This week we start looking at a fascinating subject. Spiritual Authority is one thing that can work really well or end in extreme abuse if people don’t understand what it is or for what purpose it must be applied.
We have all seen the abuse that ranges from deceit to outright manipulation. Not many things make the hair stand up on my neck, but if there s one thing that I absolutely hate, it is abused authority.
Before we even get into what it is or what it is not, let me start by establishing some understanding.
For authority to function correctly, whether natural or the supernatural, we must understand where all authority comes from. No authority, power, rule, or dominion could exist without God. There must be a starting point, a genesis, or origin for authority. If you can not determine the source, you will never know who you are dealing with. Without a starting point, the question remains, Who’s authority? The fact that all authority is from God also establishes the fact that if all authority emanates from God, every authority after God is delegated authority.
Delegated authority is the ability to represent God and be trusted to use the authority He gives to establish and represent his rule and will in every situation. It is more about representing than it is about a position. It is called relational authority. When you are in the right relation, there is a flow from the top down recognizable by others.
Jesus had it with the Father. The centurion had it with his superiors. Moses had it with God. How will our walk change when we realize this!
Every position or ministry in the body of Christ functions with delegated authority. If people misrepresent God through the way they use their delegated authority, you have the choice to move away from that. Is it disobedience to walk away? No, because staying is to confirm that God sanctions abuse, which He never will. If someone is manipulating you because they are in a place of authority, know that God disapproves of that. By submitting and staying, you are establishing a flow of authority that is ungodly.
The church is full of people allowing people to rule over them instead of learning to stand in the authority that God has given them.
The second thing that also proves to be true is that when God created something, He has the authority over the very thing He created. God created all things, man and angels and demons, and therefore, God will always have authority over all of creation. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, God established the fact that He has all authority. No one opposes God when He gives Jesus a name above every name and declares that every knee will bow and confess Jesus to Lord. Jesus declares that all authority has been given to Him – Matt 28:18.
Eph 1:20-22 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
Phil 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Pharisees had a problem. They had the Law of Moses, and that gave them authority. Their authority was limited. They had no authority to set people free but only to make sure people kept the Law. They had positional authority, not relational authority. They did not know God and confessed Abraham to be their father. Jesus corrects them with a stunning statement: You are of your father the devil…- John 8:44. Religion can give you a place of authority, but you can be deceived about who you represent.
That is why it is possible to see people in leadership with no clue who God is or what He represents. The pulpit is full of charlatans, and people who love leadership positions but have no relationship with God. You have people that lead by natural talent and are great motivational speakers but have no calling being in ministry. You need to know what you submit too!
When the Pharisees see Jesus in action they feel threatened. We see that in the question the Pharisees asked Jesus. They recognized that His authority was higher and more powerful.
Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
They had no idea what Jesus represented. He tries to show them that He has an authority they have not seen yet, not since Adam. He has what Adam had but more, the authority to forgive sins. They knew only God could forgive sins. They could never admit that. Jesus demonstrates that relational authority is far superior to positional authority.
Matt 9:6-8 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—”Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Please remember this statement! Relational authority is far superior to positional authority. We are seated with Him in heavenly places but our authority stems and is grounded not in where we sit but who’s we are when we get born again.
We will talk more about that next time.
