Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. 19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

There was something somewhat different about the little town we moved to when I was seven. Just a few thousand people and but 12 miles from Kansas, this was not a place where you might slip in and get lost in the crowd. Who you were and what you were up to was something that would probably be noticed and discussed. Your word and your name really meant something. While there was some lost privacy, there was also a great deal of privilege for the ones who established themselves as honorable. I remember being able to go into just about any store in town, pick something out, and ask to have the charges put on my Dad’s account. The owner knew our family and the reputation of my father to faithfully take care of and pay His debts.  Because of who he was, i was able to operate in the same power he had earned. When they saw me coming, to them it might as well have been my Dad. All of his children were given the same authority as he did when it came to making some of these purchases, as long as we didn’t abuse it.

I’ve always found it interesting that Jesus declared that He had been given the power, but then told them to go. It was as if their going was the same as Him going. We’ve amazingly been given the ability to go into any place in the world and operate in the same power and authority that He acquired through His faithfulness. It’s really become a very small world- wherever we go, it’s like we are known because of who He is and what He’s done. Though He may not be seen with the natural eye, wherever we set our foot, He is right there with more than enough resources to cover anything- healing, provision, deliverance, direction, restoration… – we might place on the counter and ask to be put on His account. Now it’s just a matter of going to town and operating in this privilege He’s established for us. So much is waiting to be possessed by those who will go in the power He’s acquired for us. It’s all because we’re related and He’s given us His family name. It’s not just us, but Him that is seen walking into the store. Just gotta go…..

Luke 7: 2 Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.

9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this].10 And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again. (Amp)

In this story the appreciation and understanding of authority is apparently part of what made the centurion’s faith so great. There is something else, though, that is pointed out, not just in his communication to Jesus, but also in the description of him regarding his relationship with his bond servant. An attitude in this man’s heart was displayed there that I believe was even more critical than his understanding of authority. He didn’t just tell others what to do, but he honored and highly valued them. In the openness of his heart to care for this treasured servant he displayed humility and great appreciation for the worth of even an otherwise lowly servant.

When he initially sent to have Jesus brought to heal his servant, there must have been anticipation of Jesus arrival into his home. There could have been consideration of how the novelty of this might bring attention to him and his own importance. He might have directed preparation for the handling of the details so that he himself might be well thought of. As Jesus drew close, however, there was a change of plans. Surely it wouldn’t have been all that big a difference for Jesus to come into his home, but there was something in the heart of the centurion that I believe was motivated first by honor that prompted him to propose that Jesus, in His elevated position, power and authority, just speak. Maybe He had originally been moved by an intense focus on the condition of his honored servant, but when Jesus was getting close, his focus was affected by an honor of that servant’s Healer. The more he considered Jesus, the more his heart was impacted by an appreciation and reverence for Him that would avoid any imposition when a spoken word alone would do.

In the heart of the one who would believe and receive according to the promises of God, there is a need for much more than just an appreciation of authority. That appreciation itself is in need of the greater element of honor that will provide the true power of any demonstrated authority. This is not something that can be conjured up at the time of need, either. This is something that will be displayed towards every other being that is honored as they should be, and from this heart motivated by love will come the working of a faith that will know no impossibility. The greater challenge to the resolution of dire circumstances is not just a mental acquisition of a legal principle, but rather a heart transformation to an exposure of love that sees the value, ability, and capability above any other characteristic. The servant could have been seen as just a lowly expendable servant, below what it would take to get Jesus there. Jesus could have been seen as just a carpenter from Nazareth. But, as both were valued the heart expanded with humility and honor, providing the atmosphere where faith was great and the sick was raised.

Where honor reigns all it takes is a word.

Judges 5:12 BBE  Awake! awake! Deborah: awake! awake! give a song: Up! Barak,and take prisoner those who took you prisoner, O son of Abinoam.

It’s not enough for an enemy to be defeated. It would do no good to overcome an adversary if there were no ongoing restrictions or monitoring of his actions. Especially when one has been held captive themselves by their foe, he must be put into captivity himself and kept from any opportunity of return to his former ways. Where this does not take place there is great danger that he will again attack, occupy and imprison once again

One of the numerous scenes coming at us a few years ago from Middle East was  the many, many Iraqi soldiers surrendering to our forces.  This was actually a hindrance to the advance of our troops as something had to be done with the masses of men who just a few moments ago were armed and intent upon using their weapons for the destruction of the invading force. While a great many of these individual foot soldiers were allowed to convert their loyalties to the new government, there were some who were much more dangerous who could not be given any opportunity to return to their former ranks. Camps were established there in Iraq and also in more secure and secluded places where containment could be established until judgments made.  Imprisonment of the enemy was an essential and strategic part of the successful occupation. Any ground gained was directly related to the removal of opposition and any threat they may continue to pose.

Though our victory and deliverance have been bought for us in Christ, there is a great necessity for our enemies to not only be defeated but imprisoned and kept from presenting any further threats. This is a most significant responsibility and any advance in the kingdom to the fulfilled occupation of the enemy’s former domain will require erecting containment and restraint barriers using the invincible resource of God’s Word. It may be much easier to just press on by to the blessings, but until captivity is established and maintained for those former captors, complete and total deliverance will never be realized. Rather than fearing what the enemy might do next, there is power in the Word to put restraints upon the enemy’s movement and mobility, rendering him powerless and without substance to his roar. The former captor of sickness and disease can be made captive himself and rendered powerless by the scriptures that proclaim the Father’s will and desire to heal. The oppressor of poverty can be taken captive by scriptures confirming the wealthy inheritance that is ours in Christ. That former slave master of sin can be totally confined by applying the blood of Jesus to the temptation and the failure and allowing the Father to protect and clothe us with the classy attire of righteousness. The requisite to freedom and victory for all aspects of living will be directly related to  how much the enemy of that aspect is made to be a captive in the very place he used to dominate.

I’m so grateful for the deployment of Jesus that has brought deliverance and liberation to every area of life! I’m also grateful for the establishment of righteousness through the Word that disarms, disables and restrains that once feared and dominating oppressor of our souls. Not only is he defeated but through the applied blood and Word he can be made captive and totally incapable of returning to any of his former ways.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

2 Chronicles 20:22  And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

It’s not enough to just have that firearm packed in the holster on the hip. At least one bullet needs to be loaded before there will ever be the slightest danger of anything or anyone being damaged or injured. Once the ammunition has been placed in the chamber, though, there is immediate importance that certain precautions are taken so there isn’t accidental firing in the wrong direction. Barney Fife on the ‘Andy Griffith Show’ became a very different law enforcement officer once Andy would give him permission to load his gun with the one bullet he was allowed to carry. He had authority by just putting on the uniform, but he became a dangerous policeman as soon as his gun was loaded. The only problem was not knowing for sure which direction his gun might be fired.

Each of us have been loaded with an ability to communicate, with the result being either life or death. Even if there is no ability to speak due to a physical disability, there is still power present to convey either uplifting information or that which will bring destruction and death. As we gather to worship God together, we’re being presented an opportunity to take this capacity with which we’ve been equipped and exercise the positive communication of God’s goodness and mercy. As soon as sounds begin to be heard and the truth of God and His ways vocalized, there is activation of God’s power on our behalf with an assurance that God is most certainly working for us to accomplish greater things than we could even imagination.

While we’ve been loaded with the capacity, however, there is a choice to either let praise continually occupy the lips, or for quite the opposite to be given a voice. Destruction can quite easily wield its dominance using our very words as long as there is direction of our firing towards anything other than a kingdom purpose. Today we’ve been given the means of shutting down any evil access to our firing chamber (the mouth) by filling it to overflowing with praises that build up and bring glory to the God of our mercy and salvation. Allowing the Spirit to direct our lips, there will be a sound that makes way for the moving of an undefeated force of love, hope, and peace. Fire away.

Matthew 11:11 MSG
(11)  “Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.

Several years ago, while travelling with a ministry, I was presented with an opportunity to become involved in a company dealing with insurance and securities. Although I had very little knowledge or experience in these areas, I took the necessary courses to become officially licensed to sell them. For the normal entry level person there was a position that allowed for producing sales and generating some income, but to really make the higher commissions with the greater incentives you needed to get to the position of ‘vice-president’. This was something that usually took an extended period of time as the position was supposed to be earned through hard work and proven ability to help build the company. For some reason, though, in an effort to hopefully propel me in my new business adventure, the company leadership chose to bestow the position of ‘vice-president’ upon me before I had even made a single sale. While given something of great significance and potential, I didn’t fully appreciate the value that had been placed in my lap. It would really have taken an extended time of growing into my title before I could have actually lived, walked and acted like a vice-president. I had been instantly elevated, with an importance that I couldn’t fully appreciate until I put to practice the power and influence that was freely mine. It wasn’t enough to just have the title or position, I would have to develop the ability to utilize the full potential it carried or it would be of little significance or value to my life.

According to what Jesus was saying about us, no matter how low we might consider ourselves to be, in the kingdom we’ve been given a title and position that exceeds even that of the great John the Baptist. In Christ we’ve been made to be ‘vice-president’ before we’ve won a single soul or cast out a single devil. From the moment we entered the kingdom through faith in Him, our position has been secured. Now, we’re just in great need of realizing the full potential of this position. Although we’ve been given the complete power and authority of the name of Jesus, there will be no success and no living in the fullness of this identity until it is put to use and applied to every area of life.

For some reason there is this natural tendency to see people on levels that are attained through performance and achievement. In Christ, however, there has been a reversal of this process. Though some have developed a greater understanding of what it means to be in Christ and are operating more fully in their authority, their position is no higher than the one who has just committed to a life of faith in Christ. The free gift of life in Him comes with all that is needed for the best, the brightest and greatest potential. No amount of achievement or failure for that matter will adjust this position either up or down. The greatest scholar and the lowest elementary student share the same title and the same rights and privileges. Unrestricted in access to the full resources of heaven by any limitations of title or position, the only restraint is that of understanding, perception and experience. To just know that this is so will make it possible to begin seeing the reality of identity and then experience the joys and fulfillment of what it really means to be an executive in the company.

More than just unproductive titles holders, may there today be a moving towards the life that place in Him provides and may there be an enjoyment of the blessings that are inevitable for the one that takes their place at His side.

Revelation 5:10 KJV
(10)  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Matthew 8:8-9 MKJV
(8)  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my boy will be healed.
(9)  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, Go! And he goes; and to another, Come! And he comes; and to my servant, Do this! And he does it.

Not everyone who dons the uniform of an officer walks in the fullness of the authority it provides. To just have a sufficient amount of stripes and the official title before a name does nothing for the one who holds back from activating the power of their office. Just taking the quick start classes and becoming knowledgeable of all that is acquired in the promotion from foot soldier to commander will be of little significance until the fullness of the power is put to use. While a gun at the side and the stick hanging on the belt may provide an ominous appearance, they alone won’t be the activators of the existing authority. It will be something quite simple that has been with them since birth. It will be the word that comes out of their mouth. Until there is a willingness to command, the position of commander is nothing more than a plaque on the wall and a striking appearance. However, as soon as words of authority begin to flow from the mouth of the officer, there is activation given to their ever-present authority and something gets done. No words– no action, protection or advance.

We have been donned with clothes of righteousness bought for us by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus has defeated our enemy and directly given to us the authority to command, resist and overcome. How often, though, is this authority never activated and put to use in our lives. Like the shy, self conscious, or ignorant officer, there is an incredible amount of victory and overcoming power awaiting but a word. So many mountains are waiting for just a word from a God– inspired person to make their way into the sea.  How much sickness is endured just because a word has yet to be spoken to it? How many bank accounts are depleted because a word has not yet been spoken to finances? We’re full of  authority, just needing a word to activate it.