Have you ever thought about Artificial Intelligence being artificial? For the next few weeks, we are going for reality, learning about another “AI” - Authority Intelligence, more specifically, our authority in Christ.
I was at a concert this week and noticed the parking lot attendant as thousands tried to leave the venue all at once. The attendant had a flashlight and a vest as tools and she was directing the traffic into lanes for the exit. She had authority to do this. But one guy decided to go where he wanted to go and switched lanes, challenging her authority and moving his car toward her so that she had to step out of the way to avoid being bumped by the moving vehicle. I also noticed on the main road leading to the freeway, that the police were on the street also directing traffic. They had different tools and a different level of authority. Everyone listened to them. They even stopped cars that had a green light and told other cars to go through red lights. They didn’t have the physical power to stop traffic but had the authority to make a car stop even if they had a green light.
Those who belong to Jesus have God’s authority and power. Are you walking in this authority? In Luke 10, there is an account of Jesus sending out 70 disciples whom Jesus commissioned to heal the sick and preach the Good News. When they came back, they marveled that they even had authority over demons! Are you walking around wishing for your life to change or are you governing your life with authority? God has given you authority over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).
When you have a battle in your mind, grab control of those thoughts. When life gets hard, spend time practicing your authority. Authority comes from the Word that God has given to us in the Bible. Apply it to your life. The enemy tries to crush you with his lies and you may ask “Why try?” but God loves you and learning to use His Word is worth it!! Do you feel you’ve messed up too many times? Take every thought captive and submit it to the Lord. Think of the example of the egg. Eggs break from pressure. An egg broken from the outside dies and life ends for the creature inside. But if it is broken from the inside, life begins. Don’t let outside stuff crush you and confuse you. He that’s in you is greater than he that is in the world. When you crack the shell from the inside, expansion out of the thing that confined you happens.
Grow in God’s Word, learning what He says about you and what He promises. Understand and employ the authority you have through Christ. The enemy tries to inject fear and play on your insecurities. But if you take the Word, declaring and praying it, you can combat the lies of the enemy. What are some scriptures you rely on? Add these to your arsenal:
- Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
- Psalm 139 - You search me and know me
- Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon formed against me will prosper
- Jer 29:11 - God has plans for me and they are good
- Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want
- 2 Cor 5:17 - I am a new creation in Christ, the old has passed away
- Ephesians 1:4- 5 - I am chosen to be holy and blameless before Him in love
- 1 John 1 :9 - If I confess my sins, He will forgive me and make me clean!
James 4:7 says to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Submit your thoughts, attitudes, situations and circumstances, hurts and struggles to the Lord. Otherwise, you’re submitting to something else. Stop giving way to evil and walk in freedom. Resist the devil and he will flee. You have the authority to do so.
Why do we have authority? Authority has not been given to the believer for personal glory or greatness. Authority is given to impact the world around us and make the world better. We are made on purpose for a purpose, to advance the Kingdom of God and destroy the works of the enemy (Matthew 28:18-20). Acts 1:8 tells of the disciples waiting as instructed, on the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came. Power to do what? They would receive power to be witnesses, at home, in the region and throughout the world, so the world would know about Jesus. We have power to encourage others. We have authority to bear witness and to share the Word. We have the power to do this even in our own home where it can be the hardest! The power of the Holy Spirit will bless you and give you confidence, but our authority is for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. John 14:12 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus will do even greater things than Jesus because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Exercise your authority to change the world and make a difference.
How do we live this way? We do this through surrender to God. I know. Surrender doesn’t look like authority. Surrender looks like your hands are up, but total surrender to God positions us to operate in His authority. To be great is to become a servant. The world is upside down because of what the enemy has done, but when we surrender to God, He sets us right. We don’t shove others down but we build others up, developing healthy culture, community and relationships. To be great, we serve. This is the attitude and position that enables us to make a difference. Employ the power given to you and learn to live life under authority.
