Taking Responsibility III: The Span of Authority

Message 21 August 2016 Taking Responsibility III:  The Span of Authority

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  - Genesis 2:7,8

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.  And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.  - John 13:1-5

Recap:

In the last message we saw that the first responsibility is obeying God and living for his glory. The highest is knowing and worshiping him.

The ability to make choices on something is the foundation of responsibility.

Next we saw four things responsible people don't do. They don’t avoid, neglect, abandon nor deny responsibility. Responsibility is easy to claim when things go well but hard to take when things are not going well and stakes stakes are high. Any responsibility avoided , neglected, abandoned, or denied will appear later as a ghost.

The reason for whatever God gives is to provide capacity to serve Him and fellow humanity. God expected Adam to be available in the garden to serve as his agent and not to be hiding in fear as happened when he disobeyed God. When you receive from God you must understand the reason and the scope of what you control – your garden. The perimeters of what was assigned to you. Failure to do so will result in loss of the authority as  was the case with the first Adam.  The last Adam Jesus demonstrated the proper attitude and  use for God’s provisions. Your garden is the circle of needs within your reach with the God given capacities you have. The scope of responsibility is as far as the needs in your garden.

 In John 13:1-5, he set an example with the basin and towel that responsibility and its authority are delegated from God for the benefit of others. He fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies that referred to him as the faithful servant. Jesus was able to serve because he understood certain things about himself that defined the scope of his responsibility.

>> He knew who he was. ‘Knowing where he was from and was going’

He knew where he was from and where he was going. Because he knew the identity he already had he was not trying to gain one by avoiding lowly tasks.  When he came as the savior his invitation was give me your identity so you can gain mine. One’s identity defines the scope of  one’s responsibility.  Legitimate exercise of authority begins with understanding your identity, expectations for your role, rights and privileges. 

Identity can be core as in being a child of God or derived as from role/ ministry/profession defined. A kid wont be deemed irresponsible with actions, speech, and stuff adults can’t get away with. Presidents can't say anything because of who they are. Their words and actions have wider consequences that demand certain care. The same for parents, managers, and citizens. God held irresponsible shepherds accountable - “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves!”

>> He knew what was his. ‘Knowing he had been given all things’

Jesus knew what he had title to and therefore understood the extend of his responsibility. He had legal rights of ownership, possession, and custody to all things. He knew he had received all things. He had nothing to lose by serving but everything to give. His flame lost nothing by lighting another. You cannot have responsibility over what you haven’t received control over. And the magnitude of what was received marks the scope of responsibility.  It matters what you do with what God has placed in your hands and under your control. Jesus assumed responsibility. If you don’t accept, assume and defend responsibility over what is yours you lose it.

 He directed  his authority over all things to serve. He accepted responsibility for meeting a need.  We see no humiliation in humility. Unto whom much given much is required. We have received all things in Christ and also have nothing to lose by serving.

>> He knew the time. ‘Knowing his time was up’

God is a God of seasons and times. Jesus understood his set time. It was time to demonstrate what he had taught his disciples for three years. The summary was humbly serving others. There is time to sow and time to harvest. Responsibility is honouring the season by acting in line with its demands. One who does not sow in the time of sowing can be deemed irresponsible. It is time to share Christ and bring in the harvest of souls.

>> He walked in love. ‘Having loved his own’

Jesus was motivated by love. To him loving his neighbour included loving the stranger half dead on the Jericho road.  Love places responsibility as far as the needs within your reach.  It is responding to needs within your means and reach. Wherever there are dirty feet. Why didn’t each wash their own feet?  Self-service and do it yourself technologies such as mirrors  have deprived people of opportunity for serving in relationships. 

Jesus is the model of ministry and life. The extent of Jesus’ responsibility was determined by knowing his identity, his entitlements, his time and his love. He told his disciples to do what he had done implying that they also could know of themselves what he knew of himself. Believers have similar span of control and capacity to serve. The kingdom in your heart implies a responsibility to show joy, peace, righteousness and power in the Holy Ghost. Receiving the right to be a child of God (John 1:12) implies a responsibility to live as a child of God. Being full of the Holy Spirit implies the responsibility to be witnesses for Jesus. God gives authority because there are dirty feet somewhere.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

First Floor Dhando House,

66 Eloff Street Extension,

Village Deep,

Johannesburg,

South Africa