Power Of Authority Series

SERIES: UNDERSTANDING POWER PRINCIPLES

POWER OF AUTHORITY - POWER PRINCIPLE FOUR

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:

• Explain why you must be under authority in order to exercise authority.

• Explain how Jesus was a man of authority under authority.

• Identify structures of authority God has established in the Church.

• Identify structures of authority God has established in the home.

• Explain the structure of authority God has established in work relationships.

• Give a reference which explains the relationship of believers to governmentauthorities.

KEY VERSE:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power butof God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)

INTRODUCTION

From the creation of the world, God has worked to bring order out of confusion. One way

He has done this is to establish structures of authority in every area of life. The greatestand highest authorities are God Himself, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

God has also established structures of authority which affect your life. These authorities are important if you desire spiritual power. If you are not properly under authority then you cannot exercise authority.

A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY

One day in Capernaum, Jesus had an interesting encounter with a military leader. We arenot given this leader'sname. We only are told that he was a Centurion and had a servantwho was quite ill. Read the story of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10before proceeding with this lesson.

The Centurion was a man under the authority of Rome. He also had authority, as he wasthe military leader of 100 men. Because of this he immediately understood the spiritualrelationship in which Jesus worked with the Father. It was similar to his own naturalrelationship as a Centurion with his commander.

Jesus was a man of authority. He acted with authority. He forgave sins, healed the sick,cast out demons, and did miracles. But Jesus was also under authority. He was under theauthority of the Father:

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The

Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for whatthings soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.(John 5:19)

For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to havelife in Himself;And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is theSon of man. (John 5:26-27)

For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Himthat sent me. (John 6:38)

. . . My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (John 7:16)

And He that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I doalways those things that please Him. (John 8:29)

The Centurion recognized the power of this authority structure and, because of it, he

knew it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. He knew

Jesus had enough power to just speak the word and healing would come. Jesus

commended the Centurion for his great faith and healed his servant.

Wherever authority is manifested, there is a chain (proper order) of command. This is

174 why the scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus, "By what authority doest thou these

things?" (Matthew 21:23). Whenever men see lives filled with power and authority, they

seek to discover the source.

JESUS UNDER AUTHORITY

God sought for someone to go forth with His authority:

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who willgo for us?. . . (Isaiah 6:8)

God gave a measure of His authority to men and women in Old Testament times, but thefull revelation of His power and authority came through Jesus Christ. Jesus knew He hadthis authority:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me inHeaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)

Jesus demonstrated that He had authority:

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgivesins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and gounto thine house. (Matthew 9:6)

Jesus received His authority from God and with it He triumphed over all the powers of the enemy.

Jesus is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10) because. . .

. . . having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly,triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)

Jesus is under the authority of God and in authority over all other powers and authorities.

As you previously learned, Jesus has delegated authority to you:

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, andgave authority to His servants, and to every man His work, and commandedthe porter to watch. (Mark 13:34)