Dwight Fletcher | Chosen to walk in authority

ALTHOUGH WE are Christians, sometimes we think that no one would choose us for something great, but that isn’t what God thinks. Ephesians affirms, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:4 (NIV). Before God made the earth, He saw us as worthwhile to carry His glory and walk in His authority. Out of the seven billion people on the earth, He chose you. As Christians, we must settle this in our minds.

This is important because many of our deepest wounds in life often come from rejection. Rejection hurts and wounds us deeply, leading us to spend much of our life trying to earn acceptance.

Many people go through their lives avoiding God because they feel ashamed, guilty and judged. But God chose us in Christ, so as Believers we’re completely accepted. “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.” Romans 5:1 (CEV). We’ve been made acceptable. God accepts us completely and unconditionally, and because of His love we live in peace with Him.

We have nothing to prove because our authority, and the right to use it, are based on what Jesus has done. We, therefore, no longer need to feel ashamed or afraid of God, because it’s not about our performance. We can walk in the authority that God has given without fear that He will just take it from us. We no longer have to fit in with the crowd because we fit in with God. We can stop trying to work for the approval of others because we have God’s approval. “If God says His chosen ones are acceptable to Him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34 Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed!” Romans 8:33-34 (CEV). Knowing this should set us free.

In Christ we’re also fully capable. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NIV). It’s not some spiritual blessings, it’s all.

First, we are blessed. As His children, God’s hand is on us for good - not harm, and for better, not worse. We are also blessed with every spiritual blessing. When God calls us to walk in His authority, He has already graced us with what we need. He didn’t leave us on our own to swim or sink. God has stacked the deck for us to succeed. “Brothers and sisters, consider who you were when God called you to salvation. Not many of you were wise scholars by human standards, nor were many of you in positions of power. Not many of you were considered the elite when you answered God’s call. 27 But God chose those whom the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise, and God chose the puny and powerless to shame the high and mighty. 28 He chose the lowly, the laughable in the world’s eyes – nobodies – so that he would shame the somebodies. For He chose what is regarded as insignificant in order to supersede what is regarded as prominent…” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (TPT).

God didn’t call us to fail. Those He appoints, He anoints. In Christ we are fully capable. “The capacity we have comes from God; it is He who made us capable of serving the new covenant...” 2 Corinthians 3:5b-6 (GNT).

To walk in authority, trust your faith and put your hope in Christ.