"The Innovative Marketplace Christian - Blog Hosted by Rick Hubbell"

Main Post of the Week #1 (Week of Apr. 27-May 3)

Welcome! - this may knock your socks off - but please digest and feel free to comment!

Key # 5 - Kingdom Authority

There are all kinds of authority. Kings have authority, policemen have authority. Experts have authority and there is spiritual authority. There are many other kinds as well. The first kind of authority to understand, however, is Jesus’ authority. It extends beyond where most people - even Christians in their daily life - believe. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. Col 1:13-18

In other words, Jesus is preeminent in all things, in every dimension of life. He is the ultimate authority. Therefore, whatever field you are called into, you have a direct connection to the one ultimately in charge of that realm. Please do more than nod your head to that statement like you already know that. It must sink in deeper into your heart.

I have ‘known it’ for a long time - yet still learning to experience it increasingly, if that makes sense.

Knowing the One In Charge

As an example, think about trying to get a job in a large organization. Do you suppose if you knew the CEO and he communicated to senior staff to listen to your input because you were coming in as an extension of his authority that it would help you work more effectively, progress through the ranks and open up more opportunities than available to someone simply operating in their own authority? Of course it would.

Well you DO know the one in charge of the CEO. Start believing it and acting like it - without being arrogant or prideful, as one part of God’s family.

This is an extremely powerful reality and worthy of attention. Jesus, ultimately, not certain people or powers, is the true authority and your delegated authority first comes from Him. He has the authority to give you authority to operate in WHATEVER arena He has called you to.

An Amazingly Powerful Encounter

One time when I was an associate pastor, I decided to attend a meeting about the vision for the future of the city in which we lived. On the way into this tall building where the meeting was being held, I had an experience I will never forget… I began to think about all the important and powerful people who might be there: leading politicians, well known business figures, economists and the media. Second thoughts crept in. Why was I, an associate pastor at a local church, even going to this meeting?

I began to dwell on the power of the people in charge of great things, like economies, governments and large businesses on a city level and then a national scale. They suddenly seemed so giant and I began to feel intimidated without even going in.

Surely I shouldn’t get involved with something like this. I needed to stay in church where I was called. In that exact moment, like a cloud enveloping me, a strong sense came over me that though there were giants in the land (the land of politics, business, media and things outside church i.e. the marketplace) that something like the spirit of David would arise to displace them because God had the true authority there. It was an unusual sensation, but quite powerful - and all in a few seconds time.

In that moment many years ago, I felt a confidence and authority come upon me to displace such powers, but not my authority, God’s. The experience did not leave me focused on the idea that there was something particularly special about me, but that God was very much in charge there, had authority He wanted to convey to His children and was looking for those who would step into His Authority without backing down.

Religion Can Be Separated; God Cannot

You see, with things like the ’separation of church and state’, the world would like you to believe that the only place you or even God has true authority is in the realm of what is traditionally called church. Religion can be separated; God can not.

Some Christians’ belief system keeps God’s authority mainly within the traditional church - more than you might expect. Sometimes, those that ‘believe’ and even ‘teach’ that God is moving beyond the four walls actually really only support this if it is part of a church program or secondary to everything within the four walls. Yup. Ouch. I’ve been on both sides as Pastor and businessman, remember?

However, when a person starts trying to step into God’s authority outside traditional church stuff, especially strategically with a like minded group - let’s say that person is YOU - often the church is not as directly supportive of these things. You may be in for a battle, navigating this properly in a right spirit while being attacked by the enemy who prefers Churchianity to your walking in true Kingdom authority in the rest of life.

For the vast majority of believers, Church is a springboard to launch you into your destiny in the rest of the world, not a place to consume all your time. ( As I’ve said time and again, I believe a key success factor and the mandate of Scripture is that you should be involved in a healthy way in your local church, rightly relating to leaders and serving - I AM - but sometimes the emphasis of activities can get counterproductive to your actual calling in the Kingdom if you are not careful.

Who Really Has Kingdom Authority?

It is unavoidable without stepping on toes, no doubt we’ve already mashed a few - but God’s delegated authority in the Kingdom consists of leaders in the traditional church world and many beyond it. Some Christians are seeking a position in what we traditionally think of as church, when their position of true Kingdom authority is outside the four walls. Some people with titles in the traditional church have far less authority in the Kingdom than they believe. Some average people operating obediently where God has called them, in a business, for example, greatly underestimate their Kingdom authority.But in the coming days this will all become clearer.

The point is, authority works best through your life when you are positioned in the arena of life God has called you.

Blessings to you, your family and upon your endeavors,

Rick for Ti-MC

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