Guiding Principles 3/27

Luke 9:1, NLT  One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and GAVE them POWER and AUTHORITY to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.  What a travesty it is to be given power and authority and not use it.  At the outset, the purpose of power and authority is to enable the one bestowed with it to command the field of battle or area of responsibility.  Empowerment comes before the execution of a task. Given the “permission” to do a task, one is also given the privilege to speak and act on behalf of the giver. Jesus’ bestowing power and authority to the disciples conveys to you also as ministers of the Gospel. The next factor attached to this scripture is the efficacy of that applied power and authority.  I encourage you to pay close attention to God’s word and the example your pastor sets in word and action.  If you do, you will discover that every moment is a training session ripe with information and wisdom. Jesus granted this kind of responsibility so that he did not need to be physically present in order for the Gospel to continue. In fact his rising to his throne in heaven required the work of the Gospel to be left in the hands of competent managing students.  I say managing students because, while you are in leadership, you are still learning. The moment we are in currently is the level where we must be humble, teachable and coachable. At the same time we must be steadfast and unmoveable in the work of the Lord.  As we teach, we owe it to those we lead to be forthright, clear and compassionately unwavering in our example and words. You have Power and Authority, whether you want to deal with it or not.  You have power and authority, which you must become expert at using.  You have power and authority, it is the will of GOD!  So live, love and learn to the glory of God.