Authority And Spirituality Should Never Be Regarded As Competitors But As Complementing Each Other

Authority And Spirituality Should Never Be Regarded As Competitors But As Complementing Each Other

When it comes to the matter of spirituality and authority how do you respond and react? Spirituality without recognising properly delegated and responsible and caring authority is a dangerous situation in which one can find himself.

There are those who rebel against the very notion of authority when it comes to the area of true spirituality. Jesus Christ dealt with this in such a real and meaningful way. Of course, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, deals with every area of life in a real and relevant and meaningful manner, with such grace and tenderness.

You do hear people say at times - "Nobody is putting that on me. No one is going to tell me what to do. I want to be free to do what I want, when I want, and in the way I want to do it!" that is nothing other than rebellion. It is not even spiritual rebellion. It is really just a bad attitude.

There was an incident recently and when I shared it with our people they smiled and the lesson was learned. It is always wise and spiritually profitable to learn such lessons. Let me share it with you as you seek to allow your spirituality to develop and grow. We all want to grow and mature in Christ.

The aircraft was just about to be pushed back prior to taxiing, when a young boy threw a tantrum, shouting and screaming and kicking the seat in front.

After a couple of minutes a Marine unfastened his seat belt, arose and walked forward, and bending over, whispered in the little fellow's ear.

He froze.

Returning to his seat a lady stopped the marine and asked, "Soldier, please can you share with me the magic words you used?"

"Ma'am, I certainly can. I simply said, 'Do you see these pips on my shoulder? Do you see these bands on my arms? Do you see that row of ribbons? Well, these give me the authority to throw off a plane any one passenger I happen to choose!'"

Authority is an amazing quality and characteristic. Real authority works.

That Roman Centurion, in charge of a hundred soldiers, came to Jesus pleading with Jesus to heal his sick servant. He was a man under authority.

He understood what authority was all about, and he recognised in Jesus Christ that here was a man under authority and with unlimited authority, even recognising that Jesus had authority over sicknesses and diseases.

Jesus heard and answered the soldier's prayer, and the servant was healed.

To have authority, a man must be under authority.

For a Roman army officer to make such a request demonstrates an amazing degree of humility. For a Gentile to approach the King of the Jews in this way reveals astonishing wisdom.

He would order his detachment, "Quick march!" and they moved.

He believed Jesus Christ could say "Quick march!" to sickness and it would have to go.

Many today have little sense of authority, but miracles begin when a man places himself under the caring authority of Jesus Christ.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary athttp://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

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