Love and Spiritual Authority--Part 1

So, for a while now God has been speaking to me about LOVE.
LOVE....LOVE....LOVE....
"Love my people as I have loved you."
"Love one another...in this they will know that you are my disciple."
"Love them like Jesus."
"Love them even if you don't understand them."
And my favorite:
"It's not about you."
God has spoken these things into my heart over and over and over again for months and months and months.
He has confirmed through a several good friends who hve also received the same message of LOVE that these things He has spoken to me are from HIM.
Over and over and over.....
What does it all mean?
To what end?
Perhaps I am beginning to see where God is taking me and for what purpose.
This week I have been the studying the teachings of Francis Frangipane and in his teachings he suggests that the Church as it functions today have many administrators who can explain the doctrines of Christianity, but few who actually exemplify Christ and even fewer who walk as Jesus walked.
While many stand in leadership, not many function in the higher realms of Christ given authority that was purchased for the Church, His Church, at a very high price, I might add.
Mr. F suggests that a new badge of authority is coming to the Church and that it will bring deliverance on a scale not seen before; in some cases, entire cities will be turned to the Lord.
What is spiritual authority?
It is nothing less than God Himself confirming with power the word of His servant.
Here are some examples that you might know: Moses speaking of judgment upon the people of Egypt and the subsequent display of power from God to break the will of an unmoving, hard-hearted Pharaoh. Jesus manifested spiritual authority when he cast out demons, healed people, silenced storms, and through resurrection power. Elijah at the battle of Jericho. The disciples at Pentecost.
So many examples tells us the same underlying principle: "those who are raised up by God will be backed up by God."
"They will decree a thing, and it will be established." Job 22:28
Christ gave the Church authority to make disciples in the Great Commission, however, we have been more successful in making converts rather than disciples.
Many are believers in Jesus, but few are true followers of Christ seeking to observe ALL that Jesus commanded. When the Church returns to teaching all that Jesus taught, our disciples will have authority to do all that Jesus did.
Oh, Father make it so.....
Spiritual authority is not something we possess just because we strive for it nor can we buy it nor does it function simply because we copy the methods of another. It cannot be attained from reading books nor can we pretend to have it. In fact, as we focus upon obeying the words of Christ, there are divinely ordained ways for Christ's authority to unfold in our lives.
Since the beginning of our walk in the Lord we have enjoyed God's unconditional love, right? However, as we mature in the Lord there comes a time when the Father's love seems conditional? Follow me on this: as it was for Christ, so it is for those who follow Him.
"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down my life." John 10:17
Jesus lived in the deepest intimacies of the Father's love because He laid down His life for His sheep. If we will grow in true authority, we will do so by laying down our lives for His sheep, as well.
This is the path to true spiritual authority: in full possession of our souls, without fear or intimidation, we choose to lay down our lives for Christ's sheep. Yes, in full freedom, with avenues of escape in our view, we fearlessly surrender our will and in doing so we become intercessors for others. When we could easily win an argument, yet, die to ourself and turn the other cheek; when we are unjustly accused, yet quietly endure; when we are persecuted and, yet, choose to love---at those moments spiritual authority is entering our lives.
"No one has taken MY life away from Me, but I lay it down for my own initiative." John 10:18
Spiritual authority is the provision of God to transform the temporal with the power of the eternal. It is not something we can imitate or manufacture. Divine authority requires sanction and that sanction comes from PASSING THE TESTS OF LOVE!!!!!!!
WOW!
Do you see where this might be going?
God has been laying a foundation upon my heart and upon those around me in my circle of influence: it is a foundation of LOVE.
Why?
I believe it is because the lines of battle are being drawn as we speak, and God is equipping His people to overcome our enemy using LOVE and GOD-GIVEN-AUTHORITY to win people to Him.
When authority is administered without LOVE it is called control and control causes oppression and fear. The result of LOVE is freedom and the power to build up and protect God's people.
We will walk in either the true authority of LOVE, the false authority of control or no authority at all.
The latter two are rooted in fear which produces hypocrisy and complacency and which impedes our sanctification process and actually makes us more of effective for the enemy than for Christ, after all, we are either for God or against Him.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:18
True authority is built upon LOVE, therefore, before one can truly move in spiritual authority, we must be delivered from fear and its desire to control and we must be rooted and grounded in LOVE.
"As wide as our sphere of love, to that extent we have spiritual authority."
OK...I get it.
"Help me Father to be a willing sacrifice for your people. I desire your authority, Lord. Give me courage to surrender in obedience every moment everyday even when I don't understand. Help me to trust you. Establish in me Your love that I might defend Your people with authority.
In Jesus' name.
Amen."