Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Yoke of Exousia: Our Struggle With Authority
In talking about authority, it requires us to delve into a few other aspects which are brought out quite well in a book entitled "Purpose and Power of Authority" by Myles Munroe. In this book, it states four points:
Once we understand and begin walking in the authority God has given us, we can see how it should be "natural" - in other words, as He designed it to be.
In his book, Mr. Munroe related a story about his encounter with the authority of the shark. The shark's natural habitat is water ... it can swim quite well, one could say "expertly". The water is the shark's natural domain and realm - it has authority in that water. Its teeth, created to be capable of tearing flesh, are also part of its authority structure. When Mr. Munroe, or any creature for that matter, enters the domain of the shark, it is required to submit to the shark's authority.
Let's take the four points above and relate it to the shark. God (the Author) created the shark to live in the water to swim and eat (authorization). The shark, not questioning this at all, is merely being real (authentic). All of this equates to the shark functioning as God had designed it (authority).
There is "real" authority and "fake" authority. Our struggle with authority is often based on the "fake" authority. We don't like it, we challenge it, we see it for what it is: not real. What we need to realize is that God created things to operate within a "real" authority structure. What happens is that we, humans, pollute it. Our encounters with authority can take many forms - from "titles" and our environment, to our experiences (both good and bad). Our discussion highlighted the good and the bad and we concluded with a quote from Mr. Munroe's book:
"Genuine authority creates an environment for people to think, to dream, to discover and refine their gifts and talents, to build others up, and to develop themselves fully."
This is the kind of authority God implemented. This is the kind of authority that we will take the next few weeks to unpack further.
- Author: related to the origin of your gifts and power
- Authorization: permission and right to carry out your assignment
- Authenticity: to be who you are created to be, to fulfill what you are designed to fulfill, to do what you are destined to do
- Authority: the right and power to be who you were created to be
Once we understand and begin walking in the authority God has given us, we can see how it should be "natural" - in other words, as He designed it to be.
In his book, Mr. Munroe related a story about his encounter with the authority of the shark. The shark's natural habitat is water ... it can swim quite well, one could say "expertly". The water is the shark's natural domain and realm - it has authority in that water. Its teeth, created to be capable of tearing flesh, are also part of its authority structure. When Mr. Munroe, or any creature for that matter, enters the domain of the shark, it is required to submit to the shark's authority.
Let's take the four points above and relate it to the shark. God (the Author) created the shark to live in the water to swim and eat (authorization). The shark, not questioning this at all, is merely being real (authentic). All of this equates to the shark functioning as God had designed it (authority).
There is "real" authority and "fake" authority. Our struggle with authority is often based on the "fake" authority. We don't like it, we challenge it, we see it for what it is: not real. What we need to realize is that God created things to operate within a "real" authority structure. What happens is that we, humans, pollute it. Our encounters with authority can take many forms - from "titles" and our environment, to our experiences (both good and bad). Our discussion highlighted the good and the bad and we concluded with a quote from Mr. Munroe's book:
"Genuine authority creates an environment for people to think, to dream, to discover and refine their gifts and talents, to build others up, and to develop themselves fully."
This is the kind of authority God implemented. This is the kind of authority that we will take the next few weeks to unpack further.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Yoke of Exousia: As It Was ...
This week we talked about the original plan God had when He created things. His design expected that humans would be heirs and would reign over Creation with Him (Romans 8:17, Genesis 1:26, 2 Timothy 2:12). When we think about "how" He set things up according to Genesis 1, He created plants, animals, and humans to "produce after their own kind". In other words, He placed within the plant and animal and human the authority and power to "be" what He created us to "be". There is a failure on our part to understand what His original design was: to "be" delegated rulers over Creation, to have authority over a given aspect of our existence.
Where our failure can turn into gross misrepresentation is when we mistakenly think that we "rule" over other humans - that our authority means we are superior and others must bow to us. This results in a miserable condition that misses the mark of God's intention entirely. He wants us to operate according to His design - when we do that, we have all the power and authority we need to accomplish His assigned purpose for us as an individual.
God designed humans to rule with power and authority. Period. Not according to our will but His. He designed us to be "like" Him, in character (image) ... ruling over creation and bringing Him all the glory and honor. When Jesus talks about restoring the Kingdom of God, this takes us back to the state of "being" as it was in the beginning when God first set things up.
I've heard it stated that the Kingdom of God is "The state in which God is the complete and total Master." As humans, we can live and "be" this because of what Jesus did in full restoration through the Cross. Now, we just need to do it!
Where our failure can turn into gross misrepresentation is when we mistakenly think that we "rule" over other humans - that our authority means we are superior and others must bow to us. This results in a miserable condition that misses the mark of God's intention entirely. He wants us to operate according to His design - when we do that, we have all the power and authority we need to accomplish His assigned purpose for us as an individual.
God designed humans to rule with power and authority. Period. Not according to our will but His. He designed us to be "like" Him, in character (image) ... ruling over creation and bringing Him all the glory and honor. When Jesus talks about restoring the Kingdom of God, this takes us back to the state of "being" as it was in the beginning when God first set things up.
I've heard it stated that the Kingdom of God is "The state in which God is the complete and total Master." As humans, we can live and "be" this because of what Jesus did in full restoration through the Cross. Now, we just need to do it!
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