“For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.” John 17:2 NLT
Before I came to work for the church in 1996, I worked in the business world to help support my family. I had various careers during those early years: waiter, short order cook, restaurant manager, Circulation District manager, Wal-Mart stock man, I even did a stint as a data entry specialist for the IRS. Each job came complete with a general manager. You know the guy or gal I’m talking about: first to work, last to leave, always barking orders, lots of responsibility, owns stock in Rolaids or Mylanta, and generally the crabbiest person in the building….Oh yeah and they are the go to person for virtually everything because they have the authority.
Authority is the right to exercise power to a desired end. The general managers all had authority to make decisions with millions of dollars of personnel and equipment. The owners had turned their concerns for the company over to these people. The owners trusted their general managers to act responsibly to bring about a profit for them. The problem was the general managers had no real power to ensure the end that the owners desired; So they daily bit their whitened knuckles and swallowed antacids hoping against hope that the balloon wouldn’t burst on their watch.
Like the general managers, Jesus has been entrusted by God the Father with authority.
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ” Ma 28:18 NLT
In John 17 Jesus tells us what the authority is for. It is to grant eternal life to men and women!
So Jesus, like the other general managers I have served under, has been given authority. Unlike them however He also has power to accomplish the work with 100% efficiency. Jesus never fails! He finds those who seek for God and He saves them every time! He has never lost a man or a woman who came calling for help…and He has never had to take Mylanta while doing the work! Thank you Jesus for being the best general manager I have ever had!
Reinventing the We'll 