Authority and Presence

by Andy Sanders

I Kings, 8: 57 "May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us."

On June 30th, 2006 I was standing in the driveway of our parsonage, contemplating leaving my pastoral position to go on the road. Cathy and I were in agreement.  This is big here: you can easily tell if something is God when both the husband and wife are at full peace and agreement on an issue. Cathy and I were there. We knew God had said our pastor days were over in the denomination we were in, and it was now time to spread our own wings to develop our identity in Christ. Only God can forge His identity in you, and that is what I want to share with you tonight.

Needless to say, we did sell most of our belongings (I kept my socks...) and went on the road. At the time, my son was 6 and my daughter was 3 and BOTH were in car seats. Wow!  We soon discovered that car seats were really battery chargers that gave our kids more energy the longer they sat in them. They would hit the ground running after a 5 hour drive! 

It was on that day (June 30, 2006) where God personally spoke to me these words, "Andy, sell all your stuff today, come follow me, and I will show you a whole new life." The next few moments were as though I was watching a movie without sound. I heard His voice for myself and family. Was my wife scared to go on the road? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I was the one who was scared, who God had to work on more. He had to show me a few things that I had not learned yet. Now I can say, after 4 years scheduling and seeing God's faithfulness, He is giving me the privilege to talk to you about two key elements: Authority & Presence.

Many on my reading list are in situations right now where you are in a new season. Things are shifting at rocket speed. For some reading this...YOU are about to hear the call of God ring out; not only over you, but over your entire family. God has you right where He wants you. He has set you up to make sure that what is NOT Him is collapsing at rapid speed, and what IS Him in your life will require you to seed it with a supernatural faith. 

Through this new process of stepping out and going on His plan, here are two keys you must have before you go:

1. Authority

Luke 4:32 "They were amazed at his (Jesus') teaching because his (Jesus') message had authority."

Years ago when I was on staff at a church in Florida, I started getting a lot of messages to preach. I had not actually preached in a long time. Like most naive "green bucks", I went to my pastor and said in a kind way, "Pastor, I work for you. I have been under you for a little over a year. I have been called to preach, and I am starting to get messages again. Could I speak on a volunteer basis sometime on an off-night (Wed. night) even just once to get back into the preaching again? 

His bold face looked right at me and without hesitation he replied, "I would, but I just don't think you would have anything to say to my people." BAMB!  BOOM!  POW!  Did he just kick me in the groan, or break my jaw?  It hurt my spirit, heart, emotions, and mind horribly. For about 5-6  months, I lost all motivation. I got up, did my work and was done. Finally, one day I was getting out of bed, sobbing because my pastor would not give me an approval to speak for no apparent reason. God spoke very clear that morning, "Andy, who called you to preach?" My response was, "You did, Lord."  His next response is what changed my life forever.  "Andy, that pastor did not call you to preach, I DID. If I called you to preach then I will equip you. Now you get up, walk over there to that church, hold your face up and don't turn back."

It was on this day that God gave me HIS authority, and I learned that this comes first before man's authority. Things greatly changed after this for the better. People ask me all the time, "Andy, can you write my book for me?" Or, "Can you read this book for me, and tell me if it is any good?"  Most of the time I have to say no. I do review books to get a main feel for them, but I normally cannot just sit down and read or rewrite the entire thing. If I read or write books for people, It would consume all my time. I am a husband, father, preacher, and publisher. At this point, I don't even have time to write all that God has given me. There simply is not time for me to fulfill the duties I have to my family, company, and authors, plus read every book someone sends to me.

Many times, I feel that people are asking me to do these things because they lack confidence in doing what God has called them to do, and want an earthly approval. If God called you to write, or speak, then God has anointed YOU for the job. This is the authority you must walk in. Until you have His authority, don't move.

2. Presence

Exodus 33:14-15 "The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." (Notice what Moses said even AFTER what the Lord had just told him here.)

When I first stepped out on the road 4 years back, I was willing to go anywhere. Sounds spiritual and right doesn't it?  A seasoned traveler once told me about 4 months into our first year out on the road that he was not willing to go anywhere anymore. He went on to say that some places are just not for him and God does not want him to be everywhere. I understood what he was saying then, but now I fully grasp what he is saying. 

There are some places that we have gone that we look back and realize that it is just not good for us to go back (for us or for them). They are not going the same direction that we are and it is just not a fit. This can be taken wrong, but hear the message being said right now. It is not about filling up your calendar or business with work, it is about finding the perfect fit where "brothers can dwell together in unity." Let's face it, there are some things that we turn down, and you will have things like that too. Why? It is not a fit, and more importantly, God has not said to go. Too often, we can quickly move into a state of desperation when we step out, and walk (or run) through any door that opens. This is not good. Some doors that are before you might be a trap from the enemy.  What we need right now is the RIGHT door that is fully backed by the PRESENCE of God.

You cannot be everywhere and solve every crisis in life. So...what EXACTLY are you called to do, and how will you fulfill it? Until you answer these two questions, you need not move!  If God does not go before you, you will miserably fail. If He goes before you, you will greatly succeed.