«　WEEK 6　DAY 2　»

　　Heb. 13:17 Obey the ones leading you and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who will render an account…

　　1 Pet. 5:5 In like manner, younger men, be subject to elders; and all of you gird yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

　　We need to receive the function of the other members. When we submit to the authority of the seeing function, we will have no barrier with the Head, because the supply is in the authority. Whoever has the gift has that ministry; and whoever has the ministry has the authority…God’s appointed ministry is His authority. No one should reject it…God wants us to submit to indirect authorities (i.e., deputy authorities) so that we may receive spiritual supply. (CWWN, vol. 47, “Authority and Submission,” p. 175)

　　Other than God Himself, everyone, including the Lord Jesus, has to submit to authority on earth. We should see authority everywhere…Some never realize who their authority is. They have never submitted to anyone…If you know who you have to submit to, you will spontaneously know what position you should occupy in the Body, and you will stand in your proper position. But there are many Christians today in whom there is not even a thought about submission…Submission is the first lesson for those who work. It is actually the major part of their work.

　　In order to have the oneness of the Body, there must first be the life of the Head and then the authority of the Head. Without the life of the Head, there is no Body. Likewise, without the authority of the Head, there is no oneness of the Body. We must allow the life of the Head to rule so that the Body can become one. God requires that we submit not only to Him, but also to all His deputy authorities.

　　When Paul saw the light, he saw authority as well. He said, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). This was Paul putting himself directly under the Lord’s own authority. But then the Lord placed Paul under His appointed deputy authority. The Lord said, “Rise up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do” (9:6). From that time on Paul knew authority…At that time, the Lord placed Paul under a deputy authority…From the time we have believed in the Lord until now, how many deputy authorities have we submitted to?…Prior to this, we did not have the light, but today we have to see in a serious way God’s deputy authority…What God looks at is not His own direct authority. He looks at His established, indirect authorities. All those who do not submit to God’s indirect authorities cannot submit to God’s direct authority. (CWWN, vol. 47, “Authority and Submission,” pp. 120-122,165)

　　In the universe, only God is the direct authority to man. Other than God, all authorities are delegated. The parents represent God as the children’s authority, and the husbands represent God as the wives’ authority. The civil officers represent God as the citizens’ authority, and even the teachers in the schools, the managers in the offices, and the policemen on the streets are all delegated authorities. The elders in the church also represent God as authority.

　　It is easy today for man to submit to God’s direct authority, but it is not easy to submit to the delegated authority God has appointed. The reason for this is that you may not consider the delegated authority better or stronger than you are… When you come to a local church, the elders there may not have been saved as long ago as you were. They may not be as spiritual as you are, may not have received as much education as you have received, and may not be as capable as you are. But when you are there, you have to accept that delegated authority and submit to it. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 2, “The Elders’ Management of the Church,” p. 141)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1960, vol. 2, “The Elders’ Management of the Church,” chs. 5—6