Watchman Nee

Spiritual Authority Watchman Nee First American edition

Authority is a tremendous thing in the universe, nothing overshadows it. God s throne is established on His authority. God s authority represents God Himself. God alone is authority in all things; all the authorities of the earth are instituted by God. It is therefore important for us who desire to serve God to know the authority of God. God s authority is absolute, hence we must give Him absolute submission (our hearts attitude) and absolute obedience (our outward actions). But to His delegated authorities we can render absolute submission, but only relative obedience. For their authorities are circumscribed by the measure of the life of Christ in them. Only when they themselves submit to God s authority in them are they able to represent God. Hence there is much we have to learn about how to represent God.