Col. 2:15 "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
1 Cor. 15:24 "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
CIVIL, SERVANT, AND "SPIRITUAL" AUTHORITY
Scripture makes a distinction between civil and a new type of authority, servant authority, and often contrasts the two - allowing civil authority to continue in this world until the end of the age, but forbidding it in the church.
We know how the kingdom of this world works: power, the "pecking order", money, dominion, class distinctions, titles, status, etc. Should such practices be permitted in the Kingdom of God? What is the destiny of those who "exercise authority", "lord it over", and "want to be first"?
The question is important today because many Christian sects have adopted the world's practices and teachings of power structure, calling it "spiritual authority". What does Jesus think of this? Is this teaching Scriptural? Does it sow to the flesh or Spirit? Which do we prefer?
FIRST: HOW IS THE CHRISTIAN TO INTERACT WITH CIVIL AUTHORITY?
Rom. 13:1-6 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."
1 Pet. 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
TEMPORARY, PRACTICAL SUBMISSION TO WORLDLY AUTHORITY VS ETERNAL SUBMISSION TO GOD
Luke 20:20-25 "And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."
WHEN NOT TO OBEY THE AUTHORITIES OF THIS WORLD
Acts 4:19 "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more thanunto God, judge ye."
Acts 5:28 "Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
THE SIMPLE AUTHORITY STRUCTURE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matt. 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
1 Tim. 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
Eph. 1:21 "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,but also in that which is to come:"
Phil. 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
1 Cor. 8:6-7 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."
GOD'S "SERVANT AUTHORITY" IS NOT OF THIS WORLD
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"
Luke 9:1-2 "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
AUTHORITY OVER WHAT?
Luke 10:17, 19-20 "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."
Richard Halverson: "Evangelicals seem to want power only so they can accomplish their agenda, which is not a Kingdom of God agenda. They want a spiritual revival so they can be more materialistic. . . But the surest way for this to be a better world is for people to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The model for Christian leadership in America today is not the entrepreneur, not the CEO - it is the suffering servant, Jesus Christ."
A COMPLETELY NEW KIND OF AUTHORITY
John 13:3-8 "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Richard Foster: "Whenever there is trouble over who is the greatest, there is trouble over who is the least. That is the crux of the matter for us, isn't it? Most of us know we will never be the greatest; just don't let us be the least. Gathered at the Passover feast, the disciples were keenly aware that someone needed to wash the others' feet. The problem was that the only people who washed feet were the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they were not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least. Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness."
NOW YOU KNOW . . .
John 13:12-17 "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Spiritual authority is authority to serve, authority to put yourself last, authority to say no to the world's ideas of self-promotion. Christ has told us His secret . . . and we are authorized to imitate Him. To obey Christ means putting yourself at the whim of the needs of others, to give up your rights and humble yourself, leaving the promotion and control up to God.
HOW DOES THIS BUILD ON THE PREVIOUS TEACHING AND EMPHASIS OF JESUS?
Luke 22:24-27 "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."
Mark 10:42-45 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Do not miss the clear teaching of Jesus concerning those who wish to "lord over" in His kingdom.
Matt. 20:25-28 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
LET'S IMITATE THE WORLD!
1 Sam. 8:4-20 "Then all the elders of Israel .... said unto him, .... now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me .... Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations ...."
THE DESIRE OF THE FLESH FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THIS WORLD
Jer. 5:26-29 "For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"
Jer. 5:30-31 "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
GOD'S PEOPLE CAN EMBRACE THE AUTHORITY OF THIS WORLD AND CALL IT "SPIRITUAL"
Jer. 23:10 "For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right."
Ezek. 34:4 "The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them."
Gal. 2:2, 6 "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But of these who seemed to be somewhat,(whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat inconference added nothing to me:"
Mark 12:38-40 "And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation."
THE CARNAL MIND WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND SERVANT AUTHORITY
Matt. 21:23-27 "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? .... And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
John 19:10-11 "Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."
ARE WE NOT CARNAL?
To justify our disobedience to Scripture - often the following verse is trotted out by those among us who oppose repentance to God's perspective:
2 Pet. 2:10 "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, ...."
But the authority being despised here is the authority of God by those who are self-willed, carnal, and unrighteous. God has stated clearly that He is the only spiritual authority, and thinking otherwise is a forbidden sell-out to His Lordship. And we should know better. . .
1 Cor. 3:1-4 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: forwhereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?"
The carnal, stiff-necked rebellion in us refuses to recognize true authority and prefers to boast in men. This tendency God would skewer with His Word and Truth, but the flesh "don't like it". Real, servant authority makes the true "rebellious" (those who would rather not experience self-sacrifice, and who would rather 'lord it over') among us extremely angry, for it exposes their sin in sharp relief.
2 Pet. 2:10 "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."
Richard Foster: "The authority of which Jesus spoke is not the authority of the "pecking order". We must clearly understand the radical nature of Jesus teaching on this matter. He was not just reversing the "pecking order" as many suppose. He was abolishing it. The authority of which he spoke was not an authority to manipulate and control. It was an authority of function, not of status. . . The spiritual authority of Jesus is an authority not found in position or title, but in a towel.
ADVICE TO FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ABOUT HOW TO PRACTICE AND RECOGNIZE REAL AUTHORITY
Matt. 23:10-12 "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
1 Pet. 5:3 "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT?
Heb. 13:17 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
SERVANT AUTHORITY: TO HELP/FEED/HEAL, NOT TO "LORD"/ORDER/CONTROL
2 Cor. 1:24 "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."
2 Cor. 13:9-10 "For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me toedification, and not to destruction."
Mark 9:35 "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all,and servant of all."
John 21:17 ".... Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
MOTIVE CHECK
We have been authorized to imitate Christ, authorized to serve, to meet the needs of others. Often this means assuming a position in the eyes of men, but we are not to revel in this. If we find ourselves in a position of man-made authority, we should do everything with the intent to serve, even if that means making decisions for others. We are to imitate the Chief Shepherd, who will return shortly to have a word with some unfaithful stewards who have exploited, philandered, and "lorded over" the flock.
1 Pet. 5:2-4 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
WATCH OUT!
Shepherds serve the sheep, wolves clothe themselves with so-called "spiritual authority" and serve themselves. . .
Acts 20: 28-31 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
AND PAUL'S WARNING CAME TRUE
2 Corinth. 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
AND HE REBUKED THE WILLING VICTIMS
2 Cor. 11: 19-20 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
WE CAN HONOR THE LORD WITH RIGHT JUDGMENT AND THE APPROVAL OF THINGS EXCELLENT
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Phil. 6:1 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ... And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
GLORY TO GOD, AND TO THE LAMB OF GOD!
Rev. 5:13 And every creature
which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and
honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
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