I wrote about a month ago that I “Blew up” or canceled our g42 church here in Colorado Springs… the issue was over wanting community without authority.
Matthew 8 verses 5-18 – Jesus tests the centurion on his faith and his “Understanding” of authority – the centurion comes to Jesus and tells him “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering” here is the test – Jesus says, “I will go and heal him”
One of my frustrations and heart cry for this generation is that they will actually pay the price and go do it themselves! We have made it way too easy on our children; we are expected to pay for cars, sports, college. We give trophies and medals for nothing; other than inhaling and exhaling, not for excelling. Because of the lack of fathering from the past few generations, the church has taken the message of fathering a generation and made into co-dependency and being their friend instead of their parent. What this generation needs to put down the x-box, stop running to one mission program to another and pick up the sword of authority and do something!
As you know the centurion says to the Lord; “just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one to go and he goes; and that one to come and he comes. I say to my servant do this and he does it.” It says in verse 10, “When Jesus heard this he was astonished”!
The centurion passed the test! I am a man under authority, so I have authority! Authority over my sin, over those that want to be better – not manipulation, not control – just, I know who you are, I know I don’t fully get it, but… I have faith.
I was having a drink today with one of our guys here that is in ministry and was a part of our “g42” church. He shared a sin issue with me and he wasn’t sure what to do… I told him that he had just put his sin, “Under Authority” and now he was covered. When that sin raises its ugly head; call me, we will pray and it will not control you. He was set free today.
That is all authority is… I have controlled and manipulated thru the years in my “Authority positions” now, all I want is to cover and help create faith in those that get it.
Wow…this is sooo the truth…it really spoke to me…xo
Good word!
It’s great to hear. Thanks for being understanding and helpful rather than manipulative and selfish.
Amen Gary Black ! x A.
God has been telling me lately that it’s time to get out of the nest and put my wings to the test.
I’m heading down to South Africa and Swazi with a friend in about 10 days to see where these wings might take me.
Thanks Gary, for all that you have sewn into this one.
Hell Yeah! haha
I am not sure I get what you are saying….?
I am not sure I get what you are saying….?
Ali, it’s about using the authority God gives you to serve, or come under people to make them great… not “Lording” over them or needing them to make you better.
we have not been modeled proper authority in the Church; so we tend to not respond to covering – we fight for our own way – and loose the protection that God has placed over us…
we are all learning and their is LOTS of grace, I hope!
It’s odd I might struggle with authority but at the same time my heart knows it’s what I need. There is such a sense of peace in knowing that you are spiritually covered. By the way, we just had an amazing trip to Nsoko, it was unreal good and I can’t wait to talk to you and Lisa about it!
Brother, I totally agree w/you.AMEN