Lesson 8: Understanding the Authority of God  

Last sessions we studied our responsibility to submit to civil government —   Now to the next level…

An excellent question was raised  è  How far do we go in submitting to ungodly authority?

Acts 5: 16  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.  17  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,  18  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.  19  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,  20  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.  21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.  But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the  senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.  22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,  23  Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24  Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.  25  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.  26  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,  28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.  29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.  33  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.  34  Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;  35  And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.  36  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.  37  After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.  38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:  39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.  40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

VERSE 29 IS THE ANSWER TO THIS DIFFICULT QUESTION:

Whenever a delegated authority requires us to go against God’s moral law = we must with gentle firmness yield to the supreme authority!    Ultimately, this is our highest calling à  to obey the King of Kings!

All authority flows down from him.

So we discussed authority in the civil government… what’s the next stage?

THE CHURCH:

I Thes 5: 8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;  13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

OVER  = “to preside by rank”        KNOW THEM  = “be aware, consider, perceive”

I Tim 5: 17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

I Cor 16: 15  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)  16  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.  17  I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.  18  For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

GOD SETS AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH      (Church & Civil are EQUAL but they overflow)

Each can correct the other – but the church has not police

1.     Elders that rule well

2.     preachers & teachers

3.     Corinth was told to submit to the first converts Stephanas…   (because of their sacrificial service)

4.     Because of I Cor 11   =  Men are to represent the authority of God / while woman represent the church

5.     The spirit world has authority levels   (remember Michael contending with Satan – did not rebuke him)

—  This is similar to David submitting to Saul’s fading authority!

LOOK AT THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE     — everyone spoke their peace… but then…

Acts 15: 12  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.  13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:    (SEE THEIR AUTHORITY?)

19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:  20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.  21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.  22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send  chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:             (THEY TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM)

è  Peter and Paul & Barnabus  related the facts…  Then James made the judgment.

ONE PERSON SAID:  A Christian should have 2 great senses in his life  =  1.  Sense of Sin  2.  & of Authority

THE FAMILY

Eph 5: 22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Submission is not a dirty word!   And authority is not a license for tyranny either!

Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  2  Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;  3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Col 3: 18  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.  19  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.  20  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.  21  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.  22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

WE CAN NOT IGNORE THE AUTHORITY GOD HAS PLACED IN THE HOME!

God has chosen the man to be the delegated authority  = the woman to represent the church

è it would be about impossible UNLESS a woman sees God’s authority in her home.

The REAL issue is your submission to God, not your husband.   (who are you submitted to?)

Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,  5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Remember the first commandment with promise?

Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

à  as always:  submission requires revelation!    (or its misery)

I Pet 3:1  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  2  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  5  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:  6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

ANOTHER LEVEL = OUR JOBS

Eph 6: 5  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;  6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;  7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

I Tim 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.  2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.  3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Titus 2: 9  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;  10  Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

PURLOINING = “not keeping back for oneself – embezzling”

IF WE WILL HONOR THE AUTHORITY OF GOD IN OTHERS = HE WILL HONOR IT IN US!

Delegated Authority is such a critical matter!   (we cannot reject delegated authorities & then obey God direct)

à REMEMBER THE PARABLE OF THE MASTER THAT SENT HIS SERVANTS & SON? (Luke 20)

God views them that reject delegated authority as rejecting authority of God himself.  No way around it!

à Even after God confronted Saul himself… he placed him right back to delegated = Anninias

è  GOD DARES TO TRUST MEN WITH HIS AUTHORITY – HOW DARE WE IGNORE IT!

We must dare to obey.    Step out & trust him.

IF AUTHORITY IS MISUSED – GOD WILL CORRECT IT!   Our Job is to acknowledge it!

Psa 105: 15  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.