April 25

2 Corinthians 10:8 (NIV)
8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

Here lies the reason for authority. Can you see it? Some people use authority to get their own way. They like directing things the way they feel comfortable or the way they like it. For them the distinction between dominating and dominion cannot be made because they use their authority both to have dominion, (which is God given) and they use it to dominate others, (which is satanic-worldly-carnal). There is no doubt that the way of the world is to use authority to dominate others. The 7 pillars of society, (government, education, media…) have become just that. I believe it has trickled into the church as well, and has trickled all the way down to the family. Authority from the very beginning was to be used to have dominion for the good of all! Here Paul clearly says that the authority that God gave him is to be used for building people up rather than pulling them down. It is the difference between the coaching style that yells at his players and tells them what idiots they are and the coach that tells his players what they did wrong and inspires them to do it right. We must be, from mothers and husbands, to CEO’s and Senators, all about using the power and authority we have to bless and build up others.

There is one more thought about this; having the authority and not using it. That goes from motherhood, (letting your children dominate your life or household), to CEO’s who are afraid to make a move toward change. We as Christians have plenty of authority, but the question is do we use it? Do we take dominion not only where we live, but where we are? My encouragement is to walk in your authority as a believer (you have to know what authority you have first) and use it to release the Kingdom of God in your situations. You have such blessing that is waiting to be poured out! The world needs your authority – use it to build them up!