Authority in me – Overcoming the Old Nature

Authority Makes the World Go Around

The longer I ride this globe around, the more I realize that authority is a major issue in life. It literally is life and/or death. To resist authority brings death and to submit to it is life. It is so amazingly practical. Authority is a part of our daily living, which includes all our activities. I might want to think some areas are exempt but the reality is that authority is everywhere.

The more I’ve submitted and surrendered to authority, the more it has blessed me. Naturally it’s not in us to submit, we just tend to be a rebellious bunch. But I have discovered that God is found in authority—and the devil is found in my resistance to it. His blessing is on it and His presence is made known through it.

Does this mean that rainbows and unicorns accompany authority? Not that I’ve found. Authority is a serious issue and God uses it for multiple purposes. Sometimes it isn’t about my obvious blessing. Occasionally it’s about confronting me, challenging me, or provoking my reaction to reveal my heart. God wields it like a finely crafted surgical instrument and there’s always a very specific purpose.

Overcoming in My Own Life

Today I want to look at authority from a different vantage point than is typically addressed. This view arrested me when the Lord pointed it out. The authority I am talking about is my authority concerning my own life.

God’s commandments come with His expectation of obedience. He gives us commands with our adherence intended. Commands like: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; love your neighbor as yourself. God also requires of us. We are required to forgive, to fear not, to lust not, to ask in faith, to repent of sin, to deny ourselves, to honor our parents, to judge not, to seek the Kingdom, to be perfect, to love our enemies, and the list goes on and on. And as you look at my abbreviated list, you can see that none of these can be done from our efforts and energies. It is an essential list of impossibilities from me. That’s because all these requirements are to come through me, not from me.

It’s been Giving to Me

That said, if He requires something of me, then I have the ability to access His Life to do it. Basically, New Testament living is that what God requires He also provides. That’s the rule. And not only is it the law of the land, but it is supported by authority. How, you might ask? The Lord holds me responsible for my life and I will answer for it. I have the responsibility to live it according to His will. I can be irresponsible and rebel, but this only leads to my misery. I have the authority to live my life by His Life. How cruel it would be if He required of me something I had no ability to perform! Not only does He give me the command, He also gives me the Life to do it.

I have the authority because I’ve been given the authority. And this is because I am responsible and will answer for my life. I am not a victim of my nature. I’m a victor because of the Victorious One who lives in me. Victory over my old nature is in Christ. Christ is victorious over my old nature. The only thing I lack is the belief that it is finished.