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Understanding Spiritual Authority
by Dale Yerton
Jesus
understood and practiced living under spiritual authority. “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who
sent me.” John 5:30 “When Jesus had ended these sayings, …the
people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having
authority.” Matthew
7:28-29 Jesus had authority because He lived
under authority.
“Who
do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15
Who you say HE IS determines what you
receive. “Now He could there do no mighty
work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed
them.” Mark 6:5 What you recognize and receive determines your
reward. “He who receives a prophet in the
name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” Matthew 10:41
What did you see? Matthew
11:7-18
·
Some people saw a demon
possessed man. Matthew 11:18
·
Some saw a man dressed
in leather. Matthew 11:8
·
Some saw a prophet. Matthew 11:9
·
Jesus saw the prophet
Elijah announcing the Messiah. Matthew
11:14
Because
Jesus recognized John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah He was able
to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:32-34
SIX
WAYS TO GREATER SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
1. THE CALL
The call answers the question of “Who are you?” Not only
must you know who you are, but others must recognize it as well. “And no man takes this honor to himself, but
he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.”
Hebrews 5:4 “By
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Matthew 18:16 Both His heavenly Father and John the Baptist bore witness to
Jesus’ ministry. Matthew 3:13-17
2. THE GIFT
The gift answers the question of “What you can do?”
There are
natural gifts: Health, Beauty,
Talents, Motivation, Intellect, Resources.
There are
spiritual gifts: Anointing, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Prophetic Promises, Revelation.
“There
are diversities of gifts.” I Corinthians 12:4 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us.” Romans 12:6
3. THE SPHERE
The sphere answers the question of “Where you do it?” “I was not sent except to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15:24 “We,
however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere
which God appointed us.” II
Corinthians 10:13
4. THE WORK
The work answers the question of “What you did?” “Though
you do not believe Me, believe the works.” John 10:38 “The
very works that I do bear witness of Me.” John 5:36
5. THE FRUIT
The fruit answers the question of “How you did it?” “You do not know what manner of spirit you
are of.” Luke 9:55 People remember how you did it more than
what you did. It is the “spirit” in
which you serve that people will remember long after your works are finished.
UNDERSTANDING
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
1. The Call of
God.
2. The Gift God
has given you.
3. The Sphere
where God called you to work.
4. The Work
which you accomplished.
5. The Fruit or
the spirit in which you worked.
When
you add each of these together you find the amount of your spiritual
authority. The amount of grace and
maturity you exhibit in each of these areas increases or decreases your
authority.
6. THE CALENDAR
The calendar answers the question of “How long were you faithful?” Faithfulness increases your level of fruitfulness. If you are faithful to fulfill the call of
God with the gift God gave you in the place God sent you, you graduate from one
level of glory to another level. II
Corinthians 3:18
“Well
done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over
a
few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matthew
25:21
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