SL1 Under Authority
Spiritual Leadership • Sermon • Submitted
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· 15 viewsFrom Dennis Corle's Spiritual Leadership Book
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Two Kinds of Authority
Two Kinds of Authority
Centurion
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
He understood authority because he was a man “under authority”
Matt
He recognized that authority has a source above us
He recognized his own shortcomings and unworthiness
He recognized that Jesus had authority
He understood how authority worked
“…having soldiers under me:...”
“For I am a man under authority...”
Authority is delegated(or usurped)!
Authority does not come from us
All authority in the universe comes from the Final Authority
Delegated Authority
Delegated Authority
Usurped Authority
Usurped Authority
Government authority is delegated
Parental authority is delegated
Pastoral authority is delegated
The eunuch of great authority got his authority from the queen
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
A uniform alone does not give authority
People may obey me in a military or police uniform
But unless I am truly under the authority of the military or police force
I am only usurping authority that is not truly mine
Pilate didn’t understand where authority came from
Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Pilate was the magistrate of Rome
The most powerful kingdom on earth
All Power Comes from Above
All Power Comes from Above
All power was given unto Jesus!
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 8:18
For there is no power but of God!
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Everything belongs to the LORD!
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof;
The world, and they that dwell therein.
The authority of a ruler is dependent on them being under the authority of God themselves!
Perverting an office or position is much like false prophets in the pulpit
Those under God’s authority will punish evil and applaud righteousness:
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
That put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Many church leaders are guilty of this
Rulers with authority are expected to use that great authority to punish evil and lift up right
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
There are many that use their authority in the wrong way
They usurp authority
They use authority that they do not truly have because they are not submitted to the right authority
And judgment is turned away backward,
And justice standeth afar off:
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.
There is a chain of command and authority that starts with God
There is a chain of command and authority that starts with God
He is the “most High”
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Lucifer challenged the authority of God
Tried to usurp authority
That is what made him a devil instead of an angel
When Jesus walked this earth in a body of flesh, he operated on authority delegated from above.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
He emptied Himself of divine authority(for us!):
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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.
We can also work and serve under that same authority:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
That same power is available to every believer
God has ALL power
God has ALL power
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
The scribes and Pharisees understood the delegation of authority
They asked a legitimate question
“…who gave thee this authority?”
Is it properly delegated authority or usurped?
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
God has ALL power
God has ALL power
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
If I am not under that authority and I try to exert authority, I am usurping authority
God has authority over kings and kingdoms:
God has authority over kings and kingdoms:
God has authority over kings and kingdoms:
Nebuchadnezzar:
While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
Saul:
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord,
He hath also rejected thee from being king.
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
God has authority over sin
God has authority over sin
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
God has authority over his servants
God has authority over his servants
12 Disciples
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
God has authority over the family
God has authority over the family
The husband only has authority over the wife by being under God’s authority:
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
The woman is to be under the authority of the man:
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Ahab and Jezebel
Jezebel manipulated her way into leadership
Usurped authority over her (also wicked) husband
Commanded him to do wicked things(like killing Naboth)
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Proper understanding of authority reveals that this is not demeaning
The mother’s role is extremely important
She wields great power when she is in proper submission to her authority
Be strong and secure in the authority that we have been given!
Do not attempt to usurp
This is stealing authority from those to whom God has given it
(Men usurp authority just like women)
The children are to be under the authority of the father and mother
Her authority comes from proper submission to her authority
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Authority does not come from a position or title
It is obtained by proper submission to the authority above them!
Nobody has the responsibility to honor your authority when it is a perverted or usurped authority
“…as I also am of Christ.”
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
The inverse is implied:
When Paul doesn’t follow Christ, do not follow him!
Authority is not found in a position, but in the delegation of power from above!
We have the power of God to resist the devil when we are submitted to God:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jesus had all power, but he did always those things that pleased the father:
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Authority is NOT independence; it is submission!
Authority is NOT independence; it is submission!
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
When we use the proper authority, we should not be despised.
They are actually despising the source of our authority
When I give a command and you speak in my stead
If people criticize, they are criticizing me
How do you keep people from despising the authority?
By being submissive to the same principles that you teach
By keeping yourself in line and under the right authority
Authority is not based on my independence; it is based on my submission to God!