ABSOLUTE POWER

It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (January 10, 1834 – June 19, 1902), a British historian was noted to have said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” 

One definition of Absolute-Power – Complete authority to act in an area, not restrained by supervision or review. 

There is a man made doctrine that says, kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects. Those who benefit the most from such a theoretical structured society embrace this authoritative system of belief.

God has not given man absolute power over other men because He knew that such power has the ability to destroy mans moral nature by an infilling of destructive pride. God instructs man to be humble as a remedy to corrosive, self-absorbed behavior of the flesh. A mindset of selfish thinking and the subsequent patterns of behavior are activated when we choose to believe Satan’s lies while acting out of our own resources. The flesh exists in all men, even spiritually reborn men. An indication of its existence is when a man’s primary focus is on self. 

Self-Governing intellectuals tend to live in reliance on their power in the world more than finding comfort in the Word of God. Our inheritance, talents, associations, and wealth cannot get our needs met independent of God. When the mind is willing but the flesh is weak, we turn spiritually to God for deliverance.“The powers that be” are those who hold authority, and “the power behind the throne” refers to the people who exert influence without being formally in charge. The King of kings and Lord of Lords is Jesus Christ. Through Christ, we as believers wield our power without being formally in charge.

2 Peter 2:19

19 “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

Psalm 16:10

10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

 

Isaiah 38:17

17 “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.”

Daniel 10:8

8 “Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.”

Jonah 2:6

6 “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.”

Romans 8:21

21 “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Acts 13:37

37 “But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”