Authority – the “Author” of Order.
“God is not the author of confusion.” Confusion is usually a byproduct of the absence of authority. Where people are not properly submitted to authority there is envy and strife and all kinds of confusion. But where authority is functioning properly there is order – and order brings peace.. Authority brings order into our lives. Authority brings restrictions, boundaries, accountability – the needed elements that make life have quality. When we come under God-given authority, we come under a covering; a covering of divine protection.
“The wise man is glad to receive instruction — But a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.” Conceit will cause us to pull back from authority. Humility will cause us to seek it out. What authority is to us is largely dependent upon our attitudes and behavior toward authority. It can be a source of judgment or blessing and empowerment depending to a great extent on how we view authority.
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” The word translated unprofitable means “to pay the cost”. In other words: It does not pay to rebel.
What an heavy responsibility it is to be in spiritual authority. Those in spiritual authority must give account to God for those under them, Heb 13:17. True spiritual authority must always be used for the benefit of those under the authority – not for the sole benefit of those in authority.
In the Ten Commandments one commandment has a specific promise attached to it. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
A blessed life begins with giving honor to whom honor is due. This attitude toward authority was to be learned in the home at an early age so that all benefits of protection and guidance can be fully realized. When authority is not properly exercised in the home, when authority is not honored and respected in the home chaos and stress fills people’s lives.
God provides protection, guidance and blessing through Authority. Everywhere in scripture where you find a submissive spirit you find blessing. Everywhere you find rebellion you find judgment. Submission is a choice not a feeling.
Luke 7:7-8 “For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Prayer, among others, is rooted in a good understanding of authority.
The noteworthy thing about the Centurion is his revelation of how authority works and the application of that to Jesus’ ability to meet his need. “. . .say the WORD, and my servant will be healed.” Words are powerful when spoken by a person authorized to say them. The centurion says, “…having soldiers under me and I say to one ‘Go’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come’ and he comes; and to my servant ‘Do this and he does it.” When the Command comes from one with authority the thing gets done.
The centurion is recognizing Jesus’ authority over sickness and disease. “All you have to do, Jesus, is command it—and the sickness has to go.” “…say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Our capacity to function in authority is directly dependant upon our submission to authority. Why? Legitimate authority must come down from above, it must be received rather than taken. Lucifer tried to rise up and take it. Korah tried to rise up and take it. Any effort to take control of an area God has not granted us is rebellion.
We, as preachers, must understand the scope God has given us, accept those boundaries from the Lord, and operate within our God-given realm of authority. In I Samuel 15 Saul did not do fulfill that principle. He had authority as king. He did NOT have authority of a priest. That’s why he was to wait for Samuel to come and offer up the sacrifices to the Lord. Rather than submit himself to Samuel as prophet and priest, Saul usurped the priestly role and offered up the sacrifices he was not authorized to offer. The word of the Lord to him in I Samuel 15:22 was; “…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”and in the next verse “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.”
A great difference between Saul and David had to do with their attitudes toward authority. Saul had little regard for authority-he asserted his own will in getting what he wanted. He overstepped his boundaries and invaded areas that didn’t belong to him. He abused his own authority and unjustly used it to persecute David rather than protect him.
It is no surprise that at the end of Saul’s life he is seeking out the Witch of Endor for information. Saul is an example of how rebellion leads to witchcraft and destruction. In contrast, David honored Saul as “the anointed of the Lord” –because he respected the position, the office of the king. David refused to take matters into his own hands but chose to trust God with the outcome.
Our capacity to function in authority is directly dependent upon our submission to authority! Submission to authority is an expression of great faith in God’s ultimate control of our lives.
— “Sir, we would see Jesus”
— jlg —