One of the most important truths to understand in the Christian life is the blessing of spiritual authority. God has established authority structures for your protection, your guidance, and your growth. Romans 13 verse 1 says, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." All authority ultimately comes from God. When you submit to the authorities God has placed in your life, you are submitting to God. When you rebel against authority, you are rebelling against God's arrangement.My dear friend, the concept of authority is not popular in the modern world. The spirit of the age is rebellious, independent, and suspicious of authority. But God's kingdom operates on the principle of authority. Jesus Himself submitted to the Father. He said, "Not My will, but Yours be done." The centurion in Matthew 8 understood authority. He said to Jesus, "I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me." He recognized that Jesus had authority because Jesus was under authority. Spiritual authority flows from being under authority.Think about Jesus and the centurion. In Matthew 8, a Roman centurion came to Jesus asking for his servant to be healed. Jesus offered to come to his house, but the centurion said, "Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes." Jesus marveled at his faith and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel." The centurion understood that authority works when you are under authority.Think about David. He refused to touch King Saul even when Saul was trying to kill him. He said, "I will not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed." David understood that Saul was God's appointed authority, even though Saul was a flawed and sinful man. David's respect for authority positioned him to receive authority. Because he was faithful under Saul's authority, God entrusted him with the kingdom.Think about the early church. They submitted to the apostles' authority. They submitted to the elders. They submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ. The book of Acts shows that the early church was marked by order, submission, and respect for spiritual authority. And that order released the power of God.So how do you position yourself under spiritual authority? First, submit to God's authority in your life. Acknowledge that He is Lord. Obey His Word. Surrender to His will. All other authority flows from your submission to God.Second, submit to the authorities God has placed in your life. This includes government authorities, your employer, church leaders, and parents. Submit to them as unto the Lord, unless they ask you to sin. Your submission is an act of worship to God.Third, honor those in authority over you. Speak well of them. Pray for them. Do not speak evil of them. Respect their position even when you disagree with their decisions.Fourth, receive the covering that authority provides. Being under authority protects you. It provides accountability. It gives you a covering of spiritual protection. Do not be independent. Be connected.Fifth, when you are given authority, exercise it with humility and for the good of others. Authority is not for self-promotion. It is for service. Lead as Jesus led, as a servant.What this produces in your life is protection, order, and release. When you are under authority, you are protected from the enemy's attacks. You are connected to the body. You are positioned for promotion. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submitting to authority is an act of humility that releases God's grace in your life.Let us pray. Father, I acknowledge that all authority comes from You. Help me to submit to the authorities You have placed in my life. Give me a humble heart that is willing to be under authority. Help me to honor those over me. Protect me from the spirit of rebellion and independence. Let me be faithful under authority so that I can be trusted with authority. I submit to You as the ultimate authority in my life. In Jesus mighty name, amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.