Lesson 1: Understanding the Authority of God

 

Dear Fellow Pastor,

Brother Mike Williams said it very succinctly when he noted that “this is the most

difficult time in America to pastor.”  His premise, (of which I agree) is that we have

3 distinct generations in the church at the same time.

1.    Post World War II        =          Taught to Respect Authority

2.    Baby Boomers               =          Taught to Question Authority

3.    Baby Busters                  =          Who just Ignore Authority J

I feel that the subject of authority is possibly the most needful understanding of our generation.  It is my desire to help assist and lift up the ministry of the pastor in these

difficult times.  Therefore,  the following pages are some help to assist you in preparing for the pulpit.

I did not write all these lessons.  I did interject some thoughts of my own throughout, but the bulk of these lessons were created and based on the excellent book by Watchman Nee entitled “Spiritual Authority.”  I heartily recommend the book to all.  Available at the PPH or any Bible Book Store.

What I have done, is broken part of the book into a 12 week series that I taught in my local church in the fall of 1996.   It was a great blessing to my people and I wanted to

share it with you.   Basically, I am giving you the benefit of the hours of time creating these lessons from the book as well as personal additions.  What you are seeing is my actual notes taken to the pulpit at NAC.   Read them, familiarize yourself with them, and take them to your pulpit to feed your people.

I pray they will bless your church as they have mine.

In His Service,

Michael G. Blankenship

Senior Pastor

July 1997

 

Understanding the Authority of God  #1

Titus 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.  3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.  9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.  10  A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;

11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

The church of the 90’s

 needs a revelation of spiritual authority!

Paul told Titus to Rebuke with all authority… teach them to be subject to powers…  To do good works…

POWERS: 1849. exousia, ex-oo-see’-ah; from G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subj.) force,

 delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

TEACH THE CHURCH TO BE SUBJECT TO DELEGATED AUTHORITIES!

( Who are they in the church?  Well – Elder’s  and the Bishop that appoints them )  deal with this later…

Listen:  If your getting your advice from others – it is not the counsel of this church.  (unless I specify)

POINT:  THERE IS A SATANIC PRINCIPLE THAT HAS tried to CREEP INTO the CHURCH

à Give nice cards to pastor etc… – but don’t want to obey and cooperate with the simplest things!

à THERE ARE 2 GREAT REVELATIONS NEEDED IN CHRISTIANITY:

1.  Learning to trust in his salvation   2.  Learning to obey his authority

SIN = “lawlessness”       à  It is an issue of the heart as well as outer action!

Rom 2: 12  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;  13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

THERE ARE 2 MAJOR PRINCIPLES IN THE WORLD

#1.    God’s Authority  

 #2.  Satan’s Rebellion

You can not serve God & simultaneously go the way of rebellion!

 Satan laughs when a rebellious person tries to accomplish things in the spirit or ministry.  (won’t work)

REMEMBER WHAT SATAN SAID:    Isaiah 14: 13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

HIS GOAL WAS NOT TO DO AWAY WITH GOD’S THRONE – JUST AVOID BEING SUBMITTED TO IT!

( when we work to avoid submitting to the God’s ordained authority in the church – it is a satanic principle!)

WE WHO SERVE GOD MUST UNDERSTAND AUTHORITY and how it works

(after you have been shocked you can really appreciate electric principle. — no longer act careless)

POINT:     Rebellion is much more worse then typical sinning.  (it is the intention of the heart)

Satan’s intent violated God’s Authority

AS WE ARE SERVING GOD = WE CAN NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO VIOLATE THE AUTHORITIES IN OUR LIFE  à   These kind of statements come forth:   “who does he think he is?”  “I don’t care what he said”

“well I just don’t agree with that”

è  We can become wicked by allowing a satanic principle to enter into our holy service toward God.  ç

Our greatest calling is to obey God’s authority in our life!

(God limited Saul because a man that will not submit to authority will never be allowed to stay in authority!)

I Sam 13: 13  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

So he went on to tell him that …

1 Sam 15: 22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

è OUR STUBBORNESS WILL BE REVEALED AND JUDGED OF GOD NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE

TRY TO MASK IT WITH PRETTY CORRECT WORKS!      à  Why?

**** Because UNTIL we have been smitten by God’s authority – then we will not pay any attention to it!

Saul wreaked havoc in the church UNTIL the Damascus road experience…

(then he submitted to unknown Ananias)

Acts 9: 5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

(this is why some people have trouble dealing with dept. heads or ushers)

ONCE YOU HAVE HAD GOD’S AUTHORITY REVEALED IN YOUR LIFE… You always look for it later.

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We do not just obey a man – we obey God’s authority vested in that man!    There is no other reason to obey!

è You know why “big time” Paul would listen to a little known Ananias? (only mentioned once in the book)

because he met God’s authority first.. and knew God was with Ananias.

è è   è   IT IS SO SAD WHEN SOMEONE MEETS MAN’S – BEFORE THEY MEET GOD’S AUTHORITY.

SOME HAVE SEEN ABUSIVE MEN in positions… then avoid it at all costs!

After you have seen the true authority of God – you don’t mind who the man is

That’s why so many have a problem submitting themselves to a human…  You have seen man before God, you MUST have a revelation of God’s authority before you can ever obey his leaders properly!

HEB 13: 15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

NOW WHO IS THAT SPEAKING OF?

13: 7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.    (CONSIDER THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE MEN)

1 Tim 5: 17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.      à  Why honor those that preach doctrine?

Ezek 3: 17  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.  18  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  19  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

observe…

Mat 7: 19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

è   JESUS gave a rebuke to those that do religious works from the standpoint of unsubmitted flesh!

Acts 19: 13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.  14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them,

and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.  18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their

deeds.  19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  20  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

You cannot enter into the work of the Spirit just because you think your ready!!!

If you enter the work of ministry UNSUBMITTED you will be torn apart

We are not to find our own work to do…  But rather find God’s will for our life à and obey it

After we understand this, we can enjoy the wonderful experience of walking in God’s authority…

è Ask yourself a question…  WHO ARE YOU SUBMITTED TO?  (whose authority are you under?)

I asked an Evangelist this in my van… he said:  “I’m under authority – all I do is by authority”

I SIMPLY ASKED WHO THEN ARE YOU SUBMITTED TO?  — “put a face on it”

 

è  If you cannot put a FACE and a NAME to who you are submitted to = your fooling yourself!

GOD IS GOING TO DELIVER US FROM REBELLION SO THAT WE CAN BE HEALED!

13^th chapter of Romans is an excellent overall treatment to understand the principle of authority.

Rom 13:1  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.  2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.  8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

We need to consider these things in our heart tonight before we are deceived