Dec 17, 2015
The issue of authority lies at the very center of the conflict that we face today. The conflict begins in each believer as they first come to God, and extends to the gathering of believers. To resolve the conflict according God’s way is the key to experiencing fellowship with God and fellowship with each other. Here is a summary statement to focus our thinking. “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Christ Jesus, and He administers that authority by the Holy Spirit in and through each believer.”
• Spiritual authority has its origin in the Cross
o Jesus submitted to the will of His Father and defeated the
enemy at Calvary
o Calvary defined many things including spiritual
authority
• All authority has been given to Christ (Matt: 28:18,
also Acts 2:36, Heb. 1:13)
o The authority is spiritual
o The authority is administered by the Holy Spirit
o The authority is revealed in and through man
o The authority is for the building up of the household of
God
• The opposite to spiritual authority is natural authority
o That which originates from man
o That which originates from Satan but finds it’s expression
through natural man
• Submission to the authority of God is
o Essential to salvation
o Essential to unity
o Essential to experience the riches of God’s grace
o Essential to building in God
• How do we know we are under the authority of Christ as our
Lord?
o There must be evidence (fruit) of Christ as our Lord
o Evidence of Lordship begins now and reaches into
eternity
o Expresses itself in a spirit of submission to other member
of Christ
o Is not defensive, but always looking for God to shed light
to walk in
o Recognizes the grace of God coming through other members
Additional resources at: http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
Theme song "Will your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne