Mark 1:22 – “And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  NASB

This is a powerful revelation about Jesus.  He did not teach theoretical possibilities but spoke with authority.  He knew what He was talking about and when He spoke, He spoke knowing that what He said was not just truth but a viable possibility in the lives of those hearing Him.

The Scribes and Pharisees were always surprised when Jesus spoke with demonstrated power and authority.  The Sanhedrin was totally awed by the reality that Peter, John, and the other disciples had not been trained in their prestigious institutions of learning but spoke with authority.  That seems to be a characteristic of a person who has been trained by the Holy Spirit in God’s School of Theology and Life.  They “know” because they “know” the one in whom they have placed their trust.  God is not theoretical to them but a living being.  He is not “a” god but “The Living God!”

I have attended both secular and religious universities and at both encountered professors who spoke only the theoretical.  I was frequently intrigued by their presentations but was left with the reality that, they did not know, they were theorizing.  When I encountered a professor who ‘knew’ unquestionably that what he or she was saying was reality I was moved to a level the others could not achieve. 

After years of preaching, I went to the Lord in prayer and said, “LORD, I’m tired of the theoretical and tired of preaching about You.”  No, I was not tired of being in the ministry and sharing the Good News of the Gospel or even talking about God, but I wanted more and believed the people needed more.  I asked the LORD to help me stop “speaking about Him” and begin “speaking for Him and through Him.”  My view of everything changed.

I have heard enough theory from the pulpit to last five lifetimes and always have a sense of emptiness afterward.  The Holy Spirit impressed upon me a number of years ago to not preach anything that could not be applied in daily life.  Simply, He was instructing me that if I preached it, I had better be able to demonstrate it and lead people into the practical application of that truth.

I can preach Salvation because I have been Saved.  I can preach Healing because I have been Healed.  I can preach Deliverance because I have been Delivered.  I can preach Blessing because I have been Blessed.  I can preach Personal Relationships because He has taken me through the trials, tribulations, struggles, and defeats of interpersonal relationships and applied the biblical truths to those situations.  I have a practical application of Scripture for those areas.  If that seems I am trying to appear super-spiritual, that is not my objective nor my view of myself. I I fail and have flaws, but I am pressing toward the mark and refuse to accept theory, I want demonstrated truth.

Jesus said, in essence, “I can do nothing that I do not see the Father doing and can say nothing I have not heard Him say.”  Our problem, at least my problem, too often, has been that I have not fully expected to see the Bible truths become reality in my situation.  By that, I mean, too often we Hope but do not Expect.  It would be better to say, we Wish but do not Believe that it is a done deal. 

We say, “If Jesus said it, I believe it” but we live as though we are not sure and what we have claimed to believe is theory not reality.  When Peter and John were going to the Temple to pray and the lame man at the Gate Beautiful was begging, they did not offer theory.  They spoke with authority and Peter said, “Be Healed!”  It was not a suggestion it was a command.  When the prophets spoke, they were not offering suggestions as to what could be, they were declaring what was.

The latter portion of 2 Chronicles 20:20 is a declaration that has become an anchor in my life.  It says, “…put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”   Jesus said, “Seek first, before everything, the Kingdom and Righteousness of God.”  He instructed us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”  God is not a theory but has given us Authority and when we take what He has said we are not wishful we are confident, God never lies and never fails to accomplish what He promised.

God bless you as you walk in Authority and dispense with Theory.  Have a Great Day!