Decisions that Determine Destiny
“HOUSES OF AUTHORITY"

Part 1

This month we want to begin to consider how and why you make decisions. You need to consider whether your decisions have any effect on your God-given destiny. You have authority to make such quality decisions that can direct your life in a Godly pattern.

Ephesians 3:14-15 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

The family of God is located in two places, in heaven and on the earth. God is the Father of the born-again believers and the dead in Christ. This term “family” is an interesting concept that only appears two other times, in the New Testament. The other two references are:

Luke 2:4 “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David”

Acts 3:25 “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

God first formed man and immediately gave him dominion and authority. (Genesis 1:26 & 2:15) However God desired for His authority to be placed in the family unit. (Genesis 1:28 & 2:18) Then God desired to have authority in the church (the called out ones) as noted in (Genesis 2:1-3). You can call these places Houses of Authority.

There are three Houses of Authority: Individual, Family & Church, in that order. This month we will be looking at the first two.

First House – The Individual:

Job 10:12 “You have granted me life and favor; And Your care has preserved my spirit.”

Another translation of this same scripture reads,

“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The makeup of man is first spirit, then soul, and finally body. You need to live from the spirit and not the soul or body. You can trust your born-again spirit because it always points to the Father. Your spirit has the first authority - not your body or soul. When your body or soul assumes authority, then they are out of God’s order and in rebellion. God’s plan is for you to live from your spirit’s authority. This is the first house of Authority that God set.

Second House – The Family Unit:

Genesis 39:1-6 “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. ² The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.⁵ So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread, which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

Here Joseph is promoted in the house of his master Potiphar. Under the established authority of
Potiphar’s house God is able to work on giving a portion to Joseph. The release of Potiphar ‘s “house” authority is transferred to Joseph because of his obedience and in this manner, God’s blessing is bestowed on an unbelieving household.

Mark 13:31-36 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. ³² " But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. ³⁴ "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ³⁵ "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning ³⁶ "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. ³⁷ "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

In this passage you see that authority is transferred by the legitimate holder and given to a selected carrier for the purposes of God. The authority of the family continues to remain in the hands of the designate although the ultimate owner remains the master.

In a family situation God gives authority to the family unit first, to the husband, then the wife, then the children. The father must lead in spirituality or God will move that authority to the next qualified, the wife. The husband has the responsibility to lead as God directs. His spirit must be pliable and soft toward the things of God as the Lord leads him in line with the written word of God.

Next month, we will continue with the Third House but for now remember to say the following aloud with conviction. “I’m believing to be at the Right Place, at the Right Time saying the Right Thing and the Right Thing to say is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”