The True Crown of Authority

In a vision the Lord Jesus handed me a Crown of Thorns and asked me if I would put it on my head. Now, before I finish telling you this vision, allow me to share something with you. Not too long ago I would have hesitated taking such a crown because I knew this prophetic act meant suffering and even humiliation; however, at this time in my life I was more submitted in my heart to the Lord because I had really learned to just yield more of myself to Him. I was tired (really tired) of wanting things my way and I had made a decision in my heart to Trust Him again no matter what I went through. I also had decided that whatever the Lord said about me was the truth. In other words, I would not listen the lies of the world, our spiritual enemy, pride or anything else. I have learned that authentic trust starts first with listening to the right voice- His Voice and then yielding to His plan for me.  

The Crown of Thorn represents death to self. This also means death to judgments of self and others. When we die to ourselves we can truly live for Christ and His kingdom.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" 1 Peter 4:1-3

As soon as put on the Crown of Thorns, the Lord then handed me a Kings crown to wear on top of my Crown of Thorns. And then I heard in my Spirit "in that order". I realized the Lord was showing me that true kingdom authority is given not to the kingly, but to the lowly. Not to those who desire kingship, but to those who desire piety. To those who choose to suffer for Christ. Those are the ones who can be trusted with true kingdom authority.

^"But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (ESV)

Finally, its worth noting the Crown of Thorns represents mind renewal. Remember when Jesus was pierced in his head, He shed His blood for all of our negative and ungodly thoughts. When we surrendered to the cross and allow His thoughts to influence ours, we are able to give our own thinking including negative and critical thinking. Of course satan will continue to bombard us with negative condemning thoughts. Because of this, we need to renew our minds daily in the word of God. Remember, the word is or defense against these things. And as we do this, ungodly thoughts won't take root and turn into demonic strongholds which can keep us from faith and trust in Him.

Strongholds can actually be good a good thing when the word of God has become a stronghold in our minds. This is called a holy or Godly stronghold. We can also ask the Lord for His thoughts to become our thoughts. This is a daily surrender. We can then have His wisdom to reject any thoughts that are not of Him and allow the word of God to be our teacher and benchmark.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" Philippians 4:8

In summary, as we choose to think more like the Lord, we will also willingly choose His ways over our ways even if that means total surrender to suffering for His names sake. And we can even rejoice when we are counted worthy of suffering for His names sake just like the early apostles did. Then and only then we can be truly trusted with His authority to serve others in love which also includes rescuing them from darkness and bringing them into His light. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. May we also do the same.