I'm so glad you're all here today!
For those of you who are here for the first time, welcome!
Thank you for joining us today!
Let's begin with our text from Scripture:
"so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."
2 Corinthians 2:7-11
The point here is, OBEDIENCE WILL BE TESTED!
ARE WE GIVING “GLORY” TO THE DEVIL BY ACKNOWLEDGING HIM?
The devil has no power over a Holy Spirit filled person!
Isn't that true?
Greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world!
Amen?
DECEPTION IS A CONSTANT PITFALL FOR ALL OF US!
He is a master illusionist!
He is a master manipulator!
He IS A LIAR!
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:8-11
Let me give you all an example of what I'm speaking about here..
When our military examines the enemies missiles that are pointed at us… it is NOT giving the enemy glory!
IT IS VIGILANCE!
"And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead"
2 Corinthians 1:7-9
Does that sound to you like believer’s can be oppressed and effected by spirits?
You
know, I believe that many folks can become overly excessive in thinking their about
the devil - However, you can also be blinded by acting as if he’s not
there!
SPIRITS ARE PART OF THIS ISSUE OF AUTHORITY.
I AM TRYING TO HELP US BE BALANCED…
Remember we are a 70% first and second generation church!
“To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.”
And those who have not heard shall understand.”
Romans 15:20-23
HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR:
IF A CHURCH IS FULLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARD THE FIRST HEARER,
We will all have an easier walk!
"Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us"
1 Thessalonians 2:18
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?"
Galatians 5:6-7
Satan attempted to snare Jesus Himself with the temptation in the wilderness, do you really think he is not trying you?
REMEMBER ABOVE: Paul tested their obedience by telling them to forgive… Did they?
Let’s learn some more stuff about the Authority of God...
"These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated
and Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk,
and became uncovered in hi tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.
So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said:
“Cursed be Canaan;
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brethren.”
And he said:
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem,
and may Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he dwell in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be his servant."
And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died."
Genesis 9:19-29
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brethren.”
And he said:
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem,
and may Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he dwell in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be his servant."
And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died."
Genesis 9:19-29
NOAH MADE A MISTAKE WITH FLESHLY DESIRE…
But his obedience created a righteousness in his life that overcame his mistake…
NOAH was the authority over his family, which was the whole world at the moment.
HAM SAW HIM UNCOVERED.
HIS MISTAKE WAS TO NOT HONOR THE DIGNITY & AUTHORITY of him BECAUSE IT WAS HIS DAD
Our flesh loves to see any defect in our authorities, so as to throw off mental restraint.
It is in these times our hearts will truly be TESTED!
Ham told his brothers & mocked him, which showed his rebellious heart..
His brothers came back in with the covering…
Listen to what happened after Noah woke up = Cursed be Canaan!
OFTEN WHEN WE DEMONSTRATE A REBELLIOUS HEART - OUR KIDS PAY FOR IT!
But that's not fair you say... QUIT TRYING TO FIGURE HIM OUT AND JUST LEARN OF HIM!
His ways are Higher than our ways!
Remember the last lesson?
Is your understanding of right & wrong coming from God or self?
Let me put it this way...
THE WHOLE WORLD IS HELD BY HIS WORD!
Grass is green because “he said so”
The sky is blue because “he said so”
Dirt is brown because “he said so”
ALL CREATION LISTENS EXCEPT FOR US!
We are the only creation, made by God, that wants to know... "Why?"
BEFORE we'll obey His Authority!
Yet, we KNOW He is smarter, wiser, more powerful!
Here's my Point...
THOSE THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO AUTHORITY SHALL BE SLAVES TO THOSE THAT ARE! Anyone that wishes to serve must obey! You cannot serve lawlessness!
Just listen up and learn a simple principle…
"Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying:
‘By those who come near Me
I must be regarded as holy;
And before all the people
I must be glorified.’ ”
I must be regarded as holy;
And before all the people
I must be glorified.’ ”
So Aaron held his peace.
Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.”So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said."Leviticus 10:1-5
WHAT A SOMBERING STORY ....
And it begs the question...WHY?
“Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest."
Exodus 28:1-4
They served as priest, not because of personal dedication, but because of family lineage!
And that's okay!
The oil flowed down Aaron’s head… He was the Priest, the authority, and THEY WERE HIS HELPERS!
Just prior to the their death we see them working at his side!
"He also killed the bull and the ram as sacrifices of peace offerings, which were for the people. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled all around on the altar, and the fat from the bull and the ram—the fatty tail, what covers the entrails and the kidneys, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver; and they put the fat on the breasts. Then he burned the fat on the altar; but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.
Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."
Leviticus 9:18-24
God never intended His sons to serve sacrifices independently!
And they assumed they could!
In other words, They served out of order, without obedience to God's Authority!
It was Strange Fire, totally Man Originated!
God, did not draw it out, man's ZEAL birthed it!
THEY FAILED TO SEE WHO WAS IN AUTHORITY!
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."
Romans 10:1-3
In closing.....
God wanted Aaron’s sons to serve under Aaron’s authority… until the time of their own ministry.
We saw this principle in the New Testament also… Paul & Barnabus / Paul & Timothy / Peter & Mark etc…
Some were responsible while others were helping but it was a team ministry!
The lesson is SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND: Who ever tries to serve without first meeting authority is offering strange fire.
Rebellion changes the nature of fire!
Our “if he can do it, than I can do it” ATTITUDE IS PURE REBELLION!
There is no place in the God's Kingdom for individual isolated work.
We must cooperate, together, under His Rule and Authority
MANY MEN TODAY ARE SERVING OUTSIDE OF GOD INDEPENDENTLY -
Outside of His Authority
There are those that have complained about me being too hard or expecting too much has only been in reference to leadership and ministry NOT salvation!
But that's fine with me... I serve God, not man!
I'm just trying to keep my fellow pastors, and church leaders from unwittingly serving strange fire!
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries