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In spite of the word authority, spiritual authority really doesn’t have its basis in authority. Rather, the basis is in our character and faithfulness. Once we’ve proven ourselves faithful in the small things, served the needy while we were in need ourselves, and established covenant relationships, we have all the tools to rule and reign in authority. In Training for Reigning, Rick Godwin takes us on a journey from Bethlehem to Zion, demonstrating through the life of David the requirements for spiritual authority.

In Bethlehem, David shows us we need to be faithful in the small things. Before and after, David was anointed king, he was faithful in tending his father’s sheep. He didn’t leave them just because God had put a call on his life. Just like David was faithful in his work, we must be faithful where we’re at, even if God has put a call on our lives. Before God will give us the responsibility of taking care of His things, we must show ourselves faithful in taking care of “our” things. Then, and only then, will God put an opportunity before us for us to be noticed, just like he did for Goliath.

Even after Goliath, through, David wasn’t crowned king. Rather, he was forced to flee into the wilderness and live in the caves of Adullam by Saul, who was jealous of David’s anointing. There, men flocked around him because of what he could do for them. Sometimes God puts us in a place where it doesn’t seem like we’ll ever reach a place of spiritual authority, but people still come and put themselves under you because of what you can do for them, and God calls us to care for them, even though we may be in need ourselves.

The relationships formed in Adullam, however, aren’t generally ones we will be able to take with us when we go to take Zion. For that, we need covenant relationships. David found those in Hebron, the “place of covenant”. As Christians, we also need covenant relationships. We also need to go to Hebron. Because not only is it the place where we make covenant relationships, but it is the place where we are prepared to take and occupy Zion.

Before David took Zion, it was occupied by the Jebusites and had never been captured. But because David had been through Hebron and he delegated his authority, they took the city in just one day. We need to realize that we can’t do it all on our own. If David had attempted to capture the city all on his own, he would never have succeeded, but because he gave the task of taking the city to his men, it was taken.

Gaining the privilege of spiritual authority isn’t as easy as it might seem. It doesn’t come just because people follow you but because you have proven yourself faithful in the small things, served those around you, and made covenant relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a right you earn, not one that is easily given. And once you have reached the place where you are in authority, it’s really not that much about the authority.