Matthew 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Authority is an important issue in any organization and any society. What those questioning Jesus were trying to do was to get Him to blaspheme, as they saw it, by declaring that His authority was from Creator God. Jesus’ response teaches us that while we must always be honest, we don’t always have to say everything that is true! The times that Jesus praised people for their faith were when they recognized His authority and acted accordingly. (Matthew 8 and 15) This issue is of vital importance for a disciple, because as the story in Matthew 8 shows, authority flows from top to bottom. We have no authority except that which is granted to us from above. That’s why it is so significant that Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth,” when He was delivering the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) As disciples of Jesus Christ, that authority can and does operate through us, but only when we are in right, obedient relationship to Him.

This is something I have wrestled with over the years. At times I have been conceited and overreached the authority entrusted to me, but more often I have drawn back and failed to exercise it. Probably a major reason for that was that my spiritual hearing wasn’t very acute. If we are to exercise Jesus’ authority, we’ve got to get our orders from Him! As a pastor, not only do I have to exercise authority over my flock, to build them up (2 Corinthians 10:8), I need to teach them the authority they have over the forces of evil. (Luke 9:1) Few people if any deal with authority rightly when it is first given to them, so I need to exercise toward them the same patience that has been shown to me. However, as a body we need to learn to rise up and exercise Christ’s authority so that God’s name may be hallowed, His kingdom come, and His will be done. Of course the first place for that is in prayer, but we need to be available to God 24/7 for Him to act through us, for His pleasure and glory.

Father, this is vitally important, and I still have a lot to learn. Thank You so much for how You are growing this body in every area. Help us grow spiritually so that we will be ready to grow physically, bringing in the harvest that You desire, raising up a mighty army of disciples for the salvation not only of this city, but of this nation and beyond, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!