Table of Contents

By What Authority?

Submission must always be based on love, never on law

By Robert L. Brandt

Authority is a much misunderstood and abused subject. The notion of taking authority and exercising authority is overworked. In the world, authority may be earned, conveyed, or usurped. It may also be inherited. But how does one gain authority in the spiritual realm, and in particular in the Christian arena?

In the spiritual realm, a person’s authority for acting on behalf of God is in direct proportion to his or her submission to God–no more, no less. For Christians, authority has to be given; they do not possess it merely because they presume they have it. Nor do they acquire it by their own devices. Jesus "called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases" (Luke 9:1). The disciples’ power and authority was contingent on their relationship. The Twelve were His disciples; they walked with Him.

A district superintendent was invited to arbitrate a pastor-board conflict. He had heard some of the story, but felt inadequate to settle the dispute. While driving to the church, he asked God to give him wisdom. He sensed God saying, "I am giving you authority to handle the matter."

The superintendent, along with the assistant district superintendent, met with the pastor, his associate, and the board members to discuss the problem. The superintendent let each person explain what he perceived to be the problem. As they proceeded, a young board member insisted vehemently that the issues be decided according to the teachings of the Bible. The superintendent agreed, but soon realized that the young man had a very limited knowledge of the Bible. The superintendent said to him, "I believe you want to do God’s will, but I sense that it is not in your best interest to serve on this board. I suggest you resign." And he did without hesitation.

As another member of the board spoke, the superintendent perceived that this board member was at the heart of the problem. With an authority not his own, the superintendent said, "Brother, I perceive you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." He spoke with an authority that he had never before experienced. Suddenly the board member’s countenance changed. Everyone in the room noticed it. This board member also resigned and the problem was resolved. This superintendent experienced a God-given authority that brought closure to a difficult situation and set the stage for the church to go forward.

There is a biblically established authority, a God-prescribed chain of command. Paul proclaimed it clearly: "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 1:13). Headship and authority are synonymous. The God-established order is (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) man, (4) woman, and (5) child (Colossians 3:20). And in every case, submission to the higher authority is required, but in no case is authority equated with tyranny. Furthermore, submission must always be based on love, never on law. It must always be at the initiative of the submitter (except perhaps in the case of a child), never at the demand of the authority figure. For if it is at the demand of the authority figure, it is really not submission at all, but slavery or tyranny.

There is an authority inherent in an office, especially a Spirit-assigned office. In the secular world, this can be illustrated by a sign on former President Harry Truman’s desk that read: The buck stops here. He was the highest authority figure for the U.S. government.

The Scriptures assign authority to specified individuals. Even then it is a defined and a restricted authority. For example, Peter wrote to pastors, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2,3). Whenever authority is translated into lordship over the church, it exceeds its God-intended bounds. On the other side of the coin is the unmistakable directive to all believers, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls" (Hebrews 13:17).

Complementing and accompanying the biblically assigned authority related to spiritual authority–apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher–is an authority bestowed by the Holy Spirit. This is what separated Jesus from the scribes, Pharisees, and other religious leaders. "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:29). Jesus himself, in declaring His mission, cited the Holy Spirit as the source of His authority: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (Luke 4:18), and He proceeded to declare His mission.

More important, there is an authority that may spring up in a Spirit-filled believer as occasion demands. Jesus promised, "But ye shall receive power…and ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). There is no greater witness for Christ than a believer empowered by the Spirit, exercising that authority. The Book of Acts demonstrates it well. And it should be noted that Spirit-given authority operates only at the Spirit’s direction, never at the wish or whim of man.

Peter and John had probably passed the lame man at the temple gate numerous times (Acts 3:2), just as Jesus and many others had, without any unusual happening. Yet, at the Spirit’s direction and in His own timing, Peter and John suddenly possessed an authority and in an instant the poor man was healed.

It is noteworthy that Peter addressed the crowd who quickly gathered and explained the source of the authority by which the miracle occurred. Listen to his witness: "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power (authority) or holiness we had made this man to walk?" The Jews had killed the Prince of life, but "faith in his name, hath made this man strong" (Acts 3:12,15,16).

The believer’s authority is usually manifested through the gifts of the Spirit, and those gifts are at the Spirit’s disposition. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Corinthians 12:11).

A man devoid of the Holy Spirit has no spiritual authority. The seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19 learned this to their chagrin. They sought to exercise an authority they did not possess. "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded" (Acts 19:15,16). It should also be understood that there is no magic in the name of Jesus. Merely pronouncing His name, as the sons of Sceva did, in an effort to gain certain ends, is as meaningless as waving a magic wand. Apart from a vital relationship with Jesus and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the use of His name is a hollow exercise. Authority springs not from mouthing His name, but from being vitally connected to Him and directed by the Holy Spirit. We do well to remember that, lest we find ourselves as Sceva’s sons.

Finally, there is an authority derived from study, application, and experience. It is certainly honorable for a person to become an authority in his field. Such authority is earned, not conferred. However, such authority must never be confused with the authority conferred by the Holy Spirit. Both are important, but possessing humanly acquired authority does not negate the need for spiritual authority.

Our human tendency is to rely on academic accomplishment for our authority, while at the same time overlooking our profound need for spiritual authority. Human authority springs out of human attainment and accomplishment, while spiritual authority has its source in a vital relationship with God and in a revelation from God. Only the man who hears from God in heaven has supernatural authority to act for God on earth.

In summary, we arrive at five distinct conclusions:

• Spiritual authority comes through submission and is always at the same level as the submission.

• Submission is required toward those whom God has placed over us.

• Authority assigned to spiritual leaders is not to be abused by a spiritual officeholder, nor is it to be rejected or refused by those for whom it is intended.

• Genuine spiritual authority is bestowed at the Spirit’s command, and cannot be exercised apart from His impartation and direction.

• Authority gained by application, study, research, and experience is not to be invalidated, but it is not to be substituted for Spirit-imparted authority.

Robert L. Brandt is the Assemblies of God executive presbyter for the northwest region. He lives in Billings, Montana.