Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
I’m sure if you haven’t done so already, this week we’ll all be putting up new calendars, make new resolutions, while simultaneously looking back at the highs and lows of 2012.  It is a good thing for us all that Jesus is still alive, undeterred by the events of history, working his miraculous power to work all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Have hope: the confident expectation of the good to come. 

Here at Tree of Life we’ve been focusing on the Hope that we have in Christ.  As the calendar shifts we are beginning our sermon series on Spiritual Authority as it relates to relationships in our community of faith.  In simple terms Spiritual Authority is the right to influence given to a leader by followers.  However, how that influence is managed is the focus of this series.  Will authority be used to force, manipulate, and coerce others or will it be personal, honest and legitimate?

Jesus said to his disciples, “All authority has been given to me, therefore go…”  As we begin a series concerning the principles of spiritual authority we first acknowledge that the authority we have is delegated authority. “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.”  All authority of the Christian Believer comes from Jesus and he is the ultimate example of how to use it.  In whatever positions of leadership you are given, I pray that this series empowers you to influence others with legitimate, loving authority.

-Paul