Spiritual authority, incarnated in giftedness
If "the fullness of Him who fills all in all" is in the body of Christ according to Eph.1:22,23 and yet all authority on earth belongs to Jesus (Mt 28:18)...think about it. Maybe a conclusion you draw is that His authority is in His body, the church...and it is incarnated in giftedness; that is, in spiritual authority given by grace, not inherent by position. Try to follow me here...
Christ gave gifts to His church, those which He Himself embodied. And since all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus, evidently where we find that authentic, recognizable giftedness of Christ...the fruit and life of Jesus, it is here that spiritual authority arises.
For instance, where I recognize the gift of faith, I receive that...it is the giftedness of Jesus in that realm and I submit and partake of His provision. Jesus said "Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward." And though gifting/function may at some point be recognized corporately by title, (elders etc.) their authority and role in leadership is by His grace, "according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Eph.4:7). It is not about hierarchy, no, it's giftedness, anointing, order. The supernatural giftedness to equip, to serve, not natural ability or talent.
Jesus was without honor in His hometown and could therefore do no miracles. He was rejected by men 2000 years ago and He is still rejected today whenever the church refuses to recognize and receive His giftedness through those whom His endorsement, clearly, is on. Not only is God dishonored by this but the body of Christ is cheated out of its full inheritance. The point is that unless we discern the body of Christ, we will not submit to the giftedness of Christ in a person...we can never derive the benefits of that gift. The measure with which we will receive an authentic God-given gift in someone determines, to a large extent, the measure of Christ we will receive in return.
