Anointing v.s Authority, Part 2

As we continue this discussion, once again, we want to distinguish between the Anointing of God and the Authority of God. When we speak of Authority we're talking about the Divine Authority that God has ordained for the establishment and advancement of His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. As I've stated previously, the church loves the Anointing, the activity and manifestation of the Holy Spirit. But what I have learned over the years is that the saints are not equally in love with the Authority that God has assigned and ordained for His church. As a result, because we as the people of God have not embraced the Authority of God, we have consequently forfeited the Power of the Kingdom of God.

Without the Divine Authority of God you cannot access the Power of God. And if you cannot access the Power of God then you cannot have the Manifestation of the Kingdom of God (1Corinthians 4). This is why in the Western church (particularly in America) we witness so many "powerless" churches. Aren't you tired of going to churches that are the equivalent of a Sunday morning religious social club? No Miracles, No Healings, No Signs and Wonders. Aren't you tired of that? I tell you what, God Is! The God we serve is a Supernatural God! But He works according to the faith of His people, or the lack thereof (Matthew 9). Therefore, we must learn how to embrace Divine Authority so that we can receive a Manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

Part of the challenge in terms of the church properly embracing Divine Authority and not just settling for the presence of the Anointing of the Spirit, is to have a better understanding of Divine Order. The God we serve is a God of Order (1Corinthians 14). Many Christians don't understand the Order of God. And without a proper understanding of this Order, it's difficult to fully embrace Divine Authority. The Order of God for the establishment and advancement of the Kingdom of God lies in what is typically described as the "five-fold Ministry", found in Ephesians chapter 4. This Divine Order consists of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Let me say very quickly that this Divine Order carries with it Rank. In other words, these offices are not "equal" in Authority. Just like a General ranks higher than a Colonel, and a Colonel ranks higher than a Sergeant; so does an apostle rank higher than a prophet, and a prophet ranks higher than a pastor. Most of us, if you've grown up in the mainstream church, are primarily exposed to the authority and rank of the pastoral office. Let me say for the record, the pastoral office in and of itself is not sufficient for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Which means saints, if we want to see a Move of God and the Manifestation of the Kingdom of God with Power, it's going to take more than just the pastor of your local congregation. How do we know this? Because the pastoral office doesn't represent the Rank and Order of the Kingdom. The scripture says in 1Corinthians 12, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers". That scripture talks about Rank. Now if your church hasn't been exposed to apostolic leadership, or the prophetic office is still something relatively foreign to you, it explains why for the most part we haven't witnessed the Power of God in our churches. Yes the pastor represents Spiritual Authority, but that office doesn't the carry the necessary Rank to usher in a Kingdom Move of God.