“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” — Ephesians 1:18-23
Authority With Jesus
I remember last season when I saw Boban Marjanović up close for the first time. He’s 7-foot-4, weighs almost 300 pounds, and has a 7-foot-10 wingspan. And yet, a man or woman twice Boban’s age and half his height and weight, wearing a black and grey shirt with an NBA logo on it, can tell him what to do. They don’t have the strength or the power to tell him what to do, but they have the authority to tell him what to do.
Authority is simply delegated ability that comes with rights and responsibilities. An NBA referee has the ability to tell players and coaches what to do because NBA headquarters has given them authority. They can eject players and coaches out of a game. They can call fouls. They can change the time on the game clock. With that ability comes rights. They have the right to be respected. They have the right to be allowed to do their job.
Authority also comes with responsibilities. NBA referees have to call the game fairly. They have to make the right call. They have to be watchful.
Here’s the truth the devil doesn’t want Christians to know: We have authority because of our union with Jesus Christ. We are seated at God’s right hand, the seat of authority.
— Ikki Soma, Houston Rockets chaplain
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