The Secret Place: 21 Day DevotionalSample

TESTS AND AUTHORITY

James 1:12

In the United Kingdom the object of the crown signifies authority, the most senior authority in the land. The reigning monarch is bound by century old constitutions which outline and stipulate their legal responsibility and authority for a variety of functions. The king or queen in power inherits their office from their parents and will sit in this position until death (or perhaps retirement), when it passes down to their heir. As an heir of God, joint heirs with Christ we too have an authority in Christ for a variety of functions, we have delegated power Luke 10:19. So what are we to understand from our anchor scripture in James 1 - as we journey in our walk we will face temptation, when we overcome temptation and pass the test we will receive a crown - a greater level of authority in the spirit. When a child starts in the education system they must constantly be tested to show they have the understanding and ability to move up to the next level. Achieving top grades at GCSE level grants you entry to study at A Levels, then on to University, which may lead you to a Masters and if desired a PhD. These levels can never be accessed if the level before is not achieved and who would respect a teenager yet to sit a GCSE Maths exam teaching a university seminar on the subject - they lack authority in that area. God wants us to progress in every area of our life, He wants us to exercise our authority in Christ but some levels of authority will not be reached until we pass the test.

When Jesus was faced with His biggest test, the cross. We read that he battled between His human emotions and His divine assignment in the Garden of Gethsemane - but chose to be obedient to the divine and therefore to God unto death. ‘And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2 : 8 - 11 . This is our truest example of passing a test and receiving a promised crown, Jesus gained the highest authority under which every knee bows! If growing in spiritual authority is a desire of yours this year, then be committed to passing the tests you will face and remember what commitment looks like. Through preparation for tests that will come. Just like anyone currently in education who does not just revise on the exam day but they make a schedule, reviewing various topics and completing practice tests to prepare. We as believers cannot wait till we are in the middle of the test to understand: what does God say about this thing? Where has this happened in the word before? Which scriptures can I stand on and declare?

Prepare your ammunition ready for use, because if you fail to prepare, then you are preparing to fail.