Purpose And Power Of Authority (13 page)

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.(John 10:17–18)

If you are sent somewhere under genuine authority, you can have peace because the authority is responsible for you.

In another scriptural example, the archangel Michael did not use his own authority to fight against Satan but used his words very carefully, saying, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). Michael was acting on God’s behalf but had to rebuke Satan under the authority of God’s name, not his own name, for that authority to be put into effect by God.

Finally, the Roman centurion I mentioned earlier trusted in and appealed completely to the authority of God when he asked Jesus to heal his servant. He knew that Jesus’ ministry was validated by the Father and that there would be no doubt that his servant would be healed. (See Matthew 8:5–13.)

Defense

The second point about being represented by one’s authority concerns representation by defense. If a product is defective or fails to fulfill its purpose, then the maker has to step in and solve the problem. Only the authority, or source, of the product can defend that product. Again, when certain models of Toyota cars had significant technical problems, the company’s previously excellent name in the automobile industry was on the line, so the president of the company, the grandson of the founder, came to testify before the U.S. Congress to assure the government that the company was addressing the problem. Toyota did not send a junior manager of the company to make this assurance. The president was representing not only the company but also the product; he was speaking on its behalf. In a similar way, we saw that the redemptive work of the Creator required Him to send His own Son to earth to reclaim His image in mankind.

The authority therefore represents the product. This means that if you are not under any authority and you take action and fail, there is no one to speak for you or to protect you. But if you fail while you are under authority, your authority can help rescue you. For example, if you are on trial after being accused of a crime, it is generally recommended that you hire a lawyer to defend you rather than to try to defend yourself. If you are found “defective,” you need a respected authority to represent you. Many defense attorneys tell their clients not to say anything at all because it could be used against them. When you are found wanting, the authority over you is your defense.

When human beings, the “product” of the Divine Manufacturer, failed by abandoning their authority, the Manufacturer didn’t discard them but came personally on their behalf to represent and defend them. Heaven didn’t send an angel; instead, God the Son, whose image was on the product, came to redeem and restore humanity.

When Jesus was attacked by religious leaders who said that His testimony was not valid, He let the Father be His defense, saying,

“Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:14–19)

Jesus was God in the flesh and therefore had Ultimate Authority within Himself, so He could testify on His own behalf. Even so, He directed the religious leaders to the corroborating witness of the Father, who had sent Him. Jesus always defended His words and actions by the authority of the Father. He told those who accused Him that they didn’t know the true Authority, or they would have known that His testimony was valid. “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42).

Once more, the key to Jesus’ success was that He was under authority and had both the authorization and the power to carry out the purpose for which He came to earth. As the Father’s representative, He said and did only what the Father said and did.

When you carry out your personal authority and are following the Manufacturer’s Manual, the One who sent you is your defense. God’s Spirit within you affirms the Father’s will in your life: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears” (John 16:13).

Jesus said, “My Father is with me” (John 16:32), and He told His disciples, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). A manufacturer always backs the product wherever it is sent. When you are submitted to the Ultimate Authority, you are never alone. You don’t have to defend yourself. There is Someone there to defend and help you.

As long as you are operating under the authority of the Ultimate Authority, you are safe. Whoever attacks you attacks the Ultimate Authority, who, through Christ, is also your Father. The Lord calls His people “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). The phrase apple of one’s eye means “one that is highly cherished.”

Authority therefore becomes your sense of security. Jesus used strong words for those who would hurt anyone who belongs to the Father: “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). That’s not very safe!

It is much better to be under authority. Jesus always knew He was safe because He was not operating on His own. This did not mean He was immune to trouble and hardship, but when you are under the Ultimate Authority, you are protected so that you can complete the purpose of your personal authority. People plotted to kill Jesus on many occasions, but they could not touch Him until it was time for Him to be sacrificed on our behalf. “They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way” (Luke 4:29–30).

When you are operating under the Father’s authority, you have access to His help, counsel, correction, instruction, discipline, and many other benefits that you wouldn’t otherwise have. You receive foresight and hindsight—the safety of a broad vision for your life. You also have a “hiding place” (Psalm 32:7) in Him, a place of refuge and reference. This knowledge gives you a sense of boldness. You can have confidence because you’re not on your own but have Someone protecting you.

When you operate under the Ultimate Authority, you realize that promotion does not come from other people but from God, even when you are working for and with others. Your authority and promotion are based on what you were uniquely created by God to do in concert with others. He will use other people to place you in situations in which you can carry out your unique purpose, but you are authorized by Him alone to fulfill that purpose.

Yielding to those whom God has given authority in your life while pursuing your own authority leads to advancement in responsibility. Joshua was honored by God and promoted because of his devotion to God and because of the way he was submitted to Moses’ leadership. Of all the Israelites, he ended up getting the job as their next leader. We know Joshua because of his association with Moses, the same way we know about the prophet Elisha because of his association with his mentor, Elijah. Operating under authority not only preserves you but also gives you a legacy. Authority can give you a powerful life when you submit to it.

Purpose #8: Freedom

Another purpose of authority is to provide a framework and environment for total freedom. Contrary to what some people think, authority does not restrict freedom but rather ensures it. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

True freedom always exists within the context of legitimate boundaries. This is because freedom without authority, without laws and principles, turns into anarchy. One of the reasons the American Revolution was successful is that many of its leaders, such as George Washington, had “earned” authority from the citizens through their lives and accomplishments, and because many of the existing, underlying governmental structures were left essentially intact. When the royal governors left the former colonies, the American governors took their places.

Authority is the source of authenticity, and authenticity is the source of identity. Therefore, you can never know your identity without referencing your authority. Why does every manufacturer place its name on its products? For example, why does the lid of every laptop have the names of the computer’s manufacturer on it so that the name can be read easily when the lid is open? It is for the purpose of reminding us continuously that the laptop’s identity is connected to its source, or its authority. Any definition of that product must be in reference to its manufacturer.

Likewise, you cannot know who you are—your identity—apart from God, your Source. The purpose of authority is to put you in touch with your real self as He created you. Again, everyone may have an opinion about a product, but only the manufacturer knows its purpose—the what and the why of it.

Because authority is the source of authenticity and true identity, it is also the source of reality. You must therefore…

1. Know your authority.

2. Be true to that authority.

When you are under the Ultimate Authority and are operating in your personal authority, people can know who you really are. They can identify your gifts and abilities. This is one of the ways through which God works to fulfill your purpose in your domain. If you are not operating in your gifts, you cannot be identified and noted by other people in that way.

In addition, if you try to imitate or to “be” someone else, you have no genuine authority and will not succeed because you are not being true to the reality of who you are. You will never fulfill your true purpose.

The world sorely lacks authentic people. Since authenticity is a key component of authority, this explains why we are in such a crisis of authority today. Some people may be actively running away from who they really are, but many others are not aware that they are living counterfeit lives. They just don’t know what is within them and how to fulfill their personal authority.

In part two of this book, we will look at ways to discover and implement personal authority. What you are about to read is going to stir in you some hidden dreams that God always wanted you to fulfill. You will learn how to release them in your life and in the lives of others.

Chapter Seven

I once saw a television documentary about Carl Lewis, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist who was at one point the fastest man in the world. One segment showed Lewis with about twenty other runners lined up on a track about to race. As I watched, I observed the concept of personal authority perfectly illustrated. Lewis’ performance in the race demonstrated the difference between one who is authorized and those who aren’t.

When the starting gun was fired, all the other runners took off, but Lewis didn’t rush. His approach to the race reminded me of King Solomon’s statement, “The race is not to the swift” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)—especially to those who sprint too swiftly, too soon! Lewis took up a steady, cool pace down the track, and everybody else zipped passed him.

The camera suddenly switched to close-up shots of the four runners in the lead. The runner in first place was straining, as if he knew, Carl’s behind me. The runner in second place was sweating, and his chest looked as if it was about to burst. I imagine that he was thinking, I have to keep going. Meanwhile, Lewis just kept gliding along.

Suddenly, one runner dropped back, then two, then five, then ten. And then, almost all the others. The two remaining runners were killing themselves to keep going, but Lewis was still cruising. I said to myself, Those legs were born to do this.

Lewis waited until about the last fifty yards, and then it was as if something hit him—he sprinted ahead and overtook those other runners as if they were standing still.

Then, when he crossed the finish line in first place, he didn’t show off. He was humble. I liked that about him. Why didn’t he show off? Because running was natural for him. He knew it was what he was born to do. He knew he was supposed to win. The crowd went crazy, but he was as cool as a cucumber.

Lewis’s performance in that race exemplified the following five features of personal authority, which you will recognize in your life, as well, as you exercise your own authority with power in your personal domain.

1. Your personal authority is natural within you. It is something you were intentionally authorized and gifted to do by your Creator. You were born to do it, and as you manifest your authority, you should come to realize that it is what you’re meant to do.

2. Your personal authority is valuable. You have a gift to contribute to the world. Yet, even when you’re born to do something, you may start to think that other people are rushing ahead of you in life and that you aren’t keeping up in the way you should. Even right now, you may be feeling that others are leaving you way behind in success or accomplishments. But don’t worry; pace yourself according to your authority, and you will arrive at the finish line at just the right time. Trying to use shortcuts to personal authority that don’t reflect the Creator’s purposes and ways will cause you to be unauthorized and unauthentic. You can remain at peace and continue to pace yourself when you understand who you are and the value of your life and your personal authority to your loving Creator. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”
(John 10:10).