Someone stopped by my residence in the past week who made a statement that astonished me. He was talking about his job and the boss he works under. He said that the general manager of the company understands authority but the owner has no idea what authority is. This type of business owner puts a manager in place, then tries to rule through them. People like this cause turmoil and all kinds of confusion and strangle the organizational flow from top to bottom. This type of person has a detrimental issue deep within. It is created by mistrust that is fashioned within, from the problem of not feeling valued. There are many small business owners that can never grow a company on a healthy larger platform because of this problem of control. These people reign in suspicion which comes from deep personal pride. Proprietors such as this cause disorganization everywhere that they function when it involves more than a handful of people. They have all the answers for everyone else yet have great personal depravity and are dysfunctional icons.
There was a certain centurion’s servant who was important and dear to his master but he lay sick and dying while Jesus was in Capernaum. This centurion sent the elders of the Jews to request Jesus to come to heal him. Jesus departed with them to go to the house where the servant was dying. As He came closer to the house, the centurion sent several of his personal friends to meet Jesus and said unto Him:
Luke 7:6 Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: V.7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
The centurion understood something that people only understand once they walk under the submission of authority.
Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. V.9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
This astounding statement from the centurion was an expression that so few people are ever humble enough to walk in. Let us gain understanding from this statement of truth. Have you ever wondered why God is not using you much? It can be concluded by a small, powerful statement the centurion made: “SET UNDER AUTHORITY”. A person will never have more authority than what he is submitted to. The centurion did not have to go to the battle field to fight; the battle was not his to fight. The centurion was in charge of the soldiers, the soldiers were in charge of the battle. The centurion had trust in the soldiers and the soldiers had faith in the centurion. The ancient military chain of command charts a tribute from the king to the general – lieutenants – tribunes – centurion – signifier – soldiers. The final combat was fought by the soldier, yet the battle was won by the king. If the soldier refuses to be on familiar terms with his superior in command via submission, then he will soon become useless or ultimately destroyed by the enemy.
Jesus marveled significantly at the words of the centurion and called it the greatest faith; not seen in all of Israel. The centurion certainly heard the common testimony of Jesus as being a healer. He understood that Jesus heals under authority of a power higher than Himself. This authority was from the Father which is in Heaven. The centurion knew that Jesus was in submission to the Father, because the commands of the Father were being performed through manifested healing throughout Galilee. When the centurion declared Jesus to be Lord, he was automatically placed under His authority and he knew that his servant was under His authority as well. There was only one other thing to do and that was: Jesus, just say the word. Hallelujah!
One important fact must be understood before we can live a life set under spiritual authority: being in our position under the authority over us is not something that happens through our intellectual understanding. Authority is not a matter of comprehended truth, but that of a position of the heart. Positioning under authority does not happen in the mind, it happens in the heart.
There was some other person casting out devils and this was Jesus’ response after they forbade him.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. V.40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Jesus clearly stated that lightly speaking evil against our superior will stop the submission and the flow of Heaven’s blessing. It would do us well to recognize who God has set us under. Am I missing the link? Am I set under authority? May we take heed to the blessing of submission!
Romans 13:01 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. V.2 whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. V.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
