SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY (I)

“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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 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: 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” – Romans 13:1-7 KJV

“who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” – Hebrews 1:3 KJV

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” – Matthew 6:13 KJV

“And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 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. 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.” – Matthew 26:62-64 KJV

The subject of Spiritual Authority is established on the truth that God is the only authority in the universe. That all other authorities are appointed by God and that there is nothing greater than God’s authority in the universe and nothing can surpass it. If we want to serve God, then we must know and understand God’s authority. A few principles will help us establish this:

1. God’s throne is established upon authority and all things have been created by the authority of God. All laws on earth are held together through authority. Hence, the Bible says that God upholds all things by the word, which is His authority (Heb. 1:3b). It does not say that God upholds all things by His power. God’s authority represents God Himself.

2. God has His appointed authorities in the nation, family and in the church. In 1 Timothy 2:2 Paul admonishes us to pray for Kings and all in authority. He says it is good in the sight of God.

3. In the church the five-fold ministry and elders who lead and establish God’s flock in the local church are God’s appointed authority. God commands that all should submit to these in the church. 1 Peter 5:5 Your head pastor or general overseer is God’s appointed authority in your local church. He is the highest authority and has the mandate to appoint the ordained pastors and ministers in all the church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are to submit to all of these.

4. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Paul speaks of those who are elderly in age, while 1 Corinthians 16:15 speaks of the household of Stephanas as “the firstfruits of Achaia (indicating seniority in the order of salvation), and they have set themselves to minister to the saints.” Stephanas was exceedingly humble and had set himself to minister to the saints. In verse 16 the apostle further said, “You also be subject to such ones, and to everyone co-working and laboring.”

5. We should see authority everywhere, both in our church groups and departments.

REBELLION TO AUTHORITY IS TANTAMOUNT DISOBEDIENCE

Satan became Satan because he overstepped God’s authority. He wanted to compete with God and to stand in opposition to God. Rebellion was the cause of the fall of Satan.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 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: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”Ezekiel 28:13-17 KJV

Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:13-17 speak of the transgression and the fall of Satan. Isaiah 14 tells us that Satan violated God’s authority, while Ezekiel 28 tells us that he violated God’s holiness. Violating God’s authority is a matter of rebellion; it is more serious than violating God’s holiness.

We can never violate the matter of authority. To do so is to follow the principle of Satan. We can never preach the word of Christ under the principle of Satan which is rebellion. There is a possibility in God’s work that we can stand in principle on Satan’s side, while we stand in doctrine on Christ’s side. All the while, we may think that we are still doing the Lord’s work. This is a very evil thing.

THE GOD-ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS OF AUTHORITY In the World – 1 Tim 2:1-5

There are four signs of submission to authority on earth: (Mark 12:13-17) rendering

• (1) tax to whom tax is due,
• (2) custom to whom custom is due,
• (3) fear to whom fear is due, and
• (4) honor to whom honor is due.

For a Christian, abiding by the law is not something done out of fear of punishment but out of the exercise of his conscience before God. If he does not submit, his conscience will be condemned. This is why we have to learn to submit to our local government. God’s children cannot criticize or revile the government lightly

In the Family – God has established His authority in the family.God has established the husband as the deputy authority of Christ, and the wife as the representation of the church. Unless the wife sees the authority that the husband represents, the authority that God has set up, it is difficult for her to submit. She has to see that it is not a matter of her husband but a matter of God’s authority. Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1

Children are to obey their parents in the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-3
Servants are to obey their masters, even as they obey the Lord. Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:9-10

I hope this has opened the eyes of your understanding regarding God’s sovereignty. We will delve deeper into the dynamics of God’s authority in the church and in our lives. May we acknowledge who God is in order to revere Him in all of his power and majesty.

Shalom, Pastor Ron.