Authority

Do you know anyone named Daniel? The name Daniel means “God has judged” or “God is my judge.” In the Old Testament, there is a man named Daniel, and his vision about seeing God as the judge of the whole world is recorded in Daniel 7:9-10; here’s what the prophet saw.

Have you ever walked into a group of unruly people and wondered, “Who’s in charge?” Have you ever considered the broken world and wondered the same thing? Today’s passage reminds us that at the end of the day, God is the Judge who works in his way and his timing.

Sometimes, doubt follows amazing victories. Has that ever happened to you? That’s what happened to Abraham. The great patriarch experienced a commanding victory…but then, doubt crept in.

The first name that God used to describe himself in Scripture is the Hebrew word, Elohim. This name means “Mighty Creator” and appears over 2,500 times in the Bible. It describes God’s power, sovereignty, and authority over all things.

A good battle plan includes a study of the enemy. What’s their location? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? What is their method of attack? The list goes on. Now granted, our primary study must be about God. The Bible is his love letter to us, and we never want “to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest” in the devils and his demons. But we must be aware of who the enemy is. Today, let’s consider three passages from the Gospel of John where Satan is described as “the ruler of this world.”

Thanks for joining us as we focus on thirty days of prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. And…sometimes, we talk to God when our backs are down on the mat. Here’s what Jesus said to one man who found himself in that position.

Certainly, we are to demonstrate love to believers. We are to live in reverence and awe of God. We are to show honor to those placed in authority over us. And…don’t miss the first two words of this verse…we are to show proper respect to everyone.

On that final day, the faithful shepherds will hear, “Well done!” and receive the victor’s crown that will never fade. On that day, every sacrifice of leadership will be well worth it.

Jesus is the Everlasting Father. His authority spans eternity. His visit to earth was purposed to pay the penalty for our sins.