The Incredible (and Eternal) Power of Kingdom Authority
Brother James Prince vividly recalls the day he stood before a gathering of pastors, anxious yet exhilarated. It was his first significant seminar at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Winfield, Louisiana, soon after seminary graduation. The topic he was to speak on was Kingdom Authority—a concept he had studied under his mentor, Pastor Adrian Rogers. Yet, in preparing, Brother Prince faced a daunting hurdle: he couldn't locate Pastor Rogers' crucial teaching materials.
In a moment of hesitation, he called Bellevue Baptist Church, expecting a polite assistant to handle his request. To his astonishment, Pastor Rogers himself answered, immediately recognizing him. "Give me your address," Pastor Rogers said warmly, his genuine care evident in his voice. Days later, the package arrived, meticulously prepared by Pastor Rogers himself. That personal touch left an indelible impression on Brother Prince, embodying the essence of servant leadership.
Pastor Rogers' teachings on Kingdom Authority clearly covered the distinctions between earthly and heavenly power. He emphasized that earthly authority is inherently limited, partisan, and often transient, bound by the confines of political agendas and human frailties. Kingdom Authority, however, is spiritual, divine, and nonpartisan. It operates independently from earthly politics, anchored in the eternal reign of God.
Kingdom Authority, Pastor Rogers taught, was initially gloriously bestowed upon humanity by God, granting dominion over creation. Yet, through Adam's rebellion, this authority was legally forfeited to Satan, plunging humanity into spiritual bondage. Pastor Rogers passionately explained that through Christ’s sacrificial redemption, this authority was righteously reclaimed. Believers in Jesus, therefore, regain this spiritual authority, empowered to triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devil—not through personal might but through Christ's substitutionary death and divine delegation.
Pastor Rogers illustrated Kingdom Authority with practical and relatable examples. Like a slender referee who commands muscular football players or a policeman halting traffic merely by raising his hand, believers, though physically weaker than spiritual foes, exercise supernatural authority delegated by Christ. Believers' authority is most potent, Pastor Rogers underscored, when they remain humbly and obediently under Christ's Lordship and scriptural directives.
Reflecting years later, Brother Prince warmly acknowledges Pastor Rogers' impact on his ministry and personal life. Pastor Rogers’ teachings weren't merely theoretical doctrines—they became living principles guiding Brother Prince in ministry, relationships, and spiritual warfare. Prince treasures the memory of Pastor Rogers affectionately calling him one of his "preacher boys," a term that, even decades later, evokes deep emotion and gratitude.
Today Brother Prince, Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Loretto, TN, carries echoes of Pastor Rogers’ teaching into his own work. He remains grateful, cherishing the compassionate mentorship and authoritative clarity Pastor Rogers exemplified and left with us when he went on to Heaven in 2005. Indeed, for Brother Prince, the legacy of Adrian Rogers and his teaching on Kingdom Authority continues to illuminate the powerful distinction between transient earthly power and the eternal, transformative authority of God's Kingdom.
