Good Morning Church!
What a joy to see all of your smiling faces!
Heavenly Father,
This is your day
We're gathered here in this place today
as Your church and we shall praise You!
Lord,
Make Yourself known to us
as we worship, magnify and exalt Your Holy Name
Lord,
This is your day
and Your people shall declare your name before men!
Lord,
This is your day,
let us rejoice!
Amen
"Let every soul be subject
to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For
he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid;
for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an
avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
Romans 13:1-7
In continuing our series on the Authority Of God Part 7
Today we're talking about the Concept of Delegated Authority
The Bible uses a variety of Hebrew and Greek terms that represent the
semantic domain of power although they may be translated in different
ways. For example, the King James Version uses "power" for a large
number of Hebrew and Greek terms. The Greek term exousia
is most often translated "power" in the King James Version but it is
almost always translated "authority" in modern versions. The contextual
nuance of each occurrence of a Hebrew or Greek word must be considered
in translation.
The biblical description of power relates primarily to God.
Power is an inherent characteristic of God.
Romans 1:20
It is the result of his nature.
God's kind of power is seen in his creation
Jesus as the God-Man demonstrated both the intrinsic and derived aspects
of power. He proclaimed His power and authority as derived from the
Father.
John 5:27, John 17:2, John 5:16-23
He also demonstrated that his power was derived from his authority as
the Son of Man and that the two were an inseparable testimony to His
divine nature.
Matthew 9:6-7; Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1
There is no “delegated authority” except God, and those ordained of God.
"having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully."
1 Peter 2:12-19
GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL AUTHORITY
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away."
Many in the church understand this… but they don’t like it!
Some have trouble obeying men because of some disagreements, mistakes or personality conflicts.
Others must learn to obey authority in the man instead of just seeing the man!
The apostle Paul spoke to be careful of resisting God’s authority.
He said he who resists power, resists God.
If you're only obeying God's direct authority, you're missing most of it!
God Gave man the authority to govern animals & plants etc.. in the Garden of Eden.
"Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him."
Genesis 2:19-20
But after the flood, that changes a bit...
"So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
By man his blood shall be shed;
For in the image of God
He made man.
And as for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Bring forth abundantly in the earth
And multiply in it.”
Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you."
He is a reflection of the people!
Jesus operated under the authority of His day… both Government & the high priest.
Jesus was not a person that came to overthrow the government, though that is what they feared.
"Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."
Acts 1:6-7
They were thinking political power
"Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Matthew 22:17-22
But watch this!
After being silent, He answered the authority of the high priest, even unto death!
"And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:62-64
Scripture teaches us a basic reality that we should obey local authority in our lives.
And yes, ungodly men misuse and abuse their Godly authority, but mark my words,
one day, they shall pay a tremendous price!
Laws are in place, to punish evil and reward good.
But bear witness! In the last days, good will be called evil and evil, good!
As Christians, we should not carelessly mock government leaders.
Though I'll be the first to admit, this can be difficult at best sometimes..
While I'll refrain from sharing my personal opinions on any given administration,
though we may not like presiding leader we MUST respect the authority of the position.
"then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, like
natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the
things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own
corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children."
2 Peter 2:9-14
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!
And many have!
In closing....
We are called to recognize and obey the authority of God, where ever it is!
And what a difficult challenge that can be, UNTIL we see God's authority in men!
Some folks, choose to only obey the authority in one person.
This shows a lack of maturity and spiritual revelation regarding authority.
Those that understand authority can be so easily pricked with conviction over disobedience.
However, those who do not, are blind to how rebellious they are!
Paul fought against the pricks of conviction, that is until he saw the authority of God!
This is the root of our inability to learn and change… Authority is easy to obey after seeing God's principals!
"Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
Isaiah 9:7
God wants his authority to be fully manifested in the body.
And now for the blessing...
And now may the the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries