*My succinct response and Clarifications on the nuances between the exercise of Power and authority* By Anthony UD ©️
While he was speaking to his disciples; Jesus centered on two things: power and authority (Luke 10:19). Expressing that the two terms are not mutually exclusive!
Without the excercise of authority power so to speak might be useless (as we can see when a law enforcement officer stands on the road without any distinguishing uniform).
Also, authority as we know activates power and makes it what it is. For instance, a law enforcement officer on the road can be beaten by anyone who’s stronger than he/she,but with his authority he can put such person away in jail and make the person face the law because he represents someone higher and whom he/she renders account of his stewardship to.
Jesus’ use of the terms in Luke’s gospel was to distinguish the essence of division of responsibilities between what we should expect from God and what we ought to do for ourselves (physically) without waiting for Gods intervention.
For instance, if you are beseeched by a confrontational situation that requires your excercise of power without an authority; you are expected to take an action and arrest the situation immediately without having any second thought.
You do not wish to deny yourself the gift of self preservation when you or someone are being attacked by anything or being held under siege. With power carved within tour abilities, you already have the physical (divine )strength to take control of the circumstances.
Conversely, what the devil and demons fears most is not the person with only power (because they have it). They are afraid of the person who wields both power and authority by his/her adoption through Christ Jesus. (John 1:12).
Hence, the reason why the apostle Paul exclaimed in his pains in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In his argument, Paul saw that power and strength cannot overcome these aforementioned situations except by a superior authority connected to the most High God through Christ Jesus!
What we lost in the garden of Eden was our authority of sonship in God (which the devil envies most) not the power we were given Genesis 1:28.
The first great commission to man through Adam and Eve was never revoked even after they were expelled! But Leaving that garden was like being deprived the privilege to exercise their authority and oneness with God (also known as paradise (the state of being with God).
Not Until we got the second commission as MATTHEW 28:18-20 (KJV and NRSV) recorded that Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you,” Man was floating with power like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
There are many Analogies about power and authority that we can draw our inferences from. Among them is; like a child being disowned by his father. Would that singular act make the child powerless? No. What the child lost was the authority to share union and exercise an authority with his father.
Have you wondered what happens when a priest leaves the priesthood? Although His faculties (authority)to exercise the office of the priesthood is revoked, but he never lost any power as human created in Gods image (Gen 1:26)!
The exercise of Power and authority in most cases go hand in hand, but the nuances needs to clarified as to which one is above the other.
All leaders in the world exercise authority and not power! However, With only power anyone stronger than they are can contend with them and have them beaten up, but with their authority they are superior and can dispense their authoritarian privileges in the name of the person (or people) they represent.
Accordingly, in the church, there’s a difference between the chair of St Peter and the key of St. Peter! Everyone who exercises an office in the church (especially the clergy) do that under the key (authority) of St. Peter (I’m sure we still remember the flow of succession?)
While the Chair of Peter represents his (localized) position of power as the bishop of Rome; his key represent his universal authority as the vicar of Christ on earth and his position of grace and privilege to act (along his successors) in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).
We need not to misconstrue these subtle but very important nuances between the excercise of power and authority without our postmodernist worldview!
God bless you!
Sent from Anthony H.
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