Lesson 7: Understanding the Authority of God 

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.

à POWER:     1849. exousia,  from G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery (concr. magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control),

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

There is no “delegated authority” but of God.       (and those ordained of God)

VSE 6 (ministers) = “public servants”

I Pet 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

GOD IS THE SOUCE OF ALL AUTHORITY

WHY?  God designed authority to manifest himself to man.  When you meet authority = you meet God

The greatest thing is to come to know God by his presence – but you can know him by his authority…

In the Garden – they knew him by his presence  —  afterward through his laws (authority)

TONIGHT  I WANT TO DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY

Mark 12:1  And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.  2  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.  3  And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.  4  And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.  5  And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.  6  Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.  7  But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.  8  And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9  What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the  vineyard unto others.  10  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:  11  This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  12  And they sought to

lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

God sets people up to work within his authority!  (we understand that… but don’t like it!) J

è Some have trouble obeying men because of some disagreement or other.  (mistakes)

è ANSWER:  Learn to obey authority in the man instead of just seeing the man!

IF WE ONLY OBEY GOD’S DIRECT AUTHORITY – THEN WE WILL MISS MOST OF IT!

( this is called the school of hard knocks)

POINT:  Paul spoke to be careful of resisting God’s authority.

(there should be a long time of testing before you release yourself from a delegated authority.

Paul he who resists the (power) resists God

Wanna see something interesting?

God Gave man the authority to govern animals & plants etc.. in the garden

Gen 2: 19  And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.  20  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

HOWEVER, after the flood – it changes a bit…

Gen 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  2  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.  4  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  5  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.  6  Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.  7  And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.  8  And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,  9  And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

CATCH IT?   è    VSE  6   God turned over governing of humans to humans

                     From Noah on – the authority of governing men was in the hands of men!

God gave men the law and some ordinances  … one of which was…

Exo 22: 28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

è  Even tho some governments were ungodly – and  sin full = the principle of authority was in force

**** This is why God will judge a nation by its King.    (He is a reflection of the people)  ****

è JESUS operated under the authority of his day…   (both Gov’t & the high priest)

Jesus was not a person that came to over throw the government  (tho they feared that)

Acts 1: 6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.   à   THEY THOUGHT OF POLITICAL POWER

Matt 22: 17  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?  19  Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  20  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  21  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the  things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.  22  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

WATCH THIS:     (after being silent = he answered the authority of the high priest)  even unto death!

Matt 26: 62  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?  63  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

The scripture teaches us a basic reality that we should obey local authority in our lives

(they are not a terror)    =  they bear not the sword in vain

YES, UNGODLY MEN MISUSE GODLY AUTHORITY  = For which there is a great price…

LAWS à  IN PRINCIPLE ARE THERE TO PUNISH EVIL ( reward good)

è  BUT WHEN ANTICHRIST RULES:  (Good is called evil & evil good)

WE AS SAINTS SHOULD NOT CARELESSLY MOCK GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS

à This is tough sometimes!    (little respect for current administration (but)  much respect for his authority)

Here is some meat to chew on…

II Pet 2: 9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11   Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;  13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

à That’s why there is “qualifications” for those that are put into PUBLIC AUTHORITY.

 

Because a public leader can bring much shame to the authority of God!  (room for grumbling)

We are called to recognize and obey the authority of God – where ever it is!

à  HOW HARD THAT  IS UNTIL WE SEE GOD’S AUTHORITY IN MEN!

SOME FOLKS:  Will only obey authority in one person    (This shows lack of revelation about authority)

****  Those that understand authority can be so easily pricked with conviction over disobediance

CONVERSLY:  à   Those that have not understood authority do not realize how rebellious they are!

è  PAUL KICKED AGAINST THE PRICKS UNTIL HE “SAW” THE AUTHORITY OF GOD

(then even little unknown Anninias could teach him the way)

This is the ROOT of our inability to learn and change…   Authority is easy to obey after seeing!

****  NEXT WE WILL STUDY GOD’S AUTHORITY IN THE HOME & IN THE CHURCH ****

( God wants his authority to be fully manifested in the body )

THE DAY IS COMING THAT THE EARTHLY KINGDOMS SHALL BECOME HIS…

Isa 9: 7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Rev 11: 15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,  17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

RIGHT NOW =  THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM ½ WAY BETWEEN THESE 2 REALITIES!

We must stand tall until God brings everything into submission