Spiritual Authority (My Training Notes)

Introduction: Spiritual authority is about submitting to God’s leading and authority over your life. A major part of spiritual authority is ‘acknowledging’ the grace that God has put upon the lives of people and acting in line with this consciousness. This is about judging (respecting, submitting or relating to) no man after the flesh, 2Cor.5:16 – not by Age, Affluence, Gender, Experience or Skill but by God’s grace, calling and anointing upon them.

The major key for growing in spiritual authority is humility

1Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

3 Dimensions of Spiritual Authority

1.       As it relates to God

2.       As it relates to Your Followers

3.       As it relates to your Leaders

1.       AS IT RELATES TO GOD

Like Jesus

*Love & Honour God sincerely.

*Spend time fellowship with God (especially in worship, study & prayers).

*Learn God’s ways and practice them.

*Be yielded to God’s Spirit.

Luke 6:12

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to

God.

John 5:19

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what

he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Strategic Initiative - quickly act upon the things that God inspires in your heart. March round the walls. Strike the rock. Yield to that leading to pray and do that spiritual exercise.

2.       AS IT RELATES TO YOUR FOLLOWERS

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to

feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

Luke 12:42

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household,

to give them their portion of meat in due season?

It’s not to dominate or lord it over them it is to serve them by bring out the best of God’s life in them. Humbly love and lead them in the right path.

The leader doesn’t have to be the most spiritual, nor most experienced or skillful. But the leader has to be able to create the environment for the nurturing and harnessing of the skills, abilities, gifts and call of God on the lives of everyone under their leadership to be fully expressed and harnessed. Be secure.

3 Strategic Questions – How well do you acknowledge the grace upon the lives of your followers? How well are you helping to strengthen and harness this grace upon their lives? Are you threatened or secure when you think about the grace upon your followers?

3.       AS IT RELATES TO YOUR LEADERS

As you continue to acknowledge the hand of God upon your leader’s life and submit to that leader, God’s grace will fill your life and continue to lift you up.

Examples:

Elisha and Elijah – Elisha was probably older and wealthier than Elijah (bald head, thriving business) but he served faithfully and desired the anointing upon Elijah’s life.

David and Saul – though he was anointed as the next king, he humbled himself and went back to the field. He still respected Saul and never one day hated or rebelled against him.

* Respect and submit to them both in their presence and in their absence.

* Don’t speak ill about them both in their presence and in their absence. God sees in secret and rewards openly.

*It’s not your duty to correct your leader. You can respectfully suggest things but not correct him or her, 1Tim.5:1

*Be comforted by their rod and staff (correction).

*Ensuring that all things are done decently and in order (1Cor.14:40) is the leader’s responsibility.  For this to happen, the leader may offend you but in honour to God you have to submit to your leader.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give

account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

1Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and

doctrine.

Strategic Initiative - Acts 2:42a - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine…

Be more deliberate about running with and building on the things that your spiritual leaders preach or share like themes of the month and prophetic words and teachings.