THE IMPORTANCE OF
AUTHORITY
"Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth
the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they
that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." (Romans 13:1-2)
1. At the heart of every sin and coming
short of the glory of God 5 a battle of the will and spiritual authority. A
battle whereby we submit either to God's will and authority or to our own will and authority.
2. Sin is nothing more then not doing what
God told us to do. God tells us not to lie, cheat, or steal, but we do. The sin
is not the action, but not being obedient to His word. The source and root of
all sin is disobedience (rebellion).
3. But, IF God could ever get us over our
selfishness (our self life) in satisfying our fleshly desires and our
pre-occupation with sin He could really use us.
4. Obedience to God is the source and root
of God's spiritual authority. The acts of God issues from God and His throne,
and His throne is established on His word (what He speaks) and His authority.
All things are created by God; through God's authority, even the physical laws
for the universe, and His word.
"I form the light, and create
darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
(Isaiah 45:7)
5.
For God's authority represents God Himself whereas His power stands only
for His acts. Thus, sin against His power is more easily forgiven than sin
against His authority, because the latter is a sin against God himself.
6. God alone is the authority in all
things; all the authorities of the earth are instituted by God. Authority is a
tremendous thing in the universe, but also a very misunderstood thing. It is
therefore imperative for us who desire to serve God, to know the authority of
God.
7. To offend God's authority is a
rebellion far more serious than that of offending God's holiness. Since it is a
matter of conduct, sinning is more easily forgiven than rebellion, the latter
being a matter of principle.
8. Satan's intent of setting his throne
above the throne of God was the thing which violated God's authority; it was
the principle of self-exaltation. Satan's fall was the product of his rebellion
against God's spiritual authority. Rebellion is one thing God ALWAYS condemns.
9. We preach
the gospel in order to bring men into God's authority (into the kingdom of God)
not into the church or so that we will all go to Heaven, but
how can we bring men into God's authority if we ourselves have not met His
authority?
10. To maintain God's authority we must be
subject to it with all our heart. It is absolutely necessary for us to meet
God's authority and to possess a basic knowledge of what it is. And, whoever
has met authority deals purely with authority and not with man. We do not obey
man, but God's authority in that man.
"Be ye followers (imitate
NKJV) of
me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
11. The greatest of God's demands on man is
not for him to bear the cross, to serve, make offerings, or even deny himself.
The greatest demand is for him to obey. Obedience alone is absolutely honoring
to God, for it alone takes God's will as its center.
12. For authority to be expressed there
must be subjection. If there is to be subjection, self needs to be excluded;
but according to one's self-life, subjection is not possible. This is only
possible when one lives "by the Spirit." It is the highest expression
of God's will.
13.. To serve God we are not called to
choose self-denial or sacrifice, rather we called to fulfill God's purpose. The
basic principle is not to choose the cross but to obey God's will. To do God's
will, the first thing we should meet is God authority.
14. Our entire relationship with God is
regulated by whether or not we have met His authority. If we have, then we
shall encounter authority everywhere, and being thus restrained by God we can
begin to be used by Him.
15. The two most important matters in our
Christian (Christlikeness) life is: trusting in God's
salvation and obeying His authority. "Trust and obey, for there is no
other way." This is the whole matter,
"Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty ofman." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
16. We
are not to find work to do, rather are we to be sent to work for God.
Once having understood this we shall truly experience the reality of the
authority of the kingdom of God. For us to do this we must have a great
revelation of God. In brief, then authority is not a matter of
outside
instruction but of inward revelation.