Authority is a word that has been grossly abused in society. It has been wrongly defined and misused and many are scared of it. In the Purpose and Power of Authority, Dr. Myles Munroe redefines authority and helps us see how we all should confidently be in authority and be willingly subject to authority following the principles of Kingdom authority.
Firstly, you must understand that although having authority means having the license to be in charge, it doesn’t connote being in control of others. Authority is being in charge of your space and influencing/impacting others as a result.
What Is Authority by Dr. Myles Munroe?
According to Dr. Myles Munroe, personal authority can be defined as the intrinsic gifts a person or thing possesses to fulfill the purpose for which that person or thing was placed on this earth. The authority of a gas cooker is its ability to produce a fire that burns. Its authority is not setting the house ablaze.
Because authority is intrinsic, every person or living thing already can fulfill his/her/its authority in the area, or the domain, of his/her/its gifting.
Personal authority is inherent within every human being, whether that person is considered the one “in charge” or the one following orders. Although the cooker only burns under a pot and when the cook asks it to, it is exercising its authority and fulfilling its purpose.
So a policeman does not exercise authority by terrorizing the whole city. He exercises authority by using that ability given to him to maintain order (the purpose for which the ability was given).
Authority is also inherent within every living thing created on earth. It is natural. It does not have to be “worked up,” and it cannot be given to someone—only released and developed.
4 Principles of Authority by Dr. Myles Munroe
To fully understand and maximize authority, there are 4 principles you should appreciate
1. The Principle of the Author
The release of your authority is linked to the origin of your gifts and power. Once you discover the true source of the authority that is inherent within you, opportunities for experiencing fulfillment and for contributing your unique gifts to the world will open wide.
2. The Principle of Authorization
You not only have personal authority within you, but you also have the permission and the right to carry it out in the world. No matter what your past experiences have been, or no matter what restrictions you have previously felt, you have the authorization you need to start fulfilling your life’s purpose.
3. The Principle of Authenticity
No person is truly authentic until he is manifesting his inherent authority. Once you understand and become your true self—who you were born to be—your life takes on authenticity. In other words, you are real, or authentic, while you are being who you were meant to be and doing what you were meant to do.
4. The Principle of Authority
The principle of authority is twofold. Firstly, because you have the gifts, the authorization, and authenticity, you are in authority. Secondly, although you are in authority, you must remain under authority to fully maximize your gift and truly be in charge in your domain.
The Vital Principle of Authority
According to Dr. Myles Munroe, the vital principle of authority is that everything depends on and must submit to something else to function, grow, prosper, and succeed. Authority needs authority to release its power.
Although Jesus Christ was connected to the Author, had the authorization, and remained authentic, He still had to submit to various authorities to release the power of His authority. Jesus Christ submitted to
God’s authority
His parents’ authority. (See Luke 2:40–52.)
The requirement of the temple tax and taxation by the Roman emperor Caesar. (See Matthew 17:24–27.)
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. (See John 19:10– 11.)
But why do you submit to authority? Here are 10 benefits of submitting to authority.
10 Purpose of Authority
1. Order
When functioning according to authority, everyone knows where he is supposed to be and what he is meant to do based on the authority he has been given.
2. Maximum Productivity
When each person comes from the reference point that everyone has personal authority—a special part to play in the whole—and each person values others’ authority and contributions, then conflict, contention, friction, and confusion do not arise and drain productivity.
3. Protection
The Creator’s authority establishes the boundaries, limitations, and references that protect us from misuse, abuse, and self-destruction.
4. Preservation
God’s authority preserves the quality of our lives if we follow the instructions in His Manual, the Scriptures, for how we are to conduct ourselves. In addition, being true to the personal authority He has placed within us will safeguard His specific purposes for us.
5. Representation through Validation and Defense
Whoever gives you authority has to represent you, validate you, and defend you because doing so is defending his name. By choosing not to submit to authority, you are left to defend and validate yourself everywhere.
6. Safety
When you are operating under the Father’s authority, you have access to His help, counsel, correction, instruction, discipline, and many other benefits that you wouldn’t otherwise have. You receive foresight and hindsight—the safety of a broad vision for your life. You also have a “hiding place” in Him
7. Promotion
Your authority and promotion are based on what you were uniquely created by God to do in concert with others. God will use other people to place you in situations in which you can carry out your unique purpose. Yielding to those whom God has given authority in your life while pursuing your authority leads to advancement in responsibility.
8. Freedom
True freedom always exists within the context of legitimate boundaries. This is because freedom without authority, without laws and principles, turns into anarchy.
9. Identity
You cannot know who you are—your identity—apart from God, your Source. The purpose of authority is to put you in touch with your real self as He created you. Everyone may have an opinion about a product, but only the manufacturer knows its purpose—the what and the why of it.
10. Reality
When you are under God’s authority and are operating in your authority, people can know who you are. They can identify your gifts and abilities. This is one of the ways through which God works to fulfill your purpose in your domain.
1. A person of authority fears God and submits to Him.
2. A person of authority has high morals and personal discipline
3. People emulate a person of authority
4. A person of authority does not seek to benefit from someone else’s success
5. A person of authority does not use other people to promote him/herself
6. A person of authority does not expect anything from other people except their success
7. A person of authority wants the people under him to become great
Because you read this far, I want to give you Lifetime Access to over $1,000 worth of mentorship materials from Dr. Myles Munroe on purpose, leadership, success, wealth, and the Kingdom. Get instant access to all life-changing materials now!
Olusegun Iyejare is a career coach and certified counselor. He helps individuals discover and maximize their potential to live satisfying lives regardless of obvious limitations holding them back.
