UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY MATT. 8:5-13

THE KINGDOM AUTHORITY THAT JESUS OFFERS TO HIS BELIEVERS APPEALS TO US WHEN IT IS THE AUTHORITY WE CAN EXERCISE IN OUR PRAYERS AND SERVICE OVER THE POWERS OF DARKNESS AND EVIL INFLUENCES, BUT AUTHORITY IS A TWO-SIDED COIN, AND WE FIND FAR LESS APPEAL TO JESUS' COMMAND OVER US. WE CALL HIM LORD, BUT FIND HIS LORDSHIP DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY IN WHAT WE WOULD CALL "MINOR" MATTERS OF OBEDIENCE. COME ON NOW IF THAT DON'T HIT HOME I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES. WE ALL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN TAKING AUTHORITY OVER ALL MANNERS OF SICKNESS, demons, AND ALL OTHER THINGS THE ENEMY MIGHT THROW AT US. WHAT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS WE DON'T EVEN MIND JUMPING IN AND TAKING SOME AUTHORITY OVER THEIR PROBLEMS. BUT TAKING THE AUTHORITY OVER THE LITTLE MINOR MATTERS OF ONES OF THE HEART THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERANCE. WE WILL FIND OUR EXPERIENCE OF POWER OVER THE ENEMY DIRECTLY CORRELATES TO OUR EXPERIENCE OF JESUS' POWER OVER US. "GOD DOESN'T GIVE KINGDOM AUTHORITY TO REBELS."--ADRIAN ROGERS