STEPHEN R. PHINNEY

Men of Authority

 

by Dr. Stephen Phinney 

What is the real definition of a “wimpy man?” It is a man who defies submitting to authority and defiles by not asserting authority. A man who submits to authority takes on the most difficult task known to man--that of doing what he is told. A man who asserts authority opens himself up to the most vulnerability known to man--rejection from defiant followers.

Men of war must clearly know the words of commands, understand them, embrace them, and then carry them out to a tee. One of the primary reasons for wars being lost on the battlefield is that the commander did not make the orders clear, distinct, and/or understood. The second most common mistake of war is the troops not being trained to carry out the orders. This we can be assured of: Christ, as our Commander in Chief, will clearly communicate His orders to us. But, He does leave it up to the leaders in the field (leaders of the church) to train and equip the troops for warfare. We call this discipleship, mentorship, and equipping.

Men of our generation are reluctant to submit to authority. Men as a whole have adopted the deception that they can be their own leader and can somehow live this life on their own. Men who function like this have fallen as prey to the first tactic of warfare--getting the troops to turn on their commanders. The exactness of obeying commands is the key to being an effective warrior in the battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Authority establishes order. Without order, a kingdom will collapse and be taken over by an enemy. Authority is the fiber that holds everything together within a kingdom and gives functionality for the followers to appropriate. God is a God of order and His order provides a pathway for His work to be accomplished.

Since we understand there is an authority structure within the heavens, would it not be easy for us to understand that authority on earth would be equally as important? In fact, it is the authority of heaven that ties heaven to earth. A man who does not accept this will view authority as a humanistic attempt to manipulate or control the people.

All of mankind is under authority, even if they don’t acknowledge it. Even Satan is under authority and cannot accomplish anything without God’s permission.

The best way to understand authority is through understanding God’s order of creation. In the beginning there was God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then we discover the “sons of God” (angels)--Lucifer included. Upon creation, He formed Adam and then Eve (from Adam’s side). This is how we understand the structure and flow of authority (Genesis 2:7-24).

The sin of Adam was that of passivity. Because Adam “took from the woman and ate,” he demonstrated a behavioral confession of his passivity. He had direct authoritive orders from God NOT to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. But because he listened to the voice of his woman, instead of God’s voice, the ground became cursed by God. God’s order of business has not changed. God expects man to first listen to the Lord, wash his wife with the Word, then lead his family with the directives of the Lord. Needless to say, most men today are afraid of their wives and listen to their counsel and guidance before they listen to church leaders, or God Himself.

Today, men lack assertiveness, initiative, courage, vision, and drive. The first place to start is in the beginning. Consider applying the follow guidelines:

 

 

1. Choose a mentor who is clear in the Bible teachings that are accurate and Christ-centered. 

2. Confess your passivity to God and commit to Him that you will be a man of initiative, courage, vision, and drive.

3. Do not keep company with those who promote worldly ideas. It only breeds confusion. 

4. Study the Word and discover everything you can on the topics of authority and leadership.

5. Commit yourself to a men’s small group for a period of one year.

6. Be a part of a local church--be active in the Men’s Ministry.

7. Commit to keep your priorities straight--God, wife, children, church, job, and then friends.