PERVERTED AUTHORITY

PERVERTED AUTHORITY
 
© 2022 Dr. Samaria M Colbert
 
If there is a such thing as godly authority, there is a such thing as perverted authority. However, to the natural eye, godly authority and perverted authority looks very similar almost identical. Remember a counterfeit dollar still looks like the original, it doesn’t change to being valuable because of its appearance.
 
Whether you want to believe it or not, there is a counterfeit anointing, a counterfeit glory, a counterfeit church even counterfeit leaders. Our goal as faith-based leaders and entrepreneurs is to operate in truth, integrity, honesty and authenticity. We don’t want to be counterfeits. Yet if you don’t know or discern truth you are bound to be deceived by a lie.
 
Remember satan himself was and is the center of counterfeit authority.
 
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 New Living Translation

13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Before we discuss what perverted authority is, let’s set the ground work for what Godly authority is.

Watchman Nee (1972) In his book, Spiritual Authority stated, “The acts of God issue from His throne, and His throne is established by His own authority. All things created through God’s authority and all physical laws of the universe are maintained by His authority. For God’s authority represents God Himself whereas His power stands only for His act.” “In serving God we must not violate his authorities, because to do so is a principle of Satan.”

Nee, Watchman (1973), Spiritual Authority. Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc. New York.
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Remember Godly authority builds you up, it doesn’t tear you down. It is also not ashamed of the authority you already possess.

2 Corinthians 10:8 New Living Translation8 I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

As a disclaimer if you have underlying, unhealed wounds you may perceive authority as tearing you down, although that may not be the case. People with father wounds will be very defensive and can be hard to develop. Remember authority also corrects, holds you accountable, sits you down while building you up. An authority that can’t critique you with the intent of helping to shape and develop you is not authority. Your friends and your person of authority don’t hold the same position in your life, at least they shouldn’t.

Authority doesn’t have authority over everything or everyone. Just because someone is in authority doesn’t mean they should have  an opinion about everyone and everything. There is a such thing as staying in your lane.

2 Corinthians 10:12-13 New Living Translation

12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 New Living Translation
11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 
12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

We must submit to all authority, not just Christian authority.

1 Peter 2:13-14 New Living Translation

13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

Matthew 8:5-9 New Living Translation
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer[a] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant[b] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

The scripture in Matthew 8:5-9 teaches us about Godly authority. Authority respects authority. Honor begets honor, and respect begets respect. You will never be in godly authority when you dishonor another person in authority. To be in authority, you must simultaneously be under authority. Godly authority is found in the ability to execute divine authority by giving executive orders. Executive orders are in your mouth.

Other symptoms someone operates in Godly authority:

Godly authority always honors who’s in the room. A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great man. Being invited into the room is one thing, being honorable is what keeps you there. Proverbs 18:16

Respect the position even when you don’t respect the person. 

Never leave a place God has planted you unless he has released you to go. Never leave a place do to offense or bitter disagreement. How you leave a place means something.

Your character is proven by how you handle disagreement.

Don’t judge what people say, what are their results? Perverted authority wants position without process.
Disagreement should never lead to disrespect.

Authority is divine access, permission, and power to be sent forth. However, remember you are not that great, don’t believe your own press. You ARE REPLACEABLE.

Authority comes with assignment from God. Man confirms, what God has already done in secret.
Authority comes from God but is distributed to man. You’ll never receive God’s authority being dishonorable to man.

Finally, now that we have set the groundwork, let’s discussed perverted authority.

What is perverted authority?
1.   Perverted authority is authority that is not submitted.
2.   Perverted authority is an attempt to assume authority, but you don’t have a plan for your life, let alone another person. How can you lead someone when you don’t know where you are going?
3.   Perverted authority is authority not submitted to human authority. Remember the natural comes before the spiritual. If you can’t submit to natural authority, you don’t qualify to operate in spiritual authority. Reference 1 Peter 2:13
4.   Perverted authority causes you to call right wrong and wrong right. Persons with perverted spiritualize mess, pettiness, gossip, and pessimism, they justify it by calling it corrective action, a righteous cause or mission. No matter how you justify it, it is still wrong.
5.   Perverted authority creates a spiritual Ishmael, it means to attempt to move God’s plan along without following His way.
6.   Perverted authority is motivated by selfish ambition.
7.   Perverted authority always dismantles, dishonors, disrespects and attempt to disrupt the authority of another.
8.   Perverted authority looks at the outward appearance. Remember man looks at the outward appearance God looks at the heart.
9.   Perverted authority is not sent by God, they send themselves.
10. Perverted authority represents the spirit of Absalom and Adonijah spirit. (Absalom and Adonijah, were the sons of king David who tried to overthrow King David’s throne to put themselves in his place.)
 
I pray for those who are called, operate in God’s authority, and not perverted authority. Be Well.
 
© 2022 Dr. Samaria M Colbert