Message by Bishop Hwa Yung

1. Servanthood vs Leadership 2
“The Source of Spiritual Authority”
Rev Dr Hwa Yung

2. Introduction
The Confusion over the Issue
of Authority Today

3. The Authority of Jesus
i. Jesus' authority was widely recognized by
humans and demons alike
Cf. Mk 1:22, 27, 34; 2:10f; 3:5; 4:39 41;
5:41f.

4. The Authority of Jesus
ii. Wherein is the source of His authority?
Some answers:
a. The world’s answer:
A spiritual genius or dynamic personality
b. The traditional Christian answer:
He is God; hence divine authority!
c. The Pentecostal-Charismatic answer:
He is empowered by the Holy Spirit
** But (c) points to a deeper answer:
His submission or obedience to His
Father.

5. The Authority of Jesus
iii. Substantiating the above
a. He taught that he had no authority of his
own, but was totally dependent on the
Father in His incarnate state:
Jn 4:34; 5:19,30a; 6:38; 8:28b; 10:37f;
12:49f; 14:31; 15:10; 17:4.
He was total submitted to his Father!
b. He was also obedient to those the
Father put over Him! Cf. Lk 2:48 52.

6. The Authority of Jesus
iv. Paradox: Submission  Authority
a. At Temptation: Submission to the Father's
Word ('It is written ...’)  Victory
b. Because he claims no authority of His own (cf.
Jn 5:19 ‘the Son can do nothing by Himself’),
He could exercise fully His Father's authority
(hence Mt 28:18f).
c. Because He humbled Himself totally, the Father
exalted Him to the position of highest honour;
cf. Phil 2:5 11.

7. Lessons for Us
i. Real spiritual authority carries
with it an inner conviction of its
authenticity.
Cf. again Mk 1:22,27; and
contrast the sons of Sceva: Acts
19:13 16!

8. Lessons for Us
ii. In the battle for the Kingdom of God, it is
genuine spiritual authority that matters.
In the church today, many seek to lead by
asserting their own human authority based
on personality, wealth, intellect, etc.
But others will simply find us hollow!
Yet, there are always those people around
us in whom we immediately recognize as
possessing an authority that is from God
alone!

9. Lessons for Us
iii. Obedience and Submission
— the path to true spiritual
authority
a. G. Whitefield after conversion:
‘I began to read the Holy Scripture upon my
knee laying aside all other books, and
praying over, if possible, every line and
word. This proved meat indeed and drink
indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life,
light and power from above.’

10. Lessons for Us
iii. Obedience and
Submission—the path to
true spiritual authority
b. M. Luther: ‘...my
conscience is captive to
the Word of God. I cannot
and I will not recant
anything, for to go against
conscience is neither right
nor safe. Here I stand. I can
do no other. God help me.
Amen.’

11. Submission or Obedience in Practice
i. To whom or what are we to submit
a. To God's Word.
Never accept a word that goes
against the plain teaching of Scripture.
b. To God's leading:
through conscience, prayer and inner
conviction, prophetic word, etc.
c. To those whom God places above us!

12. Submission or Obedience in Practice
ii. How far do we submit?
'Revolutionary
submission would
commend us to live in
submission to human
authority until it
becomes destructive.'
(Forster, Celebration of
Discipline, p.108.)

13. Submission or Obedience in Practice
iii. Submission and servanthood inseparable
Cf. Phil 2:7; on Jesus; Mk 10:43 45; for us
iv. Obedience to the Father is necessary to
sustain spiritual authority long-term.
Those who know submission are those
who will be able to appropriate His power.
It is dangerous to emphasize the Holy
Spirit’s anointing without emphasizing
submissions! Cf. Samson.