Nancy Taylor Tate
Spiritual authority is not a gift — it’s something we must qualify for through growth in our personal relationship with the Lord. I am brought into the authority of Jesus’ name when, in submission to His Lordship, I am living in right relationship with the blood and the cross.
The blood relates to repentance and forgiveness of sin; the cross, to my nature being changed. I am to die daily, thus resurrecting daily in newness of life. From that position, the Lord can then entrust me with the authority that is in His name.
We see this in the life of Paul. He experienced the forgiveness of sin through the precious blood of Jesus. He embraced the cross, living a crucified life that it would be not himself but Christ living inside him. Paul walked in a depth of commitment to the Lord, a relationship that enabled the Lord to entrust Paul with the authority of His name. That spiritual authority was visible when Paul acted, spoke, or prayed.
In Acts 19, the sons of Sceva saw the spiritual authority Paul carried and thought they could copy Paul’s words and exercise the same spiritual authority. Yet when they copied Paul’s words, their words did not have the same authority! It is not a formula; it is a relationship the Lord has called us to.
Each one of us who has dedicated our life to the Lord is enrolled in a “school of the spirit.” The classroom is our life experience, as we seek His heart and apply the Word of God. There is a preparation taking place in each of our lives, that the Lord might entrust us, too, with His authority. Some classes are harder than others!
Today is the day we have to make choices. Some of you who were at Pinecrest may remember the sign in the small chapel: “Occupy ’til I come.” May we occupy well, redeeming the time, that Christ might be seen and glorified in our lives.
Daily, may we press on into all that God has for us. Day by day, there is a preparation taking place in our lives. As the five wise virgins who bought oil for their lamps, may we, too, be found ready at the time of His appearing (Matthew 25:9–10).
We are living in a tremendous time. The Lord is raising up a people for His glory. May we be a part of that people and a part of that which God is doing today. May we be a place, a people, whose lives are marked by the presence of the Lord. Let us be partakers together with Him in that which He is about to do.
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:1–3.
May we come! And may our hearts say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” There, He will meet us.