Week One of Source

Granger Community Church (http://www.gccwired.com/) started a new 3 week series of weekend messages entitled "Source - Where do you draw your power." Mark Beeson knocked it out of the park with the first message surrounding authority in our lives.


Though the major text of Marks message came from Matthew 8, he challenged us with the truths found in Proverbs, Ephesians, Jude, Chronicals and Acts.


The dictionary defines authority as: the power to influence or command thought, opinion or behavior. Mark showed us examples of God's authority through illustrations found in Matthew 8. The words and touch of Jesus healed afflictions raging the human body (Matt. 8:5-13, 14-16). And, His power cast out demons (Matt. 8:14-34). Authority. Who else but God can do those things? No one. Text from Jude 1:25 confirms that '......All glory, majesty, power and authority are His before time, and in the present, and beyond all time!'

God spoke to and through Mark in amazing ways that made it so clear that God is the ultimate authority in our lives. Mark's message was captivating and challenging. He caused me to contemplate who or what other things I allow to have authority in my life that may cause me to stop short of God's authority.
Although I know that God has the ultimate authority in my life, I know that I often stop short of that and let other things or people rule. One authority bandit that was famous for ruling over me for a period of my life was the credit card industry.

The 'keeping up with the Jones' phase of my life caused Visa and Mastercard to have authority in my life for a long period of time. I relinquished authority to them so that I could be showered with possessions and impress my peers. When I stepped above the enslaving authority of Visa and Mastercard and willingly took that authority higher, God showed me how to turn it around. God is the authority over my finances.

There are appropriate levels of authority in our lives. My mother has an appropriate level of authority in my life. My supervisor has an appropriate level of authority in my life. My pastors have an appropriate level of authority in my life. But God has the ultimate level of authority in my life. And as Peter and the apostles said in Acts 5:29 "We must obey God rather than any human authority"


I left church Saturday nite, not only remined that God is the ultimate authority in my life, but with the peace that God has the ultimate authority over my life.