Submission and authority

Faith, power and authority are three necessary things for successful Christians. To walk in faith and power we must walk in submission to God’s authority in our lives.

We live in an age that struggles with the concept of authority. From local governmental officials to spiritual authority in the local church, it is fashionable to walk in a state of rebellion and discord.

Have you ever been in a grocery store and had the privilege of watching a child who had no concept of submitting to authority?

The mother says, “put that candy back’, and the child says, “No”, and then rips the package open. The mother says, “That’s it, don’t you get another one and I mean it.” The child grabs something else. The mother says, “Put it back”. The child starts screaming! The mother says, “Be quiet and go ahead and put that thing in the basket.”

Even though the mother was an authority figure, the child did not place himself under her authority except when it suited his purposes

Yet Jesus honors those who walk in submission to those in authority over them.

Great faith is seen in respect for authority.

The Roman Centurion is a classic example of this. One of his servants is sick and about to die. The Centurion hears of Jesus and sends some of the elders of the Jews to him to come and heal his servant.

As Jesus comes to heal the servant, the centurion sends friends to say to Him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. FOR I MYSELF AM A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “come,” and he comes”

When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said that he had never seen such faith.

This centurion is recognizing Jesus’ authority over sickness & disease.

“All you have to do, Jesus, is command it—and the sickness has to go.”

Do you need Healing this today? Christ’s authority over sickness is still effectual. The centurion said, “Say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

How is that authority exercised today?

It happens as we submit ourselves to the One who has all authority in heaven and earth and assert that authority as His agent.

Walking in submission to Christ brings healing, power and ultimately spiritual authority. As we walk in submission to God, God grants us supernatural, spiritual authority as well.