Authority has existed from the beginning, with God being the ultimate authority over all. (See Romans 13:1-7). God gave Adam and Eve authority over His creation. “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Genesis 1:26). God gave man freedom to be a real authority over creation, with real responsibility, and real accountability. The one condition to having this elevated position was submission to a higher authority: God. God told Adam and Eve to do all that, which was delegated to them freely, but they were not to partake from “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). God warned them not to try and function past their given authority and if they did, they would surely die.
When Adam and Eve violated the authority of God, the consequences were serious. They listened to what the serpent said without questioning and with disastrous results. After the fall, mankind was no longer in a free position to take authority over life. Instead, we became as slaves, with sin having authority over life. The book of Romans is dedicated to the theme of how we lost our freedom and became slaves to sin, and with the gift of grace we are returned to freedom and how we are now, servants of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18).
We feel the effects and consequences when we fail to take authority over our lives. Whatever the area, when you do not take control over what God has given you to do, we fall from the position of authority with serious results. (See Romans 13:1-7). This is not punishment from God but rather is validation of the amount of trust and responsibility He has given to us.
The gift of grace is redemption. Grace reverses the effects of the fall. Redemption offers a return to the freedom and authority we had in the beginning. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Eph. 1:7-9).
Jesus took back what was lost in the fall by taking authority over sin and death. Jesus then submits all authority back to the Father. (See John 6:6-7).
Jesus gives us authority in His name, to take back what we lost. To regain what was lost, first we submit to authority and learn and practice obedience. Second, we take authority over what is given to us and take back what was lost, so we can turn it back over to Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus takes authority over situations and asks us to do the same. (See John 14:23-24, 31 & Colossians 1:15-23).
The task of regaining authority over life is directly related to how much we become like Jesus. As God is an authority, we are to be authorities as His image bearers. “Just as you received Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6). The more that we identify with Jesus, the more we become like Him and the less we fail at taking authority of our lives. Where do you feel the consequences of being a slave, with sin having authority over you? (See Romans 6:16-18).
Believe it, think it, and say it: I reject uncertainty and helplessness. I have control over my life by the authority I have in the Kingdom of Heaven. I have control over my life by the choices I make today and I choose life and His blessing. I believe in the promises of the Word and the plans God has for me. No matter how it looks, I believe in the God of turnarounds, and expect them today, in Jesus’ Name!
The task of regaining authority over life is directly related to how much we become like Jesus.
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