The Believer’s Authority

 

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

This opening scripture happens to be one of my favorites. It’s a scripture that opens our eyes to see the authority we possess in Christ. Many are times as believers we fail to understand the kind of  authority we carry as Children of God and what it means to be a child of God. On several instances Jesus has referred to this kind of living as having little faith. The opening scripture has highlighted what it takes for us to be called children of God. I believe that when we understand authority, the operation of faith becomes easier. The greatest way to grow in faith therefore is to understand your authority and use it with the assigned responsibilities.

Here is a time Jesus is sleeping soundly in a boat amidst a great tempest that arises on the sea and the boat that is covered with waves. His disciples are filled with fear and wake Him up pleading with Him to save them for they believe they are going to die. Now for me it’s Jesus’ response and reaction that’s everything. It’s one that reveals the authority Jesus carries: “Why are you fearful, oh you of little faith? And then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.” This is how Jesus demonstrates His authority as the son of God. He demonstrates his right to rebuke the winds and the sea and the obedience these have towards Him. He understands His Father is the provider and author of all things and One who gives good things to His children. (Matthew 7:11)

Jesus is telling many of us today: Oh you of little Faith! Many of us are like how the disciples behaved here; we are with Jesus in the same boat, yet we are  helplessly crying that we are dying of poverty, joblessness, depression, pain and hurt . We are not aware of how to exercise our authority to rebuke the winds and the sea because of our little faith. Now I have come to learn that little Faith just doesn’t happen to be. It comes because we are operating in the flesh. John 4:24 says God is spirit and those who worship Him worship in spirit and in truth. How then do you expect to have faith in one who is spirit while you are operating in the flesh?

Being a child of God as we have seen in the opening scripture is a right and any right comes with responsibilities.  In Matthew 17, Jesus heals a boy who was epileptic. The father brings the boy to Jesus pleading for healing Mercy. He reveals to Jesus that he once brought the boy to his disciples but they could not cure him. And again in his response Jesus tackles the issue of Faith. “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” This is a response of One who knows their position in power. Jesus knew who He was in and to the Father that is why he could confidently say bring him to me. After the boy was cured the disciples asked Him why they were unable to cast the demon out. The response Jesus gives in verse 21 is one that’s demonstrating that our right as Children of God comes with a responsibility and that responsibility is prayer and Fasting. For this is how we commune with the Father.

Yes there are some storms that God will allow your way because He wants to build you up and fulfill His purpose for you to His glory. He will not let you drown rather He just wants you strengthened and sharpened the more to the glory of His name. Sometimes the storm might not only end at building you up, your testimony might be for the good of your family and friends and others who will see what the Lord has done with your life. Jesus went through the path of the cross for  our eternal life and He is seated at the right hand of the Father; the place of authority and honor. The path of the cross was God-approved! And Jesus knew this, that's why in Matthew 26:39, he asked the Father to allow the cup pass from Him but acknowledging God's will

The reason why Jesus was able to recognize that God is the one who approved the storm is because Him and the Father are one. You and I become one with the Father through communion with him in prayer. Afterll all if we are truly His children, we will know His voice and know God-approved storms amidst the tempest (John 10:27-28).

My prayer for you is that in any case of a God-approved storm like the case of Job, you be a Child of God. One who understands the will of the Father. One who holds on to Faith in  the Father. One who knows that God does not lie neither does He fail. One who knows that all things (good or bad) work together for good to them that love God; to them that were given the right to be called Children of God. It takes Faith and the use of your authority as a Child of God to know the mind of the Father in every situation which will keep you still amidst any storm and know that God is God. 

Do you know your place in Christ? Do you understand your right and authority as a Child of God? Read the scriptures in this piece and ask God to help you understand His word as it is to be understood.  

                              Blessed Living!

Ephesians 1:3-6

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.