Positioning IV

There are positions of authority that I missed out last time, on top of the positions of assignment and identity.

Every christian must understand this category, for we serve an eternal King who after saying ‘all authority on earth and in heaven has been given to me’ handed us the same saying ‘I have given you authority to trample over snakes and scorpions and all power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.’ (Matt 28:18, Luk 10:19)

We must understand who gave us authority, and what kind of authority. Only then can we do great exploits, for we would have known Him to a certain degree. (Daniel 11:32, John 17:3) Let me prove the above theory;

In Luke chapter one, when an angel appeared on Zacharias’ right, and prophesied that he would have a son, he did not believe the words spoken to him. The angel then said,

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” Luke 1:19–20

Gabriel began by specifying his position of identity (standing in the presence of God) and purpose (was sent to speak to you), which justified the execution of his judgement. He understood who sent Him. He that sent Him is not a man that He should lie. The word of He that sent Him doesn’t return void until it accomplishes that which He sent it to do. Now he was carrying that word. He perhaps assumed that because Zacharias was a priest, he would have known better. This was the same attitude Jesus conveyed when he glanced at the fig tree amidst his stomach’s rumbling.

Understanding positions of men will help us receive from them or honor them in their right standings. Elijah was beyond convinced of his office as horseman and chariot of Israel, such that when he declared it would not rain, it didn’t. Elisha took over, and he too ended a severe famine where women had began eating their children.

These had authority over the atmosphere of the land of Israel. They understood their jurisdiction and so exercised their power brazenly.

The poor boys that didn’t understand positioning, after mocking Elisha for his bald head had bears end their lives. They didn’t understand that this was as a father over a house (called Israel), in which house they were submitted.

The sad thing is, once someone attains a position of authority, it is not up to us how they use that authority. They can abuse that authority, or issue it justly.

We also see that Peter was given authority over the Jews, while Paul was assigned to the Gentiles. Paul was hated for embracing the Gentiles and bringing them into the temple, but that is why the non-Jews loved him the more. Even if Peter initially preached the gospel to Cornelius and his house (gentiles), he still separated himself in crowds that bore Jews and Gentiles, sitting on Jewish christian tables for meals as opposed to the other. That rift could be felt. But that is why the Jews preferred him. Whenever one seemed to dominate in the opposite class there was resistance.

This authority wasn’t per se like Gabriel’s. The perspectives by the crowds created this authority.

Like Gabriel, Peter understood Jesus’ authority when he told him to cast his nets again. The result was the breaking of nets and sinking of ships due to a great catch. He understood it so much that he too walked on water. This is why understanding this position is crucial. The woman that bled for twelve years knew this. This Jesus did miracles. If she’d only touch his garment’s hem…

God Himself said He exalted His word above His name. This defines its place of authority and demands unquestionable trust if you’d expect to see it work. The centurion understood both this, and the expression this word had assumed. The word had become flesh, and employing how authority works in the army, he asked Jesus to only send a word to his servant.

… He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Luke 7:6-8)

And when Jesus encountered this, he marveled saying;

“I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (Luke 7:9-10)

New wisdom and understanding will help us receive better from God. Most miracles received required people to be in the same vicinity with God. This one broke the status quo.

Moses’ timidity was cut short when he began to receive the vision of Him that sent Him. He saw the staff turn to snake, and a bush on fire that never consumed. The next thing you hear Him say was,

“I AM sent me!”

That basis affected the power displayed to break Pharaoh and influence him to let God’s people go. The good news is; I AM sent you too!

Isaiah stumbled into the Throne Room too, where God’s train filled the temple. He said ‘Here I am, send me.’ But unlike his offer to obligation, you know deep down that you have been sent already. It is not even about segregating the body into sects of military. We all are ambassadors of Christ. So, there is a common authority ought to be shared linearly among all of us, or anyone who claims to be a son of God: both those behind a pulpit, those behind a counter or office desk.

My prayer for you then is; 1. To know, experience (or see as Moses did), and understand I AM, His son who’s our access to Him, and His Spirit, 2. To expand in His word, understanding its power (for even Jesus grew in this wisdom when younger), 3. To embrace our shared position of co-heirdom with Christ, both as children of God, and words made flesh as demonstrated by Ephesians 2:6 (raised us up together and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ) and 1 Peter 1:23 (being born again of the incorruptible seed which is the word of God that lives and abides forever), and 4. For God to give us experiences and enable us exercise the authority that comes from our positioning, in our day-to-day life.

For understanding, believing and embracing our positions of authority, is key for our declarations or unctions manifesting power and results without fail, as we saw by the earlier mentioned examples.