Authority

Mark 1.22— And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1.27— And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Luke 4.32— And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Matthew 21.23— And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

John 5.27— And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Matthew 28.18— And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus spoke and acted with authority, because He is the authority. This is not a new concept. Everyone that claims the name of Jesus agrees that He is the Alpha and Omega. What is up for debate is our authority. Simply put… we only have authority that He delegates. 

When we speak, we should speak with grace, love and purpose. Why? Because He said so in His word. When we live our lives, we should do the same. Why? Because He said so in His word. Everything we do in this life should be a reflection of Jesus to others. We are living testimonies of His love and grace to a fallen and dying world. 

There is a rub here though, isn’t there? When we re-engage the verses starting this post, we notice they were of Jesus in a public setting. He is, in modern language, ‘preaching’. He is doing so with authority, but without apology.  

Today, we see a performance of pastors sitting in their offices with their Bibles closed, working on “talks” that they will perform publicly in a pageantry for others to admire, react to, or dismiss. What is desperately needed is authority. Not their’s, but God’s. His comes via His commanded will, prescribed in the pages of Holy Scripture. There must be a vacating of the idea of horizontal agreement, and a launching toward vertical authority. All disciples must speak of God’s word with authority because it is. 

Trying to get man’s agreement or movement from their comfortable pew, is a failing plague upon churches today. Human persuasion is not what is needed. What we need is a word from God, to our hungry souls. Now, maybe that’s the problem… no hunger. Maybe we are already full of so many others things. We are too rich (full) of this life. Jesus said so in Luke 1.53: “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Or as the Proverbs say in 27.7: “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

Truth annihilates so-called human wisdom, as the Apostle Paul so aptly points out in the beginning chapters of 1 Corinthians. For anyone who would take scripture and speak, to do so without declaration of it as authority, seems to me an epic failure. God breathed this book we call a Bible. It is God’s revelation of Himself to me. I take that very seriously, as I pray you do as well. It is one of three eternal and precious resources to me from my loving Father. Superficial is the best term to describe what is being mustered out today in so many Sunday school classes, small groups, house groups, and yes even on stages and platforms in churches across America. This is false authority flowing from our own thoughts, and spiritually deadly to the culture we live in. They need to know Jesus. They will only know by the word of God (Romans 10). How can we keep that from them? 

I think it happens not just by lack of giving Gospel, but doing so without authority. Remember, you and I are not the authority, He is. If He said it, do you believe it? If you believe it, I mean for real believe it, why wouldn’t you declare it?! Why are we so withdrawn when we hold the very words of life? Why are so many drawing back when we have authority in our hands and in our hearts? Why is there such a lack of passion for this? Is it that we are so full of the world? God help us. Why is it that believers today seem squeamish about truth and make apologies for it? The unbeliever doesn’t apologize for their beliefs and actions. On the contrary, they flaunt it, and even demand your agreement to it. They are acrimonious in their speech and behavior. We are to be “peacemakers”, which let’s others know that we are the children of God (Matthew 5.9). Why would we apologize for helping others see their utter fault between them and a separated God? Why wouldn’t we without apology, give the peace-making answer for their condition with authority?  

Could it be fear? The deep need to please others? Their loyalty to others and themselves betray what’s really on their heart? Do we really believe it then? Are we more concerned about maintaining clout, friendships, and respect from the world than we are remaining faithful to a Savior who gave His life so that I may live? God has said. We are to be preoccupied with that notion alone. God spoke. Why wouldn’t we listen and obey? Why wouldn’t we want everyone else to hear what God has said, unadulterated and untainted. It ought to be said of us…  “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24.32)