Authority
This morning we are considering the word authority. For young people it is a bad word….almost a “four letter” word.. Normally, there is an almost automatic resistance to any kind of an authority. I have heard kids say “you are not the boss of me!” Usually when a friend or someone was telling them what to do.
Of course adults want to know who is in charge at meetings and things.
I don’t know about you but I really hate to go to a meeting where nobody really is in charge….it usually ends up being a waste of time. I avoid them to the best of my ability.
How about a meeting where you disagree about who is in charge. Isn’t that the worst? I end up at meetings like that sometimes.
To me the word authority automatically is connected to power. Depending on the authority it can be extremely powerful like life and death or it can be as mild a seriously considering a suggestion offered by someone. All of us make the choice of what are authorities in our lives.
There are a lot of positive authorities in our lives. How about some of our teachers. Sunday school teachers, doctors…they are normally using their influence to help us one on one right.
I am not sure that any of us really likes being under authority, especially if that authority is harsh or limits how we live and make choices.
I popped into the dictionary to get a broader understanding of the word.
• The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
• One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials
• Power assigned to another; authorization
• A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field
• An accepted source of expert information or advice
• Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
So who has authority over us? We might claim the government perhaps some of our family members. We don’t really have a choice for some that we yield to.
We have some authorities which is over us because of position….president, police have a position which demands or requires respect or at least compliance. If you don’t think it affects you what happens when you see a policeman in traffic behind you….You don’t know him personally but I will suspect that nearly all of us have a reaction of checking our speed.
Another example, we really don’t have any choice of yielding to God. Of course we can reject God’s authority and live opposite to what the Bible teaches.
However, scripture tells us that at some point everyone will face the music.
So how does the authority of the president of the United States really affect me. I have never met the man. He has never emailed me with instructions. And yet he holds authority over my life. Taxes, war, speed limits and of the daily functions cab be influenced by his choices and use of power. But he really does not personally influence my daily life.
To affect as many people as possible ‘he assigns other people power and authority. They have staff members that are assigned jobs and functions and that also empowers them with some authority. This process of sharing power continues in all directions until everyone within a society is touches in good or bad ways by the power of our president.
Doesn’t scripture describe that same structure in the way that God works? We know that God gave authority to Jesus and he used it in his time on earth. Jesus came as a teacher, explaining the relationship and expectation that God had for mankind. Along the way he proved his authority by physically healing individuals.
For some Jesus was obviously the highest authority representing God Himself. However for most, the authority was questioned and attacked.
Jesus shared the authority with his disciples. A couple of examples:
Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Mark 6:6-7
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
The authority we are talking about today is the authority that has passed down from God to us today. In the past, we have talked about the power of the Holy Spirit and how it can lead us, if we will listen and respond.
Have you ever considered that the Holy Spirit also gives us authority? One of the definitions from the dictionary describes expert knowledge. Like the high powered expert witnesses in court. That is what a Christian has, a special knowledge and sometimes even a special ability to testify about the things we know. We are all specialized authorities, empowered to represent God.
This is where a lot of people have a problem.
Even though we are given authority by God through our faith In Jesus Christ and physically empowered by the Holy Spirit …most of us hold back. We fail to consider that we are called by God and by his ability may live and represent his authority.
I have known some people to be self-proclaimed authorities on all kinds of subjects. I am talking about people that might be know it all’s. Sometimes we just think they are annoying.
This kind of authority doesn’t really keep its ability to influence very long. Their problem is that they think they know it all and have it all figured out. They stop being led by a higher authority. For the secular world it might require keeping up with the news and technology. Perhaps it would be keeping up with the laws or policies of the government. If they fail to keep up then the loose their power and position.
Christians are supposed to live and act as authorities for God in this world. We are not to be know it alls or wield hurtful power. We are supposed to be helpful and courteous and offer healing and love in all situations.
For us to have authority requires several steps. First we have to understand that this is part of the responsibilities that come with our faith walk. Second, if we are living as God expects then we will automatically show it. Third, we must always keep up and work on our understand of the relationship God offers through Christ…We must be able to explain our faith. And finally we must be willing to be and authority, to share what we know, to reach out and touch, teach and sometime heal with the authority of God.
You see, we never act out of our own authority. We have no real power or control. We only reflect what God has given us to share.
Folks, we are a people that are or at least should be committed to living with the authority God want to place upon us.
Why don’t we….Why to we resist living as people that are the children of the king…….
Is it because we forget who we are?
To we think we are living under our own power and authority?
In a way we should be living everyday as if we have the initial WWJD - What Would Jesus Do literally in front of us every wakening moment.
Folks we have authority wither we use it or not is up to us.
Have you heard the phrase “Use it or loose it.” Popularity – is like that isn’t it. The stars are always doing something to keep their name out there.
Isn’t that the way authority is in general, it has a shelf life.
-If a president is weak and fails to use his power in the interest of the country he gets voted out.
-If an attorney won’t fight for his clients no one will hire him or her.
-If a doctor won’t treat patients his waiting room will empty pretty soon.
Anytime someone is given or earns a level of authority and they fail to use it. He or She will slowly and sometimes instantly loose their special authority.
If they don’t use it they loose it.
Folks how do people view your life?
Are you an authority on anything and specifically would any one consider you an authority or even knowledgeable about God and spiritual things?
Folks, to live with the authority that God intends you must be willing to share what you know. You must yield to the higher authority and understand that all you know come from God. All you share comes form God.
If you use your authority your shelf life will last a life time.
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When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished.
As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”
“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”
“But I’m starved,” the governor said.
“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”
Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.
“Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.”
“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”
-- Speak with the authority you are given by God, you are his chosen messenger with the authority of the King.
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
All Glory be to God!
