From the creation of the world, God has worked to bring order out of confusion. One way He has done this is to establish structures of authority in every area of life. The greatest and highest authorities are God Himself, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
God has also established structures of authority which affect your life. These authorities are important if you desire spiritual power. If you are not properly under authority then you cannot exercise authority.
One day in Capernaum, Jesus had an interesting encounter with a military leader. We are not given this leader's name. We only are told that he was a Centurion and had a servant who was quite ill. You can read the story of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10.
The Centurion was a man under the authority of Rome. He also had authority, as he was the military leader of 100 men. Because of this he immediately understood the spiritual relationship in which Jesus worked with the Father. It was similar to his own natural relationship as a Centurion with his commander.
Jesus was a man of authority. He acted with authority. He forgave sins, healed the sick, cast out demons, and did miracles. But Jesus was also under authority. He was under the authority of the Father:
John 5:19 "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
John 5:26, 27 "For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man."
John 6:38 "For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me."
John 7:16 "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."
John 8:29 "And He that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."
The Centurion recognized the power of this authority structure and, because of it, he knew it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. He knew Jesus had enough power to just speak the word and healing would come. Jesus commended the Centurion for his great faith and healed his servant.
Wherever authority is manifested, there is a chain (prof command. This is why the scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus, "By what authority doest thou these things?" in Matthew 21:23. Whenever men see lives filled with power and authority, they seek to discover the source. Are you seeking after the source?
God has also established structures of authority which affect your life. These authorities are important if you desire spiritual power. If you are not properly under authority then you cannot exercise authority.
One day in Capernaum, Jesus had an interesting encounter with a military leader. We are not given this leader's name. We only are told that he was a Centurion and had a servant who was quite ill. You can read the story of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10.
The Centurion was a man under the authority of Rome. He also had authority, as he was the military leader of 100 men. Because of this he immediately understood the spiritual relationship in which Jesus worked with the Father. It was similar to his own natural relationship as a Centurion with his commander.
Jesus was a man of authority. He acted with authority. He forgave sins, healed the sick, cast out demons, and did miracles. But Jesus was also under authority. He was under the authority of the Father:
John 5:19 "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
John 5:26, 27 "For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man."
John 6:38 "For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me."
John 7:16 "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."
John 8:29 "And He that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."
The Centurion recognized the power of this authority structure and, because of it, he knew it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. He knew Jesus had enough power to just speak the word and healing would come. Jesus commended the Centurion for his great faith and healed his servant.
Wherever authority is manifested, there is a chain (prof command. This is why the scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus, "By what authority doest thou these things?" in Matthew 21:23. Whenever men see lives filled with power and authority, they seek to discover the source. Are you seeking after the source?
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