July 21st

“Dealing  with  Authorities”

Pr.Silvana

“Authority” = “A person or organization having political or administrative power and control; the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.” (Oxford Dictionary)

} Examples of authorities

Parents/husband                  Teacher/Coordinator        Pastor/Spritual Leader               Policeman

                                     (politician / governor / ruler)    (boss / supervisor / director)

}  John 19.11a – “Jesus answered, You would have no power (authority) over me if it were not given to you from above.” – It’s what Jesus said to Pilate before being sentenced to death.

}  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.) – authority of the husband over the wife; 6.1-3 (Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother —which is the first commandment with a promise — that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.) - authority of the parents over the children; 6.5-8 (Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.) - authority of the boss/leader over the employee/servant.

}  I Timothy 2.1-4 (I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.) – praying for the authorities.

} Titus 3.1 (Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.)

} I Peter 2.13-15, 18-19 ( Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.)

}  Romans 13.1-6 (Submission to the Authorities) “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”

}  1 Samuel 15.23 – “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” – King Saul was rejected by God because of his disobedience / rebellion.

}  Numbers 12.1-15 = Aaron (Moses' brother) and Miriam (Moses’ sister) opposed (rebelled, criticized, despised) Moses and, because of that, God rebuked them and punished them.

}  - God doesn’t accept any rebellion. He doesn’t tolerate anyone who raises up against authority.

TO REFLECT…

}  God takes this subject very seriously.

}  It’s something that God never negotiates (it’s non-negotiable).

}  It’s one of God’s principles and we cannot change His principles or negotiate them.

}  The way we deal with this subject determines our “success” in life. If we find difficult to submit ourselves to authorities, to respect, obey and acknowledge authorities, for sure, we will not succeed or prosper in life. It will become an obstacle, a barrier, a hindrance on our way, preventing us to go ahead.