October 20, 2013

Authority: October 17, 2013



TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2013.

AUTHORITY

DEFINITION:

The power to determine or settle issues; the right to govern or control; authorization; adjudicate; a power or right delegated as given.

SCRIPTURE:

For there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Romans 13:1.

All authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18.

When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2.

For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Do I have to? How many times have parents heard that from their children? It is inbred in us to resist authority. It began with Adam and Eve when they resisted God’s authority. When people become their own authority and act on their own opinions of right and wrong the results are horrendous.

As Christians we need to look at the word "AUTHORITY" from several perspectives. First, the authority that God has over us as Christians. And second, what God says about the authority we have in the individual roles that we have been given or assumed in life.

The Bible declares God to be the supreme authority and the source of all authority. The scripture is clear that there is absolutely no authority given to man other than by God.

By the time that the Children of Israel had left Egypt, they were a large nation and needed a provision of authority to unify them, to give leadership to them and to keep order. God exercised His authority with them and delegated authority to the priests and the prophets to guide their spiritual needs. Later, when Israel demanded to have a "King," God gave authority to a king to govern and establish civil law.

When we are in a position of authority in this life, we must recognize that all of our authority comes from God and we should exercise our power according to God's rules and remember that God will judge us on our performance. Concerning the authority of our leaders in government and at our work place, unfortunately, we live in a corrupt and sinful world so we have corrupt leaders.

As we read in the accounts of the Kings that ruled over Israel, some were good and others were evil and corrupt. The corrupt rule of the ungodly kings led to Israel’s destruction.

We must be wise in choosing those who are in authority over us. The words of Proverbs 29:2 are true. We will groan when we are under the authority of wicked rulers. We must choose rulers who are God-fearing and righteous. Believers must pray for those in authority to make righteous decisions. Nevertheless, we as Christians must accept the authority of those in positions of authority over us as long as it does not conflict with God's laws and moral standards. And remember, when we rebel against those in authority over us we are rebelling against God.

Concerning authority in the home, the scripture gives us in Ephesians chapter 5 specific instructions on how family members should relate to one another. As the head of the wife, husbands are to love their wives and wives are to submit to their husbands. This does not mean that the husband is the ruler nor is the wife inferior. But it does mean that the husband is the spiritual leader, always thinking of his wife's best interests, and his wife should acknowledge his leadership.

A husband that loves the Lord and is wise will not take advantage of his leadership role and a wife who loves the Lord will wisely not seek to undermine her husband's leadership. Unfortunately, this line of authority is not popular today and is not being practiced in most homes.  Consequently we have seen family values eroding and more than 50% of all marriages fail.

Men no longer know how to lead their families properly under God's direction. They have abused their role. Wives want to be equal today and do not want to be subject in any way to their husband as is God's plan for marriage.

It is very important that parents establish with their children, at a very young age that they (the parents) are in charge. They must understand early in life that it is God's plan for, "children to obey their parents."

Many today when analyzing the ills of society blame it on the schools. Teachers will tell you that one of the biggest problems they deal with in the classroom is the lack of respect students have for the teachers and those in authority over them. It is hard to teach children who are not willing to submit to authority.

Teaching to submit to authority is the job of parents and needs to begin when the children are very young. This is not the job of the school, the church or the government. Children who never learn to submit to authority will not be successful in the work place. They will experience trouble in life. Unfortunately, their troubles often bring pain and suffering to others.

It cannot be stressed too strongly just how important it is for us to recognize and respect God's authority in all that we do as individuals, as a family, with our neighbors and in our work place. For Christians --- all authority is with God.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Prepare my heart to live a life that respects Your authority in all situations. Give me a new respect for You, my family and all those that I make contact with today. Continue to teach me daily to trust You more.


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