28 and say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Mark 11:27-33
They had seen and heard about the wonders Jesus was doing but knowing fully well He was not in their caucus neither could they do what He was doing decided to challenge Him by asking the source of His power. Power must come from an authority. As believers in Christ Jesus our authority is from God’s Kingdom. Your position in Christ determines your authority which eventually determines the degree of power you can demonstrate.
Authority even in the physical is not given to people that cannot be trusted. It is given to those who have stood the test of time and their loyalty and commitment are unquestionable. Authority is not a cheap thing to get. There is a price that must be paid to get it.
So many believers think power is just by prayers and fasting alone. It’s not. Power comes from your authority in Christ which is the product of your life in Christ.
“27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27-30
"He must increase, but I must decrease"
You would need to take the above serious. The degree of your Christ-likeness determines your authority in God’s Kingdom. In short,
SPIRITUALITY IS AUTHORITY
Spirituality has nothing much to do with how prayerful you are, how well you can fast and how regular you are in church services. It has nothing to do with your position or title you bear in your denomination. You are a Gospel Minister doesn’t mean you are spiritual. That you are even gifted doesn’t mean you are spiritual. This is an error I have come to see in Christendom when people think because they are gifted that means they are spiritual. This is a big fallacy from the pit of hell. If gifts determine spirituality, Apostle Paul won’t had labelled the Corinthians Christians as carnal and babies in Christ.
“1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
I believe the above is very clear. If we are to go by what Apostle Paul wrote up there, we will conclude that even many Ministers are not spiritual. What then is SPIRITUALITY IN GOD’S KINGDOM?
Spirituality is the degree of your God consciousness through the person of Christ, your knowledge of Him and the reflection of His person in your life. Spirituality has to do with your lifestyle in Christ. It has to do with your degree of depth in Christ. The more you know God through Him the better your life is re-positioned to have more authority in Him.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Spirituality is about seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. When you make up your mind to know more of God and His kingdom then you are on your way to becoming spiritual. Unfortunately, many don’t desire God and His Kingdom. All many are after today is
"….AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU”
Is it any wonder the major trends in Christendom are about prosperity, wealth and riches and how to live a life of glamour? The main issue that would help people be more like Christ are no longer taught in churches again. Apostle Paul declared,
“7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11
The pursuit of spirituality in Christ is for only disciples and not just the followers. Many are not ready to pay the price to become Disciples of Christ. They are contented with just been a Christian or a just a mere believer in Christ Jesus. They are not ready to prepare to live the disciplined life of a Jesus’ disciple. They are not ready to leave their comfort zones and carry The Cross of Christ because they are not ready to die to self and to the world. The glamour of the world, the people and the things in it still fascinate them.
“30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:30-32
Only true disciples would desire to continue in God’s Word no matter how inconvenient it might be. Those who can continue in Christ through His Word – The Bible and the spoken one from the Holy Ghost called RHEMA will become disciples because they will learn what will make them become like the Master. Becoming like the Master is the ultimate climax of spirituality.
“11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16
The main purpose of the five-fold ministerial callings and all other gifts are to disciple believers and make them become like Christ. Until one becomes like Christ, spiritual victories are limited. Until you grow and mature in Christ through your fellowship with God via studying God’s Word, meditating on it, living according to it, living a holy and a consecrated life, serving God in truth and in spirit etc., one is still playing a local league in the Kingdom.
The church is no longer raising disciples but worldly and carnal people who are ready to gain the world and lose their souls in the process. Gospel Ministers who are not raising Christ-like believers are agents of Satan consciously or unconsciously. The sole mission of the church is not just to win souls but disciple them until they become like Christ.
“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
“18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
DISCIPLESHIP IS THE GREATEST MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The church has failed God in this area. This is why the gates of hell has no respect for the church today. We lack depth in Christ and have no firm authority in Him because we are nowhere in Him. The devil has raised many Ministers to derail believers into seeking the irrelevant for the relevant.
The early church’s messages focused on Christ, His resurrection and the Kingdom but today we focus on the blessings of the Kingdom with total disregard for its principles.
Only true disciples can have true authority in Christ because they are the ones who go the extra mile with Him, carry His Cross without shame and shine the light of the Kingdom in a dark world. This awesome book would be released @
