Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:17
OPENING: The Bible clearly states that God gives some individuals spiritual authority over others … There are various levels of authority in any person's life, and each of these levels may involve different people in different positions of authority … We must begin with the highest authority, God … Genesis 1:1 states “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” … Everything that exists was created by God, and by that fact, God has ultimate authority over all things … Jesus Christ, holds all authority Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. … He distributed some of that authority to various people on earth … Why? … Because of our sinful nature …
Level’s Of Authority:
1. Civil or governmental … Romans 13:1-6 “the powers that be are ordained of God.” … Whether rulers are believers or not, and whether they recognize it or not, their civil authority is actually a type of spiritual authority, for “they are God's ministers,” exercising power on God's behalf … When we resist their authority, we are actually resisting God … The Bible reminds us in Colossians 3:22-24 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. … Submission and service to human authorities should be done “with all your heart, for the Lord, and not unto men.”
2. Within the home … Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. … wives submit to their husbands as they would submit to God … the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church … We see it again in 1 Corinthians 11:3 … the woman submitting to the man, who submits to Christ, who submits to the Father … Children are commanded to submit to their parents … Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20
3. Authority within the church … As Christians, we are all joint-heirs with Christ Romans 8:17 and have full access to God by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 2:18 … He has chosen to place some in positions of authority for the sake of order and growth Ephesians 4:11-13 …
2. Within the home … Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. … wives submit to their husbands as they would submit to God … the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church … We see it again in 1 Corinthians 11:3 … the woman submitting to the man, who submits to Christ, who submits to the Father … Children are commanded to submit to their parents … Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20
3. Authority within the church … As Christians, we are all joint-heirs with Christ Romans 8:17 and have full access to God by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 2:18 … He has chosen to place some in positions of authority for the sake of order and growth Ephesians 4:11-13 …
The early church recognized the authority of the apostles and submitted to their teaching and direction Acts 6:2, 15:2 … Next were the elders, or pastors, of the churches … As Paul and Barnabas established churches in their journeys Acts 14:23, they ordained elders in every church … These elders were responsible for teaching, supervising, and being examples to the church 1 Peter 5:1-3 … Believers are told to acknowledge and respect those who are over them in spiritual matters 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 …
It’s Up To Us:
In matters of authority, the underlying guiding principle is submission … 1 Peter 5:5-6 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
In matters of authority, the underlying guiding principle is submission … 1 Peter 5:5-6 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
God has chosen some to hold authority and others to be under that authority … The most surprising thing is that He has also taught that one of the highest qualifications for those in positions of authority is humility … Mark 9:35 “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” … As a Pastor I am here to guide and direct you … To steer you to truth … You are responsible for following the truth …
Live In The Spirit:
Romans 8:5-8 … When we submit to God and follow truth we can live by the Spirit … The Spirit lives in us … Our bodies are dead to sin … We are alive in God’s righteousness … Love one another, respect one another, lift each other up … Do not allow our sinful nature to control us … Vs. 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God … We have received the Spirit of sonship … We are accepted as His children … Heirs of the kingdom of heaven … It is up to us, each and every one of us … I can not force you to live in the Spirit, I can only show and teach you how …
CLOSING: God has put in place an order of authority … He has given it to us because of our sinful nature … No one is perfect and we all fall short of God’s glory … Through God’s plan and His truth we can live the lives God wants for us … We shouldn't need anyone hovering over our shoulder watching our every move that leads to sin … We are responsible for our own actions, lets make them Godly actions … Pastor, what’s your job? … Prayerfully I answered that tonight …
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