Preparing for Troubled Times - Part 3

Preparing for Troubled Times - Part 3 by Kriston Couchey Divine Authority Everyone in Christ has individually been given the power to walk in divine authority and also benefit from the divine authority God has placed within His body. Jesus did not come to the earth to simply give a nice message of the kingdom. He demonstrated the authority of the kingdom with having real answers for the troubles of men.He healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead, fed thousands of hungry people, commanded turbulent weather to cease, and rose from the dead. There was no trouble Jesus was incapable of facing because he walked with the authority of heaven. And there is no trouble the sons of God are incapable of facing walking with the authority of heaven. Jesus said to His disciples, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” This same Jesus who has all authority then gave it to men. He told the disciples, “I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you…” Binding and Loosing Jesus told Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.” (AMP) Jesus has given us the keys of divine authority to forbid on earth that which is already forbidden in heaven and release on earth what is already released in heaven. Everything Jesus did and said originated from heaven, every miracle, healing, teaching, and even his death which in heaven happened before the foundation of the world; all were expressing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The same keys of authority given to you and I are also intended to release the kingdom of God in the particular places and ways Father has called each to exercise His Divine authority. “…I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.” ~The Centurion~ While some want to use the account of the centurion with great faith to inappropriately implement a worldly chain of command in the church, the point of this account was to show that great faith is knowing you are fully authorized under the authority of God Himself to exercise the divine authority of heaven. Divine authority carries with it all of the weight of heaven and flows from a rest that does not struggle to be executed, but confidently releases upon earth what is already established in heaven. If you have to work up faith, you don’t have the authority. If you have the authority, you simply command it to be and it is done. Authority to Meet Needs The kings of the Gentiles are lords over them, and those who have authority are given names of honour. But let it not be so with you; but he who is greater, let him become like the younger; and he who is chief, like a servant. For which is greater, the guest who is seated at a meal or the servant who is waiting on him? is it not the guest? but I am among you as a servant. ~Jesus~ Divine authority is not a hierarchal system built upon a chain of command, or dependent upon official titles of authority for its execution. Authority in the kingdom flows freely upon love relationships and not simply because of a titled position. Where the love of God has waned, titles become predominant, where the love of God flows titles are not predominant and men recognize and receive more easily TRUE divine authority. Those with true divine authority do not need to relate to others based upon a position, but relate fulfilling a function of love and service. The exercise of Divine authority is to serve the needs of others as provision for them from Father in whatever their need may be. Jesus is the prime example of one who came to serve the unmet needs of men; exercising divine authority out of love and service to men. Everything We Need …his divine power has granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness… In Jesus Christ we have available to us everything we need. He is our divine wisdom, unity, provision, and authority; sufficient for all things and all times of trouble and need. Our preparation is to walk as sons in His rest that releases in us and through us the divine realities of His being.This is the kingdom of God; Christ in us manifesting His will and kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. To prepare for troubled times we need discernment to walk hearing and obeying the Spirit of God as to our own divine authority, not substituting positions or titles among men for true divine authority. We must also recognize and receive the divine authority that rests upon others. When we receive His divine authority upon the lives of others, we truly receive Him. As we personally execute and express divine authority upon the earth we are manifesting Him and His kingdom to men; which is what is truly needed in both peaceful times and troubled times. In his Love Kriston Couchey kcouchey@gmail.com www.openheaven.com