04 Feb Authority
Read Mark 1:21-28
In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying authority. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. Frank told the story as such:
I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out. The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant our vessel was on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'”
Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”
Getting angry, the captain said, “Send: “I’m a captain, change your course twenty degrees.'”
“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship! Change your course twenty degrees!'”
Back came the flashing light with the message, “I’m a lighthouse.”
We changed course.
In New Testament times, Israel had no shortage of spiritual teachers. The Pharisees, Sadducees and Teachers of the Law did their utmost to ensure that the public knew that they were in charge and had power over the people. Yet, in the book of Mark, Chapter One, we see in the earliest days of Christ’s ministry that the people already knew He was different from those who tried to impose their own authority. The people were amazed at Jesus’ teachings because He taught with authority and had dominion even over evil spirits.
Jesus did not need a PR campaign. No one needed to talk up His portfolio. He showed up without the fanfare and demonstrated the Kingdom of God through His teaching and actions. Through that, everyone knew that He was not like the rest of the spiritual leaders around them. He had authority.
Walking with Jesus gives us access to that same spiritual authority. The devil flees, demons tremble, evil spirits and principalities are evicted, strongholds crumble and manmade religion falls to its knees before the Lord of Glory. The enemy cannot rob us of this great inheritance but he can deceive us into forfeiting it ourselves if we do not evoke our birthright as those born from above.
The Light of Christ stands as the lighthouse to this fallen planet. The world, the flesh and the devil can scream all they want to try and get us to change our course. If we abide in Christ, our authority is His authority and He will not be moved.