Favor and Authority

As we have worked through some of these key tools, we would use in gaining influence and transforming our world into the image of His Kingdom, we have to come to this giant idea, this giant promise, this powerful Kingdom reality – Authority.

One of the foundations of the Kingdom of God is men receiving God-given authority! Once when Jesus healed a paralyzed man, the response of the people was, “When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:8. Notice that Scripture did not record that God had given such authority to A MAN, but to MEN. This is the Kingdom of God – God gives authority, even in the text above, “such authority,” to men.

Authority is the right to use His resources to change the world around us and to rewrite the story of men’s lives and men’s society.

I am not just speaking about spiritual authority, although it must begin there. Through living as a steward of God, we gain greater levels of authority before Him. He blesses us and gives us access to His resource more and more in order to bring change. I am also speaking of natural authority. To have spiritual authority but not naturally given and recognized authority still brings little change in the realms of man.

David was anointed king many years prior and had God-given authority but did not begin to reign and reshape society until he was recognized as king before the people many years after the death of Saul. Joseph was a spiritual young man, but only as men of authority granted him authority did, he begin to change things. Daniel was able to bring his powerful God-given abilities to bear upon society as he became seen by others and gained authority in the natural realms.

Along with the idea of authority, is the granting of favor. The word favor means to be seen by another who smiles upon you to receive you and do you good. Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar. Joseph found favor in the eyes of the chief jailer. Joseph found favor in the sight of Pharaoh. David found favor in the eyes of the people. Daniel found favor in the eyes of the king of Babylon.

When God grants you favor in the sight of another, He is literally putting a set of glasses on that person to SEE you, to DRAW you near, and to BLESS you in some regard. Often, this blessing is the granting of a level of authority.