Servanthood vs Leadership 2 “The Source of Spiritual Authority”

Rev Dr Hwa Yung

Introduction

The Confusion over the Issue of Authority Today

The Authority of Jesus

i. Jesus' authority was widely recognized by humans and demons alike

Cf. Mk 1:22, 27, 34; 2:10f; 3:5; 4:39 41; 5:41f.

The Authority of Jesus ii. Wherein is the source of His authority?

Some answers:

a. The world’s answer:

A spiritual genius or dynamic personality

b. The traditional Christian answer:

He is God; hence divine authority!

c. The Pentecostal-Charismatic answer:

He is empowered by the Holy Spirit

** But (c) points to a deeper answer:

His submission or obedience to His

Father.

The Authority of Jesus

iii. Substantiating the above

a. He taught that he had no authority of his

own, but was totally dependent on the

Father in His incarnate state:

Jn 4:34; 5:19,30a; 6:38; 8:28b; 10:37f;

12:49f; 14:31; 15:10; 17:4.

He was total submitted to his Father!

b. He was also obedient to those the

Father put over Him! Cf. Lk 2:48 52.

The Authority of Jesus iv. Paradox: Submission Authority

a. At Temptation: Submission to the Father's

Word ('It is written ...’) Victory

b. Because he claims no authority of His own (cf.

Jn 5:19 ‘the Son can do nothing by Himself’),

He could exercise fully His Father's authority

(hence Mt 28:18f).

c. Because He humbled Himself totally, the Father

exalted Him to the position of highest honour;

cf. Phil 2:5 11.

Lessons for Us

i. Real spiritual authority carries

with it an inner conviction of its

authenticity.

Cf. again Mk 1:22,27; and

contrast the sons of Sceva: Acts

19:13 16!

Lessons for Us

ii. In the battle for the Kingdom of God, it is

genuine spiritual authority that matters.

In the church today, many seek to lead by

asserting their own human authority based

on personality, wealth, intellect, etc.

But others will simply find us hollow!

Yet, there are always those people around

us in whom we immediately recognize as

possessing an authority that is from God

alone!

Lessons for Us iii. Obedience and Submission

— the path to true spiritual

authority

a. G. Whitefield after conversion:

‘I began to read the Holy Scripture upon my

knee laying aside all other books, and

praying over, if possible, every line and

word. This proved meat indeed and drink

indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life,

light and power from above.’

Lessons for Us iii. Obedience and

Submission—the path to

true spiritual authority

b. M. Luther: ‘...my

conscience is captive to

the Word of God. I cannot

and I will not recant

anything, for to go against

conscience is neither right

nor safe. Here I stand. I can

do no other. God help me.

Amen.’

Submission or Obedience in Practice

i. To whom or what are we to submit

a. To God's Word.

Never accept a word that goes

against the plain teaching of Scripture.

b. To God's leading:

through conscience, prayer and inner

conviction, prophetic word, etc.

c. To those whom God places above us!

Submission or Obedience in Practice

ii. How far do we submit?

'Revolutionary

submission would

commend us to live in

submission to human

authority until it

becomes destructive.'

(Forster, Celebration of

Discipline, p.108.)

Submission or Obedience in Practice

iii. Submission and servanthood inseparable

Cf. Phil 2:7; on Jesus; Mk 10:43 45; for us

iv. Obedience to the Father is necessary to

sustain spiritual authority long-term.

Those who know submission are those

who will be able to appropriate His power.

It is dangerous to emphasize the Holy

Spirit’s anointing without emphasizing

submissions! Cf. Samson.