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The Benefit of Protection - Another synonym for authority is exousia, which means to rule and cover with protection. Legitimate authority shelters and protects those who serve under it (Psalm 91:1). Jesus referred to the people of Israel as sheep without a shepherd, indicating that although they had established leadership, their leadership did not have authority. Matthew 7:29 says, “The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers.”

Men, we have authority so that we can protect what God has placed under our care. Paul said that a husband should have sacrificial love toward his wife, willing to lay down his own life for her.

To be a man of authority, you must protect your home from outside forces.
Years ago, I had a neighbor who raised his voice to my wife once. He was drunk and out of control, but I was out of town at the time. When I returned, I waited for the opportunity to confront him.

Sure enough, one day in a drunken stupor, he yelled at me. When he did, I turned and approached
him. Without raising my voice, I calmly addressed him by name (Proverbs 15:1). As I was drawing
closer to him, he bolted toward me thinking that he could intimidate me and cause me to back
down. Instead, I took two more steps toward him. He realized that his bullying tactics weren’t
going to work on me, and he stopped abruptly.

Then I looked straight into his eyes and said, “Don’t raise your voice to me. You’re drunk. And
don’t ever speak to my wife or children again. If you have something to say, be a man and come to
me.”

He timidly walked away. After that day, any time that I would walk out of the house, he would
scurry into his garage or home with his head bowed in shame. I have dealt with that kind of spirit
before. I have learned that you cannot conquer it with fear.