be where Jesus was (which was where the miracles were happening).  The list includes characters like the woman with the issue of blood, Zacchaeus, the woman with the demon-possessed daughter, Nicodemus, the rich young ruler etc.  The list of those that pressed in to where the apostles and disciples were is probably just as long.  People recognized that these ones were carriers of the Presence.  As a result, when they pressed in, miracles happened.  It’s true, we shouldn’t seek after signs but wherever the Presence is, signs must follow.  So I’m going after the Presence!