Dear Sibs, as we hit September we move into a new season (mind you, here in the UK you'd think we'd hit the new season back in August).  It's the start of Autumn, the new school year, maybe you are starting a new job - they're calling it the birthing month because it's the ninth month. For me its a celebration of a landmark age - praise God! Talking about praising the most high - have you ever attended an event where a large crowd of people have gathered - a football match, a parade, a concert? Well, have you ever noticed how thundering the applause and shouts of the audience can be? Thousands of people acting together can generate a lot of noise because there is tremendous power in the collective voice of a crowd.   Psalms 47 envisions the whole world clapping and shouting in praise to the most high. Imagine what a deafening sound that would be! God alone deserves that kind of honour, for He is the Lord Most High. the great and awesome King who rules over all the earth, over all its peoples and nations. (Psalms 47:2-3).   Regardless of your situation your circumstances there is breakthrough in your praise. Now give the Lord a shout of praise!   Until next month Chantal       The Believer's Authority?     This month I want to talk about the authority we have as believers in the most high. I am currently reading a book The Believer's Authority by Kenneth E. Hagin and although, I would not want to call this write-up a book review it is very much based on this book. A book I have been reading since the beginning of August. It has 70 pages and I am still only half way through! Now, I do not read at a slow pace but this book requires you to read a section, go away for a few days, mediatate on what you have read and refer to the Bible before picking it up again. In essence Hagin suggests that we have authority that we may not have discovered and therefore are not using. As stated at he back of the book, you will discover Paul's prayers; the meaning of authority; how to break the devil's power; the weapons of our warfare and how to exercise the authority - a definitely good buy. But as I said this is not a book review since I am only half way through and would not give it justice. This month my aim is to invoke a thought-provoking topic which results in you searching for your own answers to your questions. And if you have those answers please feel free to share them with the rest of us. Do you have authority? Simple question really which some may answer yes and some may answer no. Then there are the likes of say me who will ask 'well, what exactly do you mean by authority?'. This sort of question does not really need much thought but to those of us that answer questions with questions - what I mean by authority is the power to enforce...the power to influence...the power assigned to another. I'm hoping and praying that as believers, despite how we get there, we all should be answering yes to this question. In the beginning after God created man it is said that He blessed them, told them to subdue the earth, and rule over everything in the sea, air and land. (Genesis 1:28). Before I read this book I was singing the renowned words that 'No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises up...' yeah I know you know. However, by only reaching half way through Hagin's book a light bulb went off.  I have another question, Do you really know what it means to have authority? To this question I will accept the 'errrs' and 'well.....' and 'I think sos'. You see, if we really understood it, would we as believers, Christians, be talking the negative talk we get caught up in. Whether it be about the job, the husband, the children, the friends, the finances, the 'I don't know where my life is going' or even I need Pastor so and so to pray for me - HELLLLO, who is in the driving seat of your life? I can say this because I was, and to a certain point still am, in that same place. I know it is not only me because I hear these statements from many. So don't act like you're all that and a bag of chips! Since we are New Testament Christians believing in Christ, I'll bring it closer to home - Jesus in Matthew 5:17, explains he did not come to abolish any law but to fulfill it. How did he do this? Well, he sent out the 12 in Luke and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases. Was that just given to them? No, in Mark 16:17 shows that all that believe shall do this in Jesus' name. In Hagin's vision talking to Jesus, a demon came which prevented Hagin from hearing what Jesus had to say. Hagin explains that he was bemused that Jesus did nothing about this demons. His frustration overtook him and he commanded the demon to stop in the name of Jesus. Then he commanded the demon to go and it did. Jesus explained to Hagin that had he not done anything, He could not. What did this mean? Well, there is not one place in the Bible which teaches that God or Jesus would do something about the devil. Why? Because we have the authority to do it ourselves. When Jesus rose all power was given unto him which he immediately delegated to the church. We are the church. Jesus is the head of the church and works through us. So on that note, walk, talk and live in the authority given to you by God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peace and love unto you all,   Chantal