THE POWER BEHIND OUR AUTHORITY

Before we even start this article - let me preface it by saying:  "It is so important that you read all the way to the end."  Don't be inclined to say, "I've heard this before."  If you'll stay with it, you'll be blessed.

In recent years, it seems that every minister I respect has been strongly given to teachings on love.  And I must say, finally, after nearly twenty years, I'm just beginning to grasp the importance of it.

Love is not an option - it is a command.  Really, the only commandment Jesus gave to the Church:

Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)  -  Jesus answered "...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'...'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Paul further explains in Romans 13:10 that the commandment of loving our neighbor fulfills all the law.

Love is the law by which we are to govern our Christian lives - the gage by which we measure the success of our walk with God.

Over the years, I've heard hundreds of messages on love. 

The first was "Faith Worketh By Love" (Galatians 5:6) by Kenneth Hagin, Jr.  If we want our faith to work, we must walk in love toward God and men.

Then, it was, "Love the Way to Victory" by Kenneth E. Hagin.  He taught us how to walk in forgiveness and stay out of offense - vital factors in living a victorious Christian life.

In September of this year, our precious father in the faith (Brother Kenneth E. Hagin) moved to heaven.  But before He left us, the last message he preached was on love.

This year, I have heard awesome messages pertaining to this subject.  It's time for all of us to take a step up.  A step toward being the glorious Church (Ephesians 5:27) is a step in the direction of love.

A woman of God I highly respect, Sister Billye Brim, has candidly shared how God has opened amazing doors for her in Israel.  When she questioned the Lord as to how she got to this point, He reminded her of the divine relationships He had placed in her life and how He had required that they love each other - no matter what.  He said success came, "Because you stayed together and walked in love."

She has also shared of how the Lord spoke to her many years ago that there were things about faith that He wanted to reveal, but because the Body of Christ did not understand love, they were not ready for the revelation.

And most recently, I heard a leading minister in the land correlate love to the supernatural manifestations of God.  He pointed out that according to 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13, love is the key (the more excellent way) to seeing the gifts of the Spirit in greater manifestation in these last days.

Thus far, this article may seem as though I have given a "book report" on what other ministers have said.  However, as I continue to share, we must understand the basic truths of this very important subject.  I can't say it any better than these men and women of God.

Several months ago, we started a weekly Bible study in our home.  In an effort to provide practical truths to our newfound friends, we wanted to build a foundation in the basics.

I was led of the Lord to start with a lesson on the authority of the believer.

When we study the believer's authority, we must understand that the word "authority" means "delegated power; the right or power to command."

Brother Hagin often used this illustration:  A policeman directing traffic does not have the power in and of himself to stop oncoming traffic.  However, when he steps into the middle of an intersection, drivers will do whatever he commands.  Why?  Because the authority to direct traffic has been bestowed upon him by the government he represents.

In the same way, we, as believers, have been given authority in the earth through our Lord Jesus Christ.  All the power of heaven will back us up when we pray according to the Word of God and His law.

When God created Adam, He intended that Adam be the "king"of the earth. 

Genesis 1:26-30 (NKJV)  -  Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image...let them have dominion...Then God blessed them, and God said to them,"...fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion...over every living thing that moves on the earth...

God intended for man to be in charge in the earth.  He was created to rule all of creation.  (Also see Psalm 8:4-8)

Adam lost his authority to rule when he sinned.  All of Adam's dominion was passed to or usurped by the one whom Paul refers to as "the god of this world" - Satan (see 1 Corinthians 4:4). 

Understanding this truth makes it a little easier to understand why bad things happen in the earth.

The good news:  Jesus was the last or second Adam.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 

Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave when He was raised from the dead.  When He paid the price for man's sin on the cross, He won back the authority and dominion that God originally intended for man.

Ephesians 1:18-23  -  ...that ye may know...the riches of the glory of his inheritance...And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe...Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named...And hath put all things under his feet...

Ephesians 2:6  -  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 Ephesians chapter one tells of the authority restored in Christ; chapter two, verse six tells us that same authority is available to us, as believers, today.  (Also see Revelation 3:20-21, Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 2:9-11 and Colossians 2:9-10,15)

As I began to study this subject through cross-references, a word began standing out to me in a way I had never seen before:

John 17:20-26 (Jesus praying)  -  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word...that they all may be one...that the world may believe that You sent Me...And the glory which You gave Me I have given them...that they may be made perfect...that the world may know that You have...loved them as You have loved Me...that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me...that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

In speaking of revealing His glory and power, I began to see Jesus making a strong correlation to the love of God.

We can see Paul tie it together even clearer in Romans chapter 8.

Rom 8:37-39 (NKJV)  -  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.   For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we examine this passage, we can see it is about being more than a conqueror; it's about victory and authority in this life, not just in the life to come.  It provides an extensive list of powers or forces in the earth today:  death, life, principalities or powers (demonic forces), the present, the future, etc. 

Whatever the dimension, whatever the creature; there is no force or power greater than the love of God.

His love - God's love - is the true power behind our authority!  It is the power of the Church! 

Can you see it?

1 John 4:16 (NKJV)  -  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The law of heaven that backs up our authority is the law of love.

How often do we ask God to do something for us with less than His love pouring from our hearts?  Selfishness, pride, envy, strife - if any of these things are what move us to prayer - how effective can we truly be with the authority that has been bestowed upon us?

How many times do we go to prayer truly motivated by love?  If we want to see the hand of God move in a powerful, supernatural way in this day, we MUST be ever conscious of His love for us and all of mankind.

It has often been said, there is nothing more powerful than a mother's prayers.  Why is that?  More than likely, because her prayers for her children are motivated from a heart of pure, unconditional love.

May it be that we not abuse the power than has been given to us.  May it be that we, after centuries of backbiting and strife, finally allow the love of God to govern the spiritual laws we have so mechanically learned to operate.

If we want to see the glorious Church promised in the Word of God - we MUST step up to LOVE in every area of life - especially in prayer.                                                                                                      

Autumn 2003