Psalm 119:121-129
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Introduction: We live in a day of bumper-sticker slogans. One such slogan that has gripped many says, "Question Authority." How dangerous is this popular philosophy! It has been adopted by both young and old alike. When it comes to learning to fear the Lord, this philosophy has no place in Christian vocabulary.
To fear the Lord is to live all of life under all His authority. For example, John Calvin said, "Until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by His fatherly care, that He is the Author of their every good, that they should seek nothing beyond Him, they will never yield Him willing service. Nay, unless they establish their complete happiness in Him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to Him." Even if Calvin did say it, it is a good statement!
One cannot truly fear the Lord without submitting to His authority in all areas. The songwriter said, "If Jesus isn't Lord of everything, He's not Lord at all." In other words, if Jesus isn't Lord of everything, He isn't Lord of anything.
1. There is the authority of God. - Genesis 2:16-17
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
- God established His rightful authority from the very beginning.
- Of course, Adam and Eve did not acknowledge God's authority in this matter and plunged the entire human race into sin, "Wherefore as by one man, sin entered into the world..."
- It should go without saying that those, who fear the Lord, submit to His authority gladly and willingly. Sadly, this is not always the case.
- God did establish His authority and has continued to establish authority throughout history by giving us authority structures to follow.
2. There is the authority of Christ. - Matthew 28:18-20
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
- Jesus was not given some authority (power); He was given all authority!
- Authority is the right to command. Jesus was given that right. We should obey.
- Our duty is to acknowledge His Lordship and submit to His authority.
3. There is the authority of Scripture. - 2 Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
- To live under the authority of Christ is to live under the authority of His Word.
- All, not some, Scripture is inspired of God. This would include not only the Gospels, but the whole of Scripture.
- The Lordship and authority of Christ is directly connected to His Word.
* "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
* "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." (John 14:21-24)
- Those, who disregard the words of Christ, cannot claim Him as Lord!
4. There is human authority. - Hebrews 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."
- This divinely-established human authority is best seen in remembering two 13's and a 3: Romans 13, Hebrews 13, and Titus 3.
- To be taught to "question authority," as the bumper-sticker says, is to remove the authority God has set up for us.
* The Bible clearly teaches that certain human authority has been established by God. To resent these authorities is to resent God's authority.
* This human authority is not a status or privilege to be exploited for personal goals or gain but a responsibility to be used for the benefit of others.
* Your place in an authority structure, whether exercising it or submitting to it, does not determine your personal significance. It is simply God's way of caring for things. Someone has to lead; someone has to follow the leader.
5. There is governmental authority. - Romans 13:1-7
"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. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."
- This authority structure was established for our good.
- There are at least two ways one can rebel against this God-established authority: actions and attitude.
- However, just because the government says something is legal does not mean it is right. In this case, there is another law that comes into play.
- Our obedience to the government ceases when it conflicts with our obedience to God. This is established in Acts 4:19-20, "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
* "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
6. There is the authority in the church. - Hebrews 13:7
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."
- As we have already seen in Hebrews 13:17, we now see it again in verse 7.
- Leadership and authority within the church is very serious business. God holds authority accountable to Himself for their roles in the lives of the people.
- Paul admonished them in Acts 20:28, "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."
- This authority structure is important to God; it ought to be important to us!
* "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13)
7. There is home authority. - Ephesians 5:22-6:4
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
- If authority within the home is not recognized, neither will the authority of Christ be established.
* Children are to be in subjection to their parents.
* Wives are to be in subjection to their husbands.
* Husbands are to be in subjection to Christ.
- Look at Titus 2:3-5, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
- When the man resists God's authority and when the woman resists the authority of the man, the children will resist the authority of their parents and ultimately of God.
- God is blasphemed when this authority structure is compromised!
Conclusion: Here are three questions for each one of us to ponder and honestly answer to see if we are truly under the God-ordained authority structure He has set up.
1. Do I wholeheartedly acknowledge God's authority in my life?
2. Do I seek to live under the authority of God's Word?
3. Do I resist openly or privately under God-ordained human authorities?
I cannot be living in the fear of the Lord while resisting the authorities He has given me to abide under.