Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Receiving Authority: Compassion, Servanthood and Listening to the Still Small Voice of God
    Receiving Authority: Compassion, Servanthood and Listening to the Still Small Voice of God
    Receiving Authority: Compassion, Servanthood and Listening to the Still Small Voice of God
    Ebook121 pages2 hours

    Receiving Authority: Compassion, Servanthood and Listening to the Still Small Voice of God

    By Scott M. Shafer

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Authority is arguably one of the most important issues of our time. Receiving Authority is a message from Scott M. Shafer stemming from the culmination of years of study, experience, reflection and observation. It reveals a relational paradigm that centers on the person of Jesus Christ as the source of true authority for the believer and the importance of its role for increasing both influence and effectiveness. Regardless of gender, age, economic status or ethnic background, authority at higher levels is available for every believer. Of importance is identifying areas of flawed mindsets and the resulting abuse of authority. Receiving Authority examines particular concerns for the abuse of authority that exists today. Lastly, the relationship of prophecy and the increase of authority is a primary consideration for the development of those exercising the gift of prophecy and demonstrating the works of Jesus.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherScott M. Shafer
    Release dateSep 24, 2011
    ISBN9781466088108
    Receiving Authority: Compassion, Servanthood and Listening to the Still Small Voice of God
    Author

    Scott M. Shafer

    Scott M. Shafer is a speaker and author. Innovative training materials written and developed by him are available in seminars, workshops and retreats along with his new book titled, 'What Every Dream Means'. Scott has the ability to understand and interpret dreams. He is passionate about coaching, mentoring and training others how to interpret and how to fully engage all aspects of the dynamic dreaming cycle. Scott has been working with, studying and researching dreams since 1985. He has imparted life changing revelation and light into hundreds of people's lives.

    Read more from Scott M. Shafer

    Related to Receiving Authority

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Living in Perilous Times

      Jul 22, 2022

      Living in Perilous Times
      1 min read

    • Article

      Theology: Why Do We Need It?

      Nov 27, 2020

      Theology: Why Do We Need It?
      3 min read

    • Article

      DEVELOPING A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE Part lll

      May 20, 2019

      God commands us to have a spirit of excellence. In our previous articles we have discussed how to develop this by 1: having a sense of belonging, and 2: being dedicated. In this issue we will delve into more ways to develop this spirit of excellence

      3 min read

    • Article

      Truth Unobscured

      Jan 30, 2020

      Seeing the cynicism about the pursuit of truth that the US Senate impeachment trial has prompted on both sides, one woman reflects on a lesson she has learned in her own life: A willingness to let go of personal agendas and instead seek God’s truth o

      3 min read

    • Article

      Are We Living In A Post-truth Era?

      Sep 28, 2021

      Sometimes it can seem as if facts take a back seat to opinion or emotion. But getting to know God as infinite, pure Truth itself is a powerful basis for finding clarity, harmony, and mental as well as physical healing.

      3 min read

    • Article

      A New Day Of Pentecost

      Dec 29, 2023

      My ongoing study of the book of Acts brought me to an important development of the pattern of the New Testament – the establishment of the ministry of evangelism. The Holy Spirit is redefining the day of Pentecost and restoring the priestly ministry,

      2 min read

    • Article

      Ask Val

      Aug 7, 2020

      Ask Val
      2 min read

    • Article

      Radiance

      Dec 30, 2022

      Radiance
      7 min read

    • Article

      Redefining Your World View

      May 20, 2022

      Redefining Your World View
      1 min read

    • Article

      Trust In God

      Oct 30, 2018

      Trust In God
      4 min read

    • Article

      Getting to Know God

      Mar 16, 2020

      Getting to Know God
      3 min read

    • Article

      A New Day Of Pentecost

      Jul 21, 2023

      A New Day Of Pentecost
      2 min read

    • Article

      7 Quirky ‘Doctrines’ DEBUNKED

      Oct 28, 2022

      Jesus said that the truth sets us free. But the opposite is also true: Lies put us in bondage—even if the lies are spoken from a pulpit by a sincere minister or a Christian celebrity. In my international travels, I’ve sat in countless meetings and he

      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Sep 24, 2021

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      7 min read

    • Article

      Living With Purpose

      Sep 7, 2021

      Living With Purpose
      3 min read

    • Article

      Apostasy

      Apr 14, 2023

      We are currently living in one of the greatest seasons of apostasy. Men and women of God have been and continue to fall away from the faith in large numbers. Apostasy is not new. Departing from the faith is nothing new. It happens today just as it di

      3 min read

    • Article

      SPIRITUAL WEAPONS OF WARFARE Part ll

      Mar 16, 2020

      To be subject to the wiles of the enemy means to be deceived. The Hebrew word for wiles is nekel. It basically refers to five things that often happen to us. The first, as discussed in the previous article, is treachery – betrayal of trust, behaviour

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Val

      Nov 18, 2019

      Ask Val
      2 min read

    • Article

      3 Points To Ponder On Being Righteous In 2024

      Dec 29, 2023

      I can’t believe that it is a new year already. As we take time to reflect on the previous year, we should ask ourselves: Have I made the right choices? Have I stayed true to my New Year’s resolutions? And what improvements can I make in 2024? As I po

      2 min read

    • Article

      ‘Socially Acceptable’ Sins

      Apr 22, 2022

      In the church today, there are many sins that are seen as ‘socially acceptable’. Are we changing the Bible to fit our culture, or are we changing our culture to fit the Bible? While the sin of worry, for example, may not seem as severe as murder, it

      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Receiving Authority

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Receiving Authority - Scott M. Shafer

      Receiving Authority

      By

      Scott M. Shafer

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2011 By Scott M. Shafer

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version

      http://www.WhatEveryDreamMeans.com

      http://scottmshafer.blogspot.com

      Visit our Mobile Site

      And the Lord will cause the voice of His authority to be heard.

      (Is. 30:30a) NASB

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      1. The Nature of God

      2. The Authority of Jesus Christ

      3. Discipleship and Authority

      4. The Purpose of Authority

      5. Characteristics of True Authority

      6. Prophecy and Authority Today

      7. Authority: The Fruit of Worship

      8. Higher Levels and the Ways of God

      9. Authority and the Last Days

      Introduction

      As I finish this manuscript, much of North Africa and particularly Egypt, Libya and other nations are in chaos. Protestors have demanded that Hosni Mubarak after being in power for some thirty years as the dictator of Egypt, step down from his position and rule over the nation. In light of what you will be reading throughout this book, it is of particular interest to observe these events unfolding in Egypt and other countries that have experienced the oppressive rule of governments and regimes such as Mubarak’s and Muammar Gaddhafi’s.

      The scriptures tell us that the natural things speak of the spiritual. These uprisings speak to me of a profound intolerance of people to accept self-serving, unjust, corrupt and oppressive authority. At this point in time the sentiment seems to be spreading to other countries in North Africa and the Middle East and no doubt striking fear into the hearts of leaders who have held their position by such tactics as fear, intimidation, murder and corruption. This all reveals important lessons for the topic of authority and how it is expressed of which we will undertake in this book.

      By way of introduction, I would like to give a little background as to how this message has come about. First, it is born out of the initiative of God and second it is my personal conviction that the topic of authority is far too little understood, or perhaps even better said, largely misunderstood (and therefore misapplied) today. At the very least, these kinds of mindsets and other erroneous ideas about authority cloud the truth. I have wrestled as to the title of the book, whether I should call this work, Understanding Authority instead. This certainly would sum up what I hope to accomplish by writing it, if indeed the reader begins to experience new light and the illumination of the topic of authority by the Spirit of God.

      Admittedly, it is a long-term process to gain greater awareness and sensitivity to the subject matter of authority. I have reflected on the topic now for some seven years since the time the Holy Spirit first began working this message into me. That is a conservative estimate of the amount of time since I first began zeroing in on and thinking about the whole of the topic matter of authority. In retrospect I now recognize how God, at given points in time had been planting seeds in me over the last two decades or so as part of this unique process. It has personally been an ongoing discovery of the topic of authority by means of experience, study, observation and reflection.

      This book is also an aspect of the revealing and unfolding of a vision ultimately for the release of greater measures of authority in and upon the whole universal and global body of Christ. More specifically, it is a vision for recovering (perhaps ‘ancient’ or ‘old’ are not inappropriate terms to be included here) true authority in relation to the gift of prophecy in the new covenant context. The vision is for this kind of authority increasing in and upon communities and individuals who value the demonstration of the works of God, prophecy, and seek to hear the voice of God in the various ways that He speaks in the present day.

      The goal or end result of this vision is for the glory of God (Rev.19:10) first and foremost, and only second, is to have a greater and more effective impact and spiritual influence. This impact being accomplished by means of demonstrating the works (and the greater works promised) of Jesus, the supernatural of God and through prophecy in their geographical region and unique sphere of influence; be it in families, relationships, business, government, or the church.

      Warnings and Discernment

      Our safety from abuse is obviously in relationships and for every member to be abiding in Jesus, the Head of the body who Himself is revealed as being full of grace and truth. Remember what the apostle John wrote, that you have received an anointing from the Holy One and that anointing teaches you all things (1 John 2:27).

      In the case of how scripture uses the terminology of what is false we must understand that it is generally pointing to someone or something with an evil intent to deceive. Deceit and deception in this case is malevolent. Deception can happen in various ways and on various levels but these references of warning are plain about the issue of a clear intent that leads one away from the person of Jesus Christ, the Head.

      As one such leader, theologian and former pastor with a wonderful mind that I respect, has said to me, (simple yet profound), just because something is spiritual does not mean that it is of God. I have reflected on this statement quite a bit, curiously considering why he even made that statement to me.

      Many today with the ‘supernatural’ in vogue err in that it is self focused, sensational, puffing up the mind and bearing little if any lasting fruit in other’s lives or related to the Kingdom of God. We must guard against these types of subtle yet clearly recognizable abuses. It shifts our focus away from Jesus Christ.

      My hope in doing this kind of examination is not to be unnecessarily critical of experiences, nor suspicious as such, but simply to grow stronger in distinguishing what is truly of God and what is the right thing to do with what is of Him.

      There is a fine line between suspicion and true discernment. Suspicion is born out of the mind, out of fear, criticism, opinion and a calloused negativity. Discernment is of the Spirit, pure and untainted by any exterior bias or influence other than the revelation of the Spirit of God. Furthermore, I want to separate what is quite possibly not of God. As time progresses to its prophesied end, it is essential that we attend to these kinds of details for the purpose of safety.

      "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory (1 Tim. 3:16) emphasis mine".

      Exploring Authority

      Authority is especially relevant in this time or season in world history for numerous reasons. One, notably, is due to the revelation of increasing lawlessness (referring to the world) in the last days (Matt. 24:12). Please understand me when I am referring to lawlessness that I am not advocating that believers live any other way than totally and completely under grace with no mixture of the law. Yet, as I have mentioned, authority seems to me to be greatly misunderstood, ignored and, tragically, the topic appears even to be resisted. We will discuss how that abuses and twisted doctrine as such contribute to people resisting the topic all together and as it were shutting it out of their consciousness. Unfortunately, this negative kind of response leads us to not experiencing the fullness of the inheritance that God has for us as His people. Perhaps because authority is not considered much or well thought through it therefore represents a topic largely neglected and therefore a severely limited perspective remains within many circles. This limited perspective unfortunately leads to confusion and an embracing of flawed mindsets and incomplete paradigms by default.

      The spirit of the anti-Christ, which operates to reduce the person of Jesus to a lesser status than He truly possesses, is no doubt a major contributor to this ever-increasing lawlessness in the world. Lawlessness is described in scripture as sin (written to Gnostics), or in other words all sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:5). As the Spirit is poured out and revival spreads in the earth, we can expect that God will be deeply interested in a people progressively becoming a more pure representation of Him via a pure expression of and dependency on the eternal and finished work of the cross of Christ. We can surely expect a work of the abundance of grace being on the heart of God in this next move and outpouring of the Spirit. We might be tempted to think because we have heard the message of grace before that it is basic. This is part of the transition we will experience as we all are receiving the Spirit of God in new ways and dimensions.

      Extremes

      It seems to me that at

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1