Understanding Authority (Part 1)

Bishop Riggen opens with Romans 13, emphasizing that God's authority is foundational to the Christian life. He explains that the Greek word 'exousia' means authority, not mere power, and that all genuine authority originates from God. He uses the example of Paul's conversion, where Paul immediately asked 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' demonstrating submission to God's authority, even when it meant obeying Ananias, a lesser figure. The bishop distinguishes between God's authority, which operates through willing submission, and Satan's usurped authority, which thrives on disobedience. He stresses that to resist God-ordained authority is to resist God Himself and aligns with Satan's principle of lawlessness. He warns that it is possible to do seemingly good works—even in Jesus' name—while operating under the wrong authority if one is not submitted to God's will, citing Matthew 7:22-23. The sermon underscores that salvation itself comes through obedience, and that true submission is tested when God's will contradicts our own desires, as seen in Christ's Gethsemane prayer. Bishop Riggen concludes by noting that Satan offered Jesus stolen authority, but Jesus refused, obtaining true authority through submission to the Father. For believers, every act of disobedience to God is an act of obedience to the devil; therefore, submission to God's authority is essential for advancing His kingdom and for believers to exercise delegated authority over the enemy.