The Price of Spiritual Authority
To walk in spiritual authority, one must be willing to pay the price of humility, renouncing shame and deceit, and leaving pride and ambition behind.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that to walk in God's spiritual authority, one must confront their conscience and approach God with humility. He highlights the necessity of renouncing deceitful practices and being open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, as exemplified by the apostle Paul. Wilkerson challenges believers to consider their willingness to take a humble position, as illustrated by Jesus' teaching on choosing the lowest seat at a banquet. The sermon underscores that true spiritual authority comes at a price, requiring a sincere desire to draw closer to Jesus and receive His anointing. Ultimately, Wilkerson calls for a commitment to humility and integrity in the pursuit of spiritual leadership.
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Becoming the kind of servant who walks in God's authority requires us to stand face to face with our conscience in the sight of our Father. When we stand before the Lord, we are driven to our knees in humility before his holy presence.
The apostle Paul describes the kind of servant upon whom such authority is bestowed: "[He has] renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully" (2 Corinthians 4:2).
Such a servant has been shut in with Jesus and has opened his heart to the dealings of the Holy Spirit. According to Paul, this servant's constant prayer is: "Lord, show me my sinful motives, my unholy ambitions, any and all dishonesty or manipulation, and any hidden, deceitful attitude in my heart."
I believe all believers want to walk in spiritual authority but it is important to realize that there is a price to be paid for such authority. One good question to ask yourself is: "Am I willing to take the lowest seat in the house? Am I content to stay away from the head table?" It is just a simple test, but it may reveal some important issues in your spirit.
In Luke 14, we see that Jesus was invited by a chief Pharisee to "eat bread" in his house along with other Pharisees. Verse 7 says that Jesus observed them choosing the best seats because of their pride and a need to be seen and recognized. The Lord sat down to eat and then he gave Israel's top religious leaders this word of rebuke: "When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher"" (Luke 14:10).
We are to strive to "go up higher" into a place of righteous honor, a place of true spiritual authority. God needs every one of us in these last days and he wants us to draw near to him. In a very profound sense, I believe the task of drawing near to Jesus is for all of us. In doing so, God will faithfully pour out his spiritual anointing.
Sermon Outline
- The Price of Spiritual Authority
- The Cost of True Spiritual Authority
- Drawing Near to God's Presence
- Striving for Righteous Honor
- The Task of Drawing Near to Jesus
- Seeking Humility and Obedience
Key Quotes
“When we stand before the Lord, we are driven to our knees in humility before his holy presence.” — David Wilkerson
“Lord, show me my sinful motives, my unholy ambitions, any and all dishonesty or manipulation, and any hidden, deceitful attitude in my heart.” — David Wilkerson
“When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher'” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must be willing to take the lowest seat in the house and stay away from the head table to demonstrate our humility and willingness to walk in spiritual authority.
- Drawing near to God's presence requires us to strive for righteous honor and seek to be faithful to Him.
- Experiencing God's spiritual anointing is possible by drawing near to Jesus and seeking humility and obedience.