3.3.3 Spiritual Authority 3

3.3.3 屬靈權柄3

Speaker: Ming

How do people lose their authority?

When people become corrupt, authority is surrendered; this is a spiritual law.

Therefore, before we were born, God had already bestowed authority upon us. After birth, the more sinful we become, the more authority we give away. If a person cannot live as a child of God, that person will lose authority and identity, and thus become corrupted.

How do you exercise your spiritual authority in daily life?

One of the prerequisites for obtaining spiritual authority is to submit to God's authority.

Obedience includes two levels.

Firstly, the circumstances that God has measured for us.

The second is the authority God has chosen to place above us.

In many cases, it is easy for us to obey God. When we hear God's words, we say, I can obey you “because I have heard what you said.” However, many of us often feel that we are unable to obey the authority that God has placed over us in our lives. Especially to the ungodly leaders, or people who do not know God. We call those types of leaders “unholy or ungodly authority”

Such obedience is rather difficult for our brothers and sisters. In our last class, we mentioned an example of a businessman and a husband invested the family's money in his business. His wife felt that such an investment would fail.

But her husband didn't listen, so the wife had no choice but to complain to God. God answered her and commanded her to obey her husband. In this case, the wife chose to submit to an ungodly authority. As a result, the entire business went bankrupt. After the bankruptcy, the wife ran back to God and cried, saying, " God, you didn't stop him and made me obey you. As a result, we ended up bankrupt.”

A few months later, the man came to his wife to beg for repentance. He revealed he had an affair, which the wife had no idea about it. Due to the bankruptcy, the mistress left the man, resulting in the wife and husband reconciling.

To obey such an authority, you must look beyond his character flaws and not focus on his shortcomings but rather be able to see that God has allowed and established him to be in that position. This is not easy, especially in ministries.

Oftentimes, when God has established an authority figure in a church or a people group, we do not believe he is competent for the job.

I remember that we once had a small group leader who was in this situation. When God established him as the leader, we verified through many sources that God really chose him. His spiritual age was very young, less than three years since he accepted the salvation message. In the beginning, the leader encountered many difficulties, mainly from the older Christians in the group, because some of the members felt that he was unworthy and unfit for this position. Additionally, in his group, there were Christians who had believed in the Lord for more than 20 or even 30 years. There were two co-workers who were more spiritually mature because of their long faith journeys and biblical knowledge.

But later, God manifested a special thing in this group.  God taught the leader personally at night how to share the scriptures, how to receive enlightenment, and how to share the revelations he got during the night with the brothers and sisters in the group. The older brothers and sisters who worked with him were amazed. They realized that what he shared was clearly from God, and they gradually came to accept him.

In real life, the first authority figure in our life is most often, our parents. (Ephesians 6:1-3) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]

In the book of Ephesians, it is said: If you have a suitable and appropriate relationship with your parents, you will receive the promise of holding this commandment; to be blessed and live long on earth.

What will be the outcome if I refuse to obey my parents, rebel against them, or otherwise disrespect and oppose them? We will see that when we rebel, resist, and battle against the authority established by God, we will become bitter and complain and may even become physically sick.

Moreover, we will discover in our lifetime that if we have problems with the first authority figure whose duty is primarily to bless us, we will have problems with other authority figures throughout our lives. Consequently, we will discover that we all struggle to obey God's authority.

Authority must be identified. Are you willing to recognize that parents are the authority established by God?

If we recognize this, then we will know that parents are called to protect us, provide for us, manage us, equip us, prepare us, and serve us on behalf of God.

We have a great example in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was twelve years old, he wanted to fulfill his heavenly ‘father’s business’. However, his parents did not understand and took him back to Nazareth. In this situation, Jesus chose to submit to the authority of his earthly parents.

In this way, God's favor toward him continued to grow and Jesus modeled a life of obedience and authority.

Jesus also obeyed John the Baptist.

We all know that Jesus's status as the Son of God is higher than that of John the Baptist on earth, but before he began his ministry, he placed himself under the authority of John the Baptist. John recognized Jesus's authority, and when Jesus came to him by the river, he said, “I need to be baptized by you.” However, Jesus answered him, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” We see that Jesus chose to obey the authority established by God so that God would open a door for him before he began his ministry.

In Jesus’s ministry, he received power and authority because He was willing to obey and respect the authority that God had placed in His life. At any time, if we do not do things according to God’s will, we are deviating from God, losing our authority, and being unable to subdue the demons in the spiritual realm.

How should we respond to the authority figures God has placed over us? These leaders, that is, people with authority, bear a huge responsibility. No matter what level of authority God has given you, it means that you will have to give an account in the future.

For an organization, God initiates the movement and sends them to fulfill a heavenly purpose. The original founder of that organization has authority over that group. Just as Jesus said, " As the Father has sent me, I am sending you now. " God gives the vision and the original authority figure will lead the organization, and then they are responsible for preaching and conveying the vision from God, and they are also responsible for giving an account.

Therefore, being a founder carries a great deal of responsibility. The founder will then select and appoint others to complete the tasks of the ministry. If a fellow member of that ministry exceeds the given authority limit, then he is no longer under the protection of God.

If we choose to resist the authority above us or exalt our ideas and the things we want, we are operating in an illegitimate condition. Not only will we produce problems, but the people we are entrusted with will also fall into a situation of being disturbed by evil spirits.

The root of an illegitimate and illegal authority lies in the deviation from God's way. Many of the brothers and sisters can obey an unseen God but have difficulties obeying the superior authority God established in the church. This is a difficulty for most Christians. 

Let me give you an example when we deal with false gods and idols. Can I break into a person's house when I see idols on the wall, take them down, and smash them to pieces? No!

The reason is that the owner of the object’s consent was not obtained. Once the owner agrees that the idol has a place in the home, that consent gives legal right for the demons to stay. This is a spiritual covenant.

In the spiritual realm, physical objects (Idols) themselves do not have power; it is the dark forces attached to the object that have power.

Meaning, it didn’t matter if I broke into someone’s home and smashed their idol because in the spiritual world, the dark forces still had a contract with the owner.

Here are examples for us to ponder on. If I were called to serve in two organizations simultaneously—Organization A being a local church and Organization B being an outreach ministry—what should I do if a conflict arises between the two in the course of my ministry work? Which authority should I submit to? This is an important question to consider. In such situations, we often fail to recognize the authority that God has established. There are other similar scenarios that many of our brothers and sisters face. For example, if a husband asks his wife to stay home for the day, but there is an event at church, what should the wife do?

Another example shared by some of our brothers and sisters is a person who receives a calling to be a missionary in Kenya. However, when consulting the local church pastor, the pastor expresses that he feels differently and wants the person to remain and serve in the local church. In cases like these, what should the individual do? These are all questions worth pondering. Understanding authority is a crucial lesson. If we cannot recognize who holds authority over us, we won’t know how to properly submit and obey.

For some people, their problem might be resisting the authority figures God chose. We often see this in real life: someone may not be satisfied with the leader, and then they may disobey the leader or only follow partial instructions.

There are many reasons for such resistance:

The first one is failure to recognize the authority orders God setup.

A person may have no idea what the authority established by God is like. Such a person cannot recognize when he must act according to the order established by God and when he must only obey what God has given him. Fail to recognize the Godly order, he also does not know how the Kingdom of God operates. Not only do they not have a concept for the operation of the kingdom, but even when certain situations arise, the brothers and sisters are unable to recognize what the legitimate authority established by God should be.

The second is: that many people need to obey the authority that God has placed among them, and only then can their work of ministries start.

Many people fail to realize that when God establishes a mission or ministry, He first grants authority to the founder. From there, the founder delegates different levels of authority. People often desire to receive authority, but before doing so, they must first learn to submit to authority—this means obeying the authority that God has placed in their lives. Without understanding this truth, many individuals are eager to fulfill their purpose, yet they fail to recognize the framework that God has set in place.

The third issue arises when a person becomes more familiar with the leader and begins to notice their flaws, struggling to overlook the leader’s imperfections. 

This person may fail to recognize that God has placed the leader in their position, leading them to reject the leader in their heart. When you're unable to accept someone, it becomes difficult to be obedient, as all you see are their shortcomings.

The fourth type of issue is pride—personal pride.

The fifth issue is fear.

The root of fear often stems from past hurt caused by a powerful person. We may struggle to believe that everyone in authority can accurately express God's will, including our parents. When someone in authority is not healed from their own wounds, their actions and words may become distorted. Those under their leadership may feel fear because the leaders themselves are carrying unresolved pain. If there is no healing, rebellion can also emerge as a result of this unresolved hurt.

I recall a leader sharing a story with me. He said, "There was an intercessor on my team who was very critical and opinionated. As soon as the prayer meeting began at our church, this intercessor would immediately start writing lengthy messages to others, saying things like, 'I feel like there's no peace here, there’s witchcraft at work. When I prayed in this place, my head hurt, and I didn’t feel well…' The intercessor would then ask others if they had the same experience. However, the others would respond, 'No, I’m fine, I feel at peace.'

Then, the intercessor would go to the leader and say, 'You must address this issue, because I have many spiritual experiences and testimonies. I know there’s something wrong in this place. I believe someone here is bound by witchcraft.' The intercessor insisted that the leader take action, telling him that if he didn’t, it would be negligence."

So, the leader came to me for counseling. I said: People in his situation often have trouble getting along with others and have been hurt by authority figures in the past. You can use this knowledge to understand this person and talk to him.

As a result, the leader shared with me, "I asked the intercessor about the situation, and I discovered that they have no church, no group, and very little interaction with others. This is a concerning issue. Our God created us not to live in isolation. He designed us to exist within relationships—relationships with a group of people, social relationships, and the bonds between brothers and sisters in Christ. He even used a metaphor to describe us, saying that we are like sheep, and sheep are meant to live in groups. We are not meant to be alone. If you are alone, you become an easy target for the enemy.

Typically, when a person’s life lacks mutual interaction with others and they prefer to stay online or disconnected, especially when others can’t engage with them, we need to be cautious. This behavior may indicate that pride has taken root, or it could stem from fear—fear of past hurts caused by authority figures.

In this case, the intercessor was unable to engage in healthy relationships. They were consumed with fear about the new leader while also trying to please him. This created a contradictory internal struggle. This situation needs healing first. When God allows circumstances in our lives, including allowing us to experience hurts, it's because He wants to reveal and address the deeper issues within us.

The greatest expression of dissatisfaction with leadership is what we call rebellion, and it results in the loss of authority. A biblical example of losing authority can be found in Numbers 16, when 250 leaders criticized and accused Moses. This group of dissatisfied individuals spread rumors and complaints among the leaders. This is an example of what we call the 'operation of rebellion.'"

They were like Korah and his followers from biblical times. The root cause of their rebellion was jealousy. In that instance, Korah and his followers were envious of Moses’s authority, power, and the grace and favor God had given him. This situation teaches us that anyone who feels dissatisfied or envious of the authority and power of others has already stepped into the realm of rebellion.

Speaking of authority, let me share an example of an older pastor who faced a major challenge during his ministry. In the first ten years of his ministry, he mentored a very promising leader, whom he considered his spiritual son. He valued this person deeply and even thought about passing on most of the responsibilities to him.

However, one day, this spiritual son suddenly left the church. The reason seemed to be that he had received a prophetic word claiming he would become an apostle in the future, with a great spiritual calling. He started to plan for his future by recruiting loyal followers, as he was also a gifted preacher.

Eventually, this spiritual son left. Because of his influence within the church, nearly 200 people followed him, leaving only a few dozen people still following the old pastor. I asked him, "How did you recover from this situation?"

He replied, "I didn't do anything. I just knew I had to faithfully continue with the work God entrusted to me, and I couldn’t control anything else." Despite this response, the incident was a significant setback and blow to him personally. I believe that God allowed this to happen to the pastor for a reason. Interestingly, two years later, the church of the pastor's spiritual son was dismantled, and many difficulties arose within their group.

The consequences of disobedience are clear: people who rebel do not receive the blessings God intends for them. The spiritual son's church only lasted two years before it fell apart, and the two- to three-hundred-member congregation was disbanded. This spiritual son never returned to his former ministry.

This is a very real example, illustrating the matter of "judgment." From an outside perspective, God's judgment did not only fall on Korah, but also on all who followed him. This serves as a powerful warning!

Usually, a leader of a group will be able to sense rebellion forming in his group.

The first thing you see in a rebellious person is self-exaltation.

Some forms of rebellion are subtle, like Absalom’s, which involved a hidden, self-exalting approach. While some people are open and showy in lifting themselves up, Absalom’s method was more discreet. He first elevated himself and then told the people, “Your case is reasonable, but the king has no one to listen to your appeal.” Absalom’s actions led to the same outcome as Korah’s rebellion. Although it may have seemed that David handled the situation unfairly, which caused Absalom to feel dissatisfied, the result of Absalom’s rebellion was his own death and the deaths of hundreds of his followers.

Rebellion follows a clear pattern, and its signs are especially noticeable to leaders. It often begins in a person's heart as discontent or rebellion and ultimately leads to spiritual death for those involved.

God has established authorities among us, and our relationship with these authorities should be one of respect and honor. We are called to pray for them and maintain a submissive heart. A contrasting example of this can be seen in the relationship between King Saul and David, as described in 1 Samuel 24.

Saul pursued David, persecuting him. He even gave David’s wife to another man and hunted down David and his followers. What made David a man after God’s own heart was how he responded to this persecution. Despite having the opportunity to kill Saul, David chose to leave Saul’s fate in God’s hands. He recognized that Saul had been appointed by God and held a position of authority, and instead of taking matters into his own hands, he chose to honor God’s authority.

David chose not to resist Saul—neither through his words nor his actions. Instead, he became an example for others. His life demonstrated not only obedience to God but also respect for the authority God had established. Even though Saul later persecuted him and sought to take his life—and even when people around him believed Saul was undeserving of honor—David still chose to obey and show respect. This reveals a powerful truth: even under flawed or unjust authority, we are called to submit and honor the order God has set in place.

The Consequences of Disobedience

1. Brings a Curse

Disobedience can turn a situation that was once blessed by God into one marked by curse. What was meant to be fruitful can quickly shift into something barren and difficult.

2. Prevents Growth and Prosperity

As Romans 13 states, "Whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves." Disobedience not only distances us from God’s will but also hinders our ability to thrive. It closes doors that would otherwise be open.

3. Opens the Door to Evil

Rebellion gives the enemy legal access into our lives. Ephesians 2:2 reminds us, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the ruler of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” Choosing disobedience aligns us with the enemy, allowing spiritual oppression to take root.

4. Lack of Fruitfulness in Ministry

Rebellion blocks spiritual productivity. Proverbs 17:13 says, “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.” Disobedience can bring continued trouble and hardship into not only our personal lives but also our homes and families.

5. Works Outside of God’s Order Are Not Approved

If we act under illegitimate authority or outside the role God has given us, our efforts—even in ministry—are not approved by Christ. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns that many will claim to have done works in His name, but He will say, “I never knew you.” This shows that obedience to God's boundaries is just as important as the works themselves.

6. Rebellion Is Like Witchcraft

As 1 Samuel 15:23 states, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” Stepping out from under God's authority opens the door to manipulation, control, and spiritual confusion. It removes us from His protection and puts us in a vulnerable place.

Final Thoughts

Rebellion carries serious consequences:

• It invites curses instead of blessings

• It blocks growth and prosperity

• It opens doors to spiritual attack

• It renders ministry efforts fruitless

• It causes Jesus to reject works done outside of divine order

• And it ultimately aligns us with the spirit of witchcraft

David’s life reminds us that even when authority is hard to respect, true obedience reflects our trust in God—not in man. By submitting to the authority He has established, we honor Him.

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The consequences of disobedience are serious. A lack of prosperity opens the door for evil spirits to enter and bring disaster—not only to the individual but also to their household. When it comes to serving in ministry, rebellion results in an inability to bear fruit and causes people to fall under the influence of lawlessness. This is why obedience is the foundation of spiritual authority.

The Second Key to Spiritual Authority: Unity

The second key to operating in spiritual authority is unity. This unity isn't just about being in agreement with others—like a team of intercessors—but more importantly, it means being one with God.

Let’s look at Matthew 12:22–26:

“Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’ And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?’”

Here, Jesus explains that casting out demons is a form of spiritual authority, and He uses this opportunity to teach a deeper principle: no kingdom can survive if it is divided against itself. If Satan were casting out Satan, his kingdom would collapse. Therefore, division—whether in the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of God—leads to destruction.

Jesus concludes in verse 28:

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

This reveals the true source of spiritual authority: the Spirit of God. Authority flows from unity with Him.

Oneness with God

To walk in true authority, we must be united with God Himself. Jesus emphasized this in John 8:42–47:

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here. For I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father... He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.’”

Jesus is very clear: those who are truly of God will hear His words. Those who do not, stand in opposition to Him. To be united with God means to stand with Him, hear Him, and carry out His will in His way. Otherwise, whether knowingly or unknowingly, we oppose Christ.

We are called and meant to live in the Kingdom of Light. When we choose to become children of God, we enter into the Kingdom of God. But if we refuse to meet the conditions God has set, then we can’t stand with Him or work alongside Him. Through this disobedience, the enemy can gain a foothold in our lives and cause us to fail in the very things we’re trying to accomplish.

So, what exactly does it mean to be united with God?

This is a concept many of us don’t fully understand, and because of that, it’s easy to unknowingly step into a position where we become enemies of God. That’s why this is such a critical key—the key to understanding our unity with Him. In order to understand this unity, we first need to talk about spiritual warfare and how spiritual authority operates.

(1 Corinthians 2:14–15) and (2 Corinthians 10:3–5) both speak to this issue. Let’s start with (1 Corinthians 2:14–15), which says:

“The spiritual man can judge all things, but he himself is judged by no one.”

This verse shows us that spiritual people have the ability to discern and evaluate all things through the Spirit, but others can't judge them in the same way. They are living under a different authority and understanding.

Then in (2 Corinthians 10), Paul gives us one of the clearest explanations about spiritual warfare:

“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Paul is making one thing clear here: beyond the physical battles we see, there is an unseen spiritual war taking place. In this invisible realm, our true enemy is Satan and the forces that follow him. Paul explains the method of this warfare when he says, “I do not fight with flesh and blood as we are used to but with the spirit.”

If we were to define spiritual warfare, it is the battle that Satan and his demons wage against believers in an effort to oppose the will of the living God. Though it happens in the spiritual realm that we cannot see, it is very real—a true war taking place in the spirit world.

That’s why Ephesians 6:12 says:

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

What we believe and understand right now will determine the level of spiritual warfare we experience. Let me say it again—the depth of our understanding directly impacts the level of spiritual warfare we enter into.

We need to realize that spiritual warfare isn't a battlefield where we can simply stand still and expect victory. The battle itself is a clash between opposing spiritual forces—angels and demons.

God doesn’t even need to engage Satan in direct combat. Satan is a created being, and a created being can never be equal to the Creator. One moment he was in heaven, and the next, Jesus said in an instant, he fell like lightning. If we don’t fully grasp this truth, we risk falling into deception.

Right now, I’m simply referring to the “Kingdom of Light” and the “Kingdom of Darkness” as two opposing armies. As human beings, it’s difficult for us to fight spiritual battles on our own because we are flesh and blood. Yes, we have a spirit, but as we go deeper in understanding, we begin to realize that the flesh is no match for the spirit—and that’s why angels are so powerful.

So, what’s really happening behind the scenes is a spiritual war—a battle between angels and demons. That’s why this isn’t a fight we can win in our own strength or by physical means. It’s God who fights for us, and when we belong to Him, we become part of His army.

Looking at the broader picture of the war between angels and demons throughout history, it may sometimes seem like God’s army is small or not visible. But here’s the reality: the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior, we inherit a spiritual enemy—the army of Satan. The war becomes personal.

Before we became children of God, we belonged to Satan. That’s why we cannot have one foot in the Kingdom of Light and the other in the Kingdom of Darkness—this is one of the most dangerous places to be. When we are saved, we leave Satan’s army and become part of God’s army. We are in a war. Whether we recognize it or not, the moment we choose the Kingdom of Light, we enter into battle.

In every war throughout history, the goal has been to take control of territory and the resources within it. Spiritual warfare is no different—there is territory at stake. But in the spiritual realm, that territory is the human heart. The Bible shows us that the human heart is what both kingdoms—light and darkness—are fighting for.

In this battle, God and Satan are in direct opposition: God leads the Kingdom of Light, and Satan leads the Kingdom of Darkness. But we also know this key truth—when comparing the power of God to that of Satan, the gap is immeasurable. Satan’s only means of hurting God is to attack His people and try to bring Him sorrow.

God reigns above everything, and Satan is just one of His creations—a spiritual being. In the book of Job, stars are used as symbols of angels, and Revelation also refers to “wormwood” as an angel that falls to the earth. This shows us that even the most powerful, awe-inspiring spiritual beings are still just “stars” in comparison to God.

Our God is greater than the entire universe—beyond the galaxies, beyond the Milky Way. He sits above it all. When we truly receive this revelation, we will realize that nothing can ever rival or compete with God. The difference between God's power and Satan’s is not just large—it is unfathomably vast.

So how does spiritual authority operate in this unseen realm?

The Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Light, and Kingdom of Darkness all function outside of the physical world we live in. Many cults and heretical movements seem to have greater success in operating in this spiritual realm—not because they carry truth, but because they understand the invisible realm better than many Christians do. As a result, many believers remain shallow in their spiritual understanding.

The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness are active and in direct conflict in this invisible dimension. What happens there directly affects what happens in the physical world. While many churches are still debating whether this spiritual realm even exists, groups like the New Age movement and various cults have been actively engaging in it for years.

However, their access to the spiritual realm is through illegal and unlawful means. They are trespassing into an area that rightfully belongs to the Church. They did not enter by the door that God has provided. This is why we must urgently address an important question: What is the legal way to access the spiritual realm? What are the illegal ways?

If we don’t understand this, intercessors and believers risk stepping into dangerous territory. Without clear discernment, it’s easy to find ourselves unknowingly standing on the wrong side of the battle—in opposition to God, even when we think we are fighting for Him.