Authority

Authority

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7:28-29.

You don’t get authority by being a scribe, someone who has accumulated knowledge. The chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Jesus and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” Matt. 21:23. The chief priests and the elders of the people were the very ones who should have had authority; but they didn’t have it, and they were amazed over Jesus’ authority. They would have liked to know how He had received this authority and who had given it to Him. However, they did not get an answer to their question. Consequently, they began to be envious of Jesus, for they realized their own words were like chaff compared to Jesus’ words that weighed heavily in the scales with the people. To keep their position as the people’s elders, they had to do away with Jesus.

A faithful and capable servant receives authority from his master—a servant who doesn’t just have knowledge, but who is capable in his work and seeks his master’s best. The scribes were the opposite of such servants. They bound heavy burdens and put them on the people’s shoulders, but they themselves wouldn’t move these burdens with one of their fingers. They did all their works to be seen by men. They sought their own honor instead of glorifying God. Matt. 23:4-5. On the other hand, Jesus did not seek His own honor; He honored His Father. John 8:49-50. Jesus began by doing and teaching. Acts 1:1. That is how Jesus gained authority. He received it from the Father.

There are many people in our days as well who pass themselves off as the people’s elders, but they lack authority. Because people are in darkness these kinds of people have become great on the basis of their learning, their titles, and their talents. They have the keys of knowledge, but they cannot usurp authority. They cannot stand before a God-fearing layman.

Many people, both lay and learned, become bitter when they realize that their words are not heeded but are blown away like chaff before the wind. It only makes the matter worse when they become bitter and envious. They need to stop seeking their own honor but rather seek God’s honor. Their words must be a fruit of their knowledge and their works. Then they will have weight. You can remove the person who spoke them, but the words will continue to work in those who have heard them.

Many people can speak well because they are gifted and knowledgeable in an area, and yet it isn’t sure that they are God-fearing. However, no one can speak God’s Word with authority—in Spirit and with power—unless he is God-fearing. Having authority is not the same as shouting and using strong expressions; but the one who has authority can use strong expressions.

If anyone serves in the church, let him serve according to the strength that God supplies. 1 Pet. 4:11. Authority is the strength that God gives. It is not only a person who testifies, but God testifies, together with those who are listening, by His Spirit. If the person goes beyond this in his ministry, he begins to rule. Then the listeners are required to be obedient without having God’s confirmation in their hearts. Such ruling can only last for a while because there have to be two witnesses to establish a matter. The one who rules does not seek to honor God, but rather himself. Then he loses his authority, and the souls lose their liberty. God is an avenger of all such things.

Paul writes: “Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have defrauded no one.” 2 Cor. 7:2. A person defrauds the others when he goes beyond the authority he has received in his ministry. If God has not required a sacrifice from someone in a particular area in his life, then a servant of Christ doesn’t have the right to do it either. That can come later in his life, and we must not be unjust to a soul by not giving him the time he needs to grow. By not giving him the time one can easily destroy that person. Others lag behind according to the time. The Spirit of Christ has long ago pointed out things they should have sacrificed, but they have been slow to hear. Then a servant of Christ must use authority, as the apostle writes: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Heb. 5:12.

No one has the authority to perform a priestly ministry for others in areas where he has not been a sacrifice himself. Then he falls under this judgment: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:13.

May God give grace to the church in times to come so that many workers with authority can arise, workers who serve with the strength that God gives, so that God may be honored in all things through Jesus Christ. Amen.