True Authority

May 25, 2004

Personal Narrations

Joel Akin

Calgary, Alberta

One of the main things which God emphasized tonight is authority. It seems that we've talked about it before but God indicated that I don't really understand it as yet. And He felt it was critical that I did.

To understand authority one has to understand the different kinds that there are. For example in the natural realm there are judges, kings, lawyers, policemen, presidents, and so on. But authority is also a type of control. We can be controlled by the flesh, by fear, by anger, and as God so recently showed me by tradition. There are also various kinds of spiritual authority and some of those are of God and some of Satan.

With natural authority if we speed we can expect to get a ticket eventually. By getting that ticket we submit to the authorities that gave it and pay the price. If we don't then there is usually a penalty to pay.

Now when it comes to the natural man it is usually the one who speaks the loudest, comes across the hardest, or the strongest, who is given the authority in our churches. We do not question the control that they have over us and if you were to ask what the difference between natural and spiritual authority was no one would really know.

Frankly when I think of authority I think of police or politicians or I think of preachers who seem to know the most. We are taught that you never question authority but just submit to them.

But what happens when God begins to show you that there is another level of authority? An authority that is not natural, nor part of some controlling spirit, but an authority that is granted to you by God? An authority so powerful that it is a million times more powerful then anything in the natural, and 10,000 times more powerful then the greatest Satan can put against it? One of the questions God asked me tonight was "If Satan sees this authority is it important for you to see it as well?"

I told God, "How do I see this authority that you have granted me?" He said "It cannot yet be seen by human eyes. Thus it must be seen through the eyes of faith..."

But why? It turns out that when you stand with a record of authority that Satan can see that Satan must see it and then recognize that authority. But God showed me something interesting. Satan is also waiting to see if I will recognize and see that authority as well.

I could not understand this at first. But God began to show me step by step how not recognizing that authority will create uncertainty and fear. I was reminded of that woman judge they show on TV sometimes who yells, screams at people and so on if they even question or trump her authority. Why? Because it is her courtroom. To me it seems like arrogance but God showed me that it is because she knows her place and her level of authority. It is, in a sense, the ultimate in confidence.

Yet as I prayed about it God showed me that my confidence was not in myself but who was backing me up in this. Him. God himself.

Yet I had to and have to see and also recognize that this authority God has granted me has my name on it. It is not the kind granted by man or Satan but by God. So by standing in that faith Satan has no option but to submit.

God gave me a fun illustration. A neighborhood is terrorized by thieves who constantly break in, steal, kill and destroy. But an old woman in that area decides she's going to change things. She befriends the local police department and she knows the thieves are going to break in. She invites 100 of them to her place and they all wait. One of the thieves breaks in and suddenly finds himself surrounded by 100 well armed men. Suddenly he no longer sees a helpless old lady but the men that are there to protect her and have given her their authority.

God showed me this is the same way it is with me. Satan knows I have the authority and I have a record of the same. But it is not Joel he sees when he comes to attack me. It is the authority and power of Christ and God and that makes him tremble and shake.

So not only must Satan see and recognize who stands with me but I also must recognize the same. Thus my strength comes from God and my sight is increased by the prayer of faith.

Now once Satan sees me stand firm and unshakable then he must submit. But as God showed me, and this is the hard part I never really understood before. Why doesn't God just take authority. Why does He give it to us who overcome? This is a question that is still partly a mystery to me. But the part I understand is this. Christ overcame but only by letting Him become Lord of our lives do we thus overcome. And until we overcome Satan still has authority over us. Why? Because the natural man has a sin nature. And sin is the realm of Satan. So if your sin nature rules your life guess who rules you?

So as we overcome and begin to overcome that sin nature by putting God literally at the center of our life, He begins to grant that authority to us. Why? So that we can represent the fullness of Christ here on Earth. We are triune beings in a way. Soul, Spirit and body. But the body is but clay and not really the key. Our soul is us but God desires that we put on a spiritual body or spiritual clothing. As long as the natural man is in charge that will never happen. And Satan knows it and confuses everything so men cannot find the truth. But when we can somehow put the flesh to death and submit our control to the Spiritman then tremendous things begin to happen.

Anyway the end result is, if we will be faithful, is the spiritman will rule. But it takes time and it can only be done by faith. But things really are strange in a way. And this is another mystery I understand yet don't. After God grants us His authority He has to teach us how to use it. So we can then take authority in conjunction with His will and only by His will. This is where so many get off base because they think once they have it they must use it everywhere and on everyone. But you don't use it against your family or your loved ones unless God speaks it so. And then after you take authority God asks you to release it to Him. Like a full circle. God needed a representative on earth to do His will. And then return the authority to Him to fulfill it.