Apostolic Authority Through Submission

The title of this post is oxymoronic to the natural mind, but to the spiritual mind it makes complete Biblical sense. (See 1 Corinthians 2:14) Most of us (if we’re honest) want to have authority. What most people miss about authority however, is that it comes with responsibility. This is true whether it is the authority of a corporate officer or authority granted to a Believer. Most who have received authority though, will usually come to recognize the responsibility they have because of their authority.

Let’s concentrate upon the authority given to Believers. It’s true that with authority there is responsibility, but what most believers miss is that there is no true Biblical Apostolic authority in the Spirit without a key component. I am not speaking of “positional authority” that is given to a Pastor or deacon, etc. in the local Church. I am talking about the authority in the spirit realm that every born again, Holy Ghost filled Believer is supposed to have.

Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 10:17-20 that He gives us authority over Satan and his demon minions. He reiterates this in Mark 16:14-18 when He says …”these signs will follow those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV)

So why do so many Apostolic Churches and Believers seem to have absolutely no authority in the spirit? They may go through the motions of speaking with authority and claiming authority over spiritual attacks, but the lack of results is very telling. I believe there is a very simple explanation for this lack of authority. You should be able to guess by my title, what I believe the answer is.

Matthew and Luke tell the story of a Centurion of the Roman Army who sent elders of the Jews to Jesus to ask Him to heal a servant who was sick and near to death. So Jesus begins to head with them to the Centurion’s house. But when the Centurion heard that Jesus was coming to his house, he sent friends to Him saying in effect, Lord the reason I did not come in person to ask is I am not worthy for you to come to my house. Also, I realize the authority that you possess and that all you need do is to speak the word and my servant will be healed. This story is told in most detail in Luke 7:1-10.

The amazing thing about this story is how the Centurion explains that he understands Jesus’ authority. He said “for I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come.’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Luke 7:8 NKJV)

The Centurion recognized that the only reason he had authority over his soldiers was because he was in submission to the officers placed over him and indeed to the Roman Caesar. Without this submission, the Centurion would have not had any authority.

I believe this is where so many Believers miss it in today’s society and culture that teaches us it is all about me. The fact is you may know all the right words to say, even the right Scripture to quote, but if you are not in submission to the authorities God has placed in your life, you have no personal authority in the spirit realm. (Brings to mind the sons of Sceva. See Acts 19:13-16)

So the obvious question is who is my authority to submit to? There are actually several and they are all equally important to be submitted to. Obviously we must be submitted to Jesus Christ as our LORD and His Word (this means being intellectually honest with Scripture and not simply choosing the parts we like and ignoring what we dislike). We must be submitted to our Pastor. Children should be submitted to their parents. Husbands are to be submitted to Christ and the Pastor. Wives are to be submitted to their husband, Pastor and Christ. For the sake of brevity, I will not get into more detail of who or what we should submit to.

The Biblical fact is; Jesus has given His disciples authority over the enemy and power to lay hands on the sick and they should be healed (Obviously God has the final say as to who He chooses to heal). So, again the obvious question comes; why do so few Churches and believers have no authority. Answer: Because they have no submission. If every believer, from the Pastor of the Church down to the newest convert would learn submission to their authority, we would then experience the power of the First Church. There would be signs and wonders following, the world would know us by our love for one another, there would be END TIME revival and harvest in our communities.

As for me, I’ve determined that I will submit myself wholly to my LORD, to my Pastor, to my Presbyter and District officials along with the National officials and to anyone they should place in authority over me. I am ready for a revival in my life and in my Church and communities. So LORD, put me on the Potter’s wheel and do what You know must be done to bring me into total submission to the authorities You’ve placed over me. Then, I will know true Apostolic Authority through Submission.