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School
Righteousness Establishing
Roots The Leaders Call
Home
Establishing Authority
Importance
of Authority
Obeying
Delegated Authority
Nature
of Delegated Authority
Choice
in Delegated Authority
"The
Importance of Authority"
I.
God has established all authority.
Romans 13:1-5, Isaiah 14:12-14, Hebrews 1:3, Acts 1:7
God has established all
things by His power, which is the outward manifestation of His authority.
A.
God's authority is the very presence of God Himself. God does because
He is and because He is there is no authority greater. God is the "self
existent one" with power within Himself...He is the only self-authority
in all of creation.
1.
To rebel against authority is to rebel against God Himself.
This authority can be any authority that God institutes and recognizes.
B.
Satan wanted be as God – to have all authority (he tried to set up
his own kingdom.)
1.
It is necessary for man to let God be God and man be man, in subjection
to God. Whenever you try to take
on your own authority, you step out from God’s authority and become a god
unto yourself.
2.
To try to rule one’s own life and to deny God’s authority over your
life is to be like Satan…a rebel.
C.
The establishment of God’s authority in our lives brings about God’s
will in our lives.
1.
God's will is thwarted if there is no obedience, and disobedience is
the evidence that God's authority is not established in the heart of a man.
2.
Jesus demonstrated that to know God’s will and to obey it is to be
subject to authority. Matthew
26:38-42
II.
Right and Wrong is in God's hands.
Genesis
3:17-4-7
A.
It is important to obey God's direction because it represents God's
best for us.
1.
When we decide what is best outside of obedience we end up giving God
the worst, because the best we can give God is our obedience.
2.
Cain killed Abel because of his direct disobedience to God's will and
authority. The proper offering
should not have come from the ground (The ground was cursed because of sin.)
B.
Whenever man "thinks" he knows what is right and disregards
God's "right" he will always be wrong.
III.
Learning authority comes through learning obedience through suffering.
A.
Jesus knew what constituted obedience - doing the will of Father, even
unto death.
Hebrews
5:8, John 10:17
1.
Suffering in all forms must teach us obedience.
2.
Through each of the different types of suffering (physical,
emotionally, and spiritual…grieving in the inner man), we must learn to obey
God and not give into the easy way out if it only promotes self-interest and
not God's interest.
3.
All suffering must ripen to the fruit of obedience and not stir us to
murmuring or fretfulness against God's authority and will in the each
situation.
B.
Dying to self gives way to God's authority and casts down
self-authority.
1.
No matter what you see as the best way, always die to self (suffer the
loss) and see God's best through it.
IV.
The kingdom of God is established to bring about God's authority in the
earth.
A.
God desires all men to represent His authority in the earth so that all
can share His glory.
Revelaltion
12:10, Hebrews 2:10, Psalm 149:4-8
B.
The Church is ordained to be the sphere wherein God's authority is
exercised.
Ephesians
1:18-23
1.
Through the Church the nations are to become God's Kingdom…for the
Church represents God's visible plan of authority and kingdom.
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"Obeying
Delegated Authority"
I. Authorities Instituted by God.
A. Authority In The World.
1. God is the source of all authority and there is no
authority that exists which does not receive its authority from God. Roma
13:1-5 1Pet
2:13 -17
a. Even authorities that use their authority for evil have
been given their authority from God or they could not exist.
b. God established authority over man to other men because
of sin. Gene 9: 5 -6
2. God has purpose for delegated authority - we must be
conscious of that fact and pray for His purpose to be accomplished through
them.
a. God wants us to give tax to whom tax is due, revenue
to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom
honor is due.
B. Authority In The Family.
1. God has set the husband as the delegated authority of
Christ in the family and the wife as the representation of the Church. Ephe
5 :22 -33
Colo 3:18 -21
.
2. If the authoritative structure in the home is not recognized, then the
plan of God for the family cannot be accomplished.
1Pet 3:1-7
a. The man's prayers will be hindered, the wife will not
win her husband to the Lord, and the children will not live a long and happy
life if the authority in the family is not honored.
C. Authority In The Church.
1. In the Church God has shown His order and plan to carry
out His purpose - the elders, deacons, and teachers give God's direction and
must give an account for their leadership to God and must give an account for
your soul (or the way they taught and directed in Godliness!)
1The 5:12 -13,
1Tim 5:17-20,
1Cor 16:15-16,
Hebr 13:17, Phil
1:1, 1Tim
3:1 -10, Ephe
4:11-13
a. When each person recognizes his place (meaning
his worth and purpose), then God's purpose is accomplished.
b. Each person learns and is built up by the other
members in the Body of Christ and, God's delegated authorities in the Church
is the means whereby God does this.
II. Be In Subjection To Delegated Authority.
A. God goes to great lengths to use delegated authority.
God gives delegated authority the power to accomplish the task therefore, it
is important to be subject to that authority, because they represent God.
Luke 10:16 -20
1. Those who are in subjection to delegated authority
will hear from God and be led by the Holy Spirit (just as the early
disciples did when told to go out minister in Jesus name)
III. God Respects His Delegated Authority.
A. Because God delegates His authority to man, He honors
their decisions.
Numb 30:3-16
1. God will deal with His delegated authorities and give proof of His
final authority in each situation.
Acts 5:14-28
VI. All Delegated Authority Has Function.
A. In Christ Jesus authority is realized because each part
of His body moves in unity.
Ephe 4:1-16
1. To reject a member of the Body of Christ is to reject
the Head - Jesus and His authority.
B. Authority in the Body of Christ is for the good of all
not for oppression (which means to "weigh heavily on).
1. Each member in the Church has function and ability
(because we all have different gifts), therefore we must not reject their
function.
1Cor 12:1-27
a. To reject someone's function in the Body of Christ
is to reject the authority of the Head...Jesus.
b. Submitting to the authority of other members in the
Body of Christ is to posses their riches (or gifts). You become a
recipient of their gifts which strengthen you and gives honor to God.
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"The
Nature of Delegated Authority"
I. I.
Requirements for a Delegated Authority.
A.
No one is fit to be God's delegated authority unless they first know how to be
under authority. Matthew 8: 5-13
1.
Rebellion of one's own heart must be dealt with first - this brings a person
under God's direct authority.
B.
A delegated authority must know that all authority comes from God. Romans
13: 1
1.
They must know that they represent God's authority - never to assume that they
have authority of their own.
2.
A delegated authority must know God's will and not their own will. They
must depend on God.
C.
Delegated authority must deny self.
1.
Their whole purpose is to represent God.
2.
Self has no part with authority - opinions and cleverness are self-centered and
only build one self.
D.
Constant fellowship with the Lord is a must. John 5:
19, 30
1.
To be in constant fellowship with Jesus is to see one's own faults and
shortcomings - this keeps one humble.
2.
A delegated authority does not speak what they don't hear.
3.
Communion with God keeps delegated authority fresh and God centered - lack of
communion with God causes authority to cease.
II.
Delegated authority does not establish itself.
A.
God wants His delegated authority to know that whoever refuses to hear them
disobeys God - therefore, delegated authority does not have to establish,
defend, or force themselves. Exodus 3: 7-10
1.
Delegated authority that is established by God is a pleasure to Him He
defends and confirms it.
III.
Revelation - God's credential of delegated authority.
A.
A delegated authority's value and worth is measured by the revelation they
receive from God. Exodus 3: 1-4, Nubers 12: 1-15
1.
It does not matter what others say or accuse - delegated authority cannot be
eliminated, because it listens to God - not man.
2.
A sign of ungodly authority is the withholding of revelation.
B.
Delegated authority must not take an attack personal - the attack is
against God.
IV.
Graciousness - God's character of delegated authority.
A.
Graciousness and forgiveness is a must for God's delegated
authorities. Numbers 16: 1-4
1.
Delegated authority always tries to bring exhortation and restoration. Numbers
16: 8-11
2.
Delegated authority does not operated from a judgmental spirit. Numbers
16: 28-30
3.
Delegated authority operates in intercession and atonement. Nubers
16: 41-48
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"The
Choice In Delegated Authority"
I.
God's choice and man's choice.
A. A
delegated authority waits on God to bring about the manifestation of the
authority. I
Samuel 16: 1-13, II Samuel 2: 1-4a, 5: 1-3
1.
Delegated authority has confidence that man will recognize God's
anointing and then anoint them as well.
a.
It is important to have man's recognition because it is in their midst
that delegated authority ministers.
II.
The choice to maintain authority - no matter whose!
A. No
one should ever permit another person's authority to be damaged in order to
establish their own. II
Samuel 2: 8-10, 4: 5-6, 8-12
1. Whenever
there is rebellion against authority, even if it is not directed against you, it
must be judged.
III.
The choice of "no self-consciousness" of authority.
A. Delegated
authority must be tender before God and not be conscious of their position, but
only conscious of their unworthiness. II
Samuel 6: 12-23, 7: 18-21
1. To
be humble before God and man is the sign of delegated authority - to operate in
delegated authority and not flaunt it is Godly.
IV.
The choice of the cross to posses the crown.
A. Delegated
authority gives up its life for others, so others may live.
Mark 10: 35-45
1. The
cross is an instrument of death that delegated authorities must place themselves
on as an example to others.
a.
To deny self is to gain for others - this is freely done by true
delegated authorities.
V.
The choice of commitment.
A.
A delegated authority is committed to the people God gives them, even at
the cost of causing harm to self. Numbers 14: 1-4, 10-20
1.
They are committed to the task of God and does not give up just because
of adversity.
2.
The lead by example and demonstrate their commitment.
VI.
The choice of loyalty.
A.
Loyalty transcends personal gain or taking the advantage.
I Samuel 24: 1-22
1.
Delegated authority is loyal no matter what the situation.
2.
Being loyal to delegated authority is the mark of anointed leaders.
3.
Loyalty separates "self" from the situation and considers the
other person above self.
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