The subject of authority has been the unspoken reason for many unexplainable yet undeniable occurrences in many lives. It is so vital that many have run into dead ends and some have experienced certain levels of power and victory that do not compute with other things in their lives. In this brief study, we want to look at the heart of issues involved in Authority and submission. There are similarities in the principles that govern authority in the natural and the spiritual. The basic difference lies in the receiving of authority and the heart of submission and also the source of the power. Most of the conflicts we face are just manifestations of the battle for our souls between the Kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Our decisions and choices determine who wins the battle. The kingdom of darkness wants to be in authority over as many lives as possible. Deceptions, lust and wiles or schemes are all designed to bring humanity under the authority of the prince of darkness. We need a higher authority to deal with the authority of darkness.

Authority has to do with rights to decide and to do as deemed fit. It has its boundaries and focus with purpose. Authority is designed by God to bring protection, give direction and cause all those in subjection to progress in the specific process that produces fulfillment. Submission, on the other hand, is a also a kingdom principle that allows God's will to be done. It implies a yieldedness that frees ourselves and others to be and do all that please the King of the Kingdom-Jesus. The focus in both cases is "Thy will be done, thy Kingdom come" The ones in authority have the purpose of seeing the will of God done in the lives of those in submission.

Sometimes because of the abuse of the privilege of authority, those in authority are not free to exercise the authority they are given. The people suffer the consequences. On the other hand those in submission have been known to use their ''submission'' to control those in authority over them. "I will no longer submit if you do not do what I want you to do". This is where our insecurities as human beings play up. The insecure leader will give in to that so they can be seen to be in authority over people. The insecure leader also frets whenever the people are not seen to be in submission to him. The insecure follower is also afraid of being controlled and therefore will not submit from the heart. This produces a lot of confusion. We need to understand how authority is given, who to submit to and what legitimate control is.

Spiritual authority goes with honour. It is given when a person has submitted to the dealings of God with a right attitude and has learnt the right lessons. The person comes to an end of his dependence on himself, appreciates his human limitations and acknowledges God's forbearance with him and considers it an honour for God to give him or her any authority that is visible that others will want to submit to. This is different from the general authority we all have as children of God according to John 1:12. We have authority to become children of God. We bring our minds and flesh to submission as we exercise our rights to become children of God. The demonic realm recognizes our authority in this. We should really exercise this authority. Exercise of authority is an act of our will. The spiritual authority I am talking about here is a product of Christ being formed in you through the process of His dealings that gradually spell death to your carnality and life to the formation of Christ within you.

Authority is given and not taken. If you are not given you cannot have it. God gives it others recognize it and give in to you in submission because they see God in you. The purpose of this authority is so that they can come into more of God like you have and if possible for them to have all of God that they can handle. The authority of God in a leader’s life is for the followers to be helped through the exercise of that authority to experience more of God than they will otherwise experience. In this age where the law of sin and death is let loose by Satan, submission to authority is a sure protection. Our submission is first to God, then His Word, then His delegated authority. We submit by choice. We should be advised to be led to the place to submit. This is because our submission to His delegated leader is a demonstration of our submission to Him. Because we are doing it in obedience to Him.

Legitimate control is control within certain boundaries. Every authority has boundaries and are yielded to for them to be beneficial. When we loose sight of the boundaries of authority we tend to abuse and be abused. The laws of healthy nutrition define the boundaries that govern dietary authority in our lives. Every one of us submits to these laws for our benefit and disobey them to our hurt. When a dietician wants to regulate the colour of our clothes, he is getting out of boundaries of his jurisdiction. Likewise in the spirit leaders are not without their boundaries. The Word of God regulates their boundaries and your willingness too. So both leaders and followers are free to obey God in submission and authority. We need to trust God's pattern in bringing His kingdom to bear on the issues of this life here on earth.

Jesus submitted to God the Father to fulfill His task on earth. We need to too. He also submitted to Joseph and Mary before age 30. This defines God's plan for the family structure. He submitted to man's ordinance and practices while he was a baby. He submitted to John's Ministry in Baptism. He eventually submitted to God's will on the cross by dying. Today His name carries authority in all worlds. Every knee bows in His name. If you are not under authority you cannot exercise authority.

Let us rise above our limited human understanding and embrace God's pattern submitting to one another and releasing God's authority in one another. God bless you.

Rev Kola Ewuosho