Squatters rights

We have an absurd situation sometimes in South Africa, I am not sure if it effects other parts of the world to. . . but here, if you can squat in a place long enough, your earn certain legal rights to stay on the premise on not be evicted. I know, I know it makes no logical sense, but it happens.

I remember many many years ago, before I moved to Albania, there were many illegal squatters in one area. The government gave them notice, then went in and bulldozed their makeshift homes flat. Finished. End of story. I remember many people having an outcry over it. and I am not here to get into that. [But on a side note, many times in these type situations in Albania, alternate accommodation is offered].

I was thinking along these squatter rights more in line with our personal lives and homes etc. How many of us let the things that shouldn't be there stay there, almost giving them rights and authority in our lives that they don't deserve. Or how many of us exercise our Christ given, blood bought, authority and serve them eviction notice and get them off our "land", figuratively.

I am reading an excellent book all about authority and specifically authority in prayer. Let me tell you, its building faith and encouraging me, and I can't wait for the day the reality is evident in my circumstances.  You see, and we will all have these moments. I sit here reading about it and starting to exercise it and it feels a bit like this.

It feels a bit like a landlord who serves an eviction notice to a pesky tenant. The Landlord smiles as the tenant gets in the car,  but a few hours later, the same tenant comes back, with a couch, to add to his furniture in the house. The good tenant sees the notice lying around, assumes its for them, and packs their bags and leaves. while the pesky tenant keeps loading in more and more furniture, as if they are settling in forever.

That is what it feels like. But just because it feels like that, and just because the circumstances haven't lined up with the authority of the eviction notice, doesn't mean the eviction notice has no weight or authority. It just means you need to keep on enforcing that authority and call in support if need be.

Don't give up. Keep on keeping on. You can do this, because we don't stand in our own authority. We stand in the authority of Christ.

You know what else is great about authority. If you understand it, and move in it, it pleases God. God and read Matthew 8.  This officer came looking for healing for his child. He understood authority. He didn't have to drag Jesus all the way back to His home to see him pray for the child. He didn't have to see the healing first, the evidence of Christ's authority. No!

He understood authority, without yet seeing the evidence. and not only was the miracle received but Christ noted that he hadn't seen faith like that in all of Israel.  Now that is a compliment. But also a key. Faith and authority clearly work hand in hand.