Authority and Power
This week it so disappointing to see a young adult refusing to stop for police, racing off in his car and then ramming into an innocent couple in their car killing both of them(in their 60’s) and putting their adult son into a coma critically injured in hospital. In the same news bulletin footage was shown of a British Policeman ordering a man to get out of his car. The man refusing, causing the policeman to try and force his way into the car and bashing at the window. The policeman was suspended while police investigated the matter. More and more we continually see rebellion against authority at every level not least of which is at the family level. Rebelliousness is pervasive in our society
2 Tim 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
We are living in rebellious times! Rebelliousness against authority!
Samuel 15:23King James Version (KJV)
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
There are two aspects of authority I would like to touch upon, firstly authority in the physical realm and then authority in the spiritual realm
Looking at the physical realm
Lets look at Romans 13:1-2 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Do we know that this was written at the time of Nero, the same Nero who was said to have dipped Christians in oil and set them alight for light in his gardens, The same Nero who was
involved in two same sex marriages one to Sporus and one to Pythagorus! So same sex marriages are nothing new!!
It is important first that we differentiate authority and power. Authority comes with the position, but power is the action that follows authority, and without any action or consequences authority becomes a figurehead. For me one of the most disappointing groups in an authoritative position without any power is the UN.
Looking closer at home let’s look at the story of Eli 1 Sam 2:23
So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
In so many ways a troubling story. Clearly Eli did not follow through with any action with Hophni and Phineas. Words were not enough, a consequence to their behaviour was required. How often do we fall into this situation? Keep in mind at the same time he raised Samuel who was a pillar of strength, but Hophni and Phineas were the cause of his downfall-literally! The question is, are we too timid in dealing with flagrant violation of God laws? For us to be effective in an authoritative position there has to be some consequence. It seems that there is too little consequence with people in authoritative positions in the world today, for fear of intruding on individual rights or offending someone, but unfortunately this has to happen in order to establish boundaries, and people need clear boundaries.
The consequences for rebellion in God’s eyes can be severe look at Korah in Numbers 16. And there were consequences. Are there enough consequences in our lives?
But you know there are clearly times when we do need to stand against authority and not accept decisions that are clearly against a higher law.
Examples are Ex 1 Moses, Dan 3 Shadrack …
Acts 4:18 at the Sanhedron Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
So while same sex marriage may become law, or any other law comes about that is contrary to the word of God, we should know we do not have to be part of it, we may not agree with it and we should do what we can within the law to change it. But despite what happens, despite what we think about our leaders, at all times we are commanded to pray for our them, and this is the point I would like to underline about authority in our lives
1 Tim 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
And this week I ask that we pray for our leaders (note the word thanksgiving). We need it so badly, Syrian crisis, American race issues, election concerns, our parliament floundering on petty and often bitter issues, the challenges faces us in the south China seas, the Russians and their brinkmanship and desire to be a more dominant power, the North Koreans with their challenges, the immense challenges facing India and Pakistan in Kashmir are other areas, Afghanistan, dealing with Muslim extremists, unemployment and starvation issues around the world, the drug threat . We need leaders now more than ever that are filled with wisdom and that can take action. They don’t know it may be but we can make a difference by praying for them even if we don’t agree with them and their actions.
Spiritual Authority
Psalm 8: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him. The son of man that you care for him. You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You made him ruler of the works of your hands and put every thing under his feet.
In Timothy we read “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, of love and of sound mind
God has given us a position of authority and of power.
A good illustration is this lamp. It has authority of the darkness but it has no power-literally, until you plug it in. We have the authority but until we are plugged into God there is no light! But even then we have to switch it on! We have to do something with the power. So to get access to the power we need to plug In! So how do we do this in a practical way? Two ways I want to suggest
Taking hold of scripture: Taking a leaf out of Martin Luther’s book. He said “Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture” and there was a great analogy, he said that as we read a passage, particularly if its challenging its no different to what Moses did to the rock in the desert, which he struck until water gushed out for his thirsty people. In other words stay at the rock until the water gushes out , wait and keep on waiting, stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand, stand firm. In other words mentally beat upon the rock , beat upon a short passage of scripture until the water gushes out. In one of his writings he said “I beat importunately upon Paul”. In other words pressed in, persisitently urgently with purpose.
Thankfulness; So many people say why don’t we see miracles any more , or where is the power of God! But yet all I see every single day is miracles and the power of God. I think if we all in this room got together and thought of all the miracles and amazing and wonderful and miraclulous things God has done for us in our lives we would fill several bibles. Just driving here or to work and I look at the different green colours in nature, do you realise how chemically complex that is, or the creation of life everyday, the amazing diversity of the wild flowers, the miracle of rebirth in Christ, the fact that we are all here today and how he has brought us through so many toils and tribulations, the endless miracles of how He brought us to this place, how He as looked after us as He does the the sparrows, the work He has given us.
Every day He has given His manna, His quail and His guiding light has been there for us. Every day!
And what does God want us to do… Tess 5: Be joyful always, pray continuously and give thanks in all circumstances for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.
I know, as a father, you don’t want much from your children except thankfulness and gratitude, and how it hurts when your giving is just taken for granted and abused. How much more our Father in heaven?
Psalm 107 “Let us give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men
You see thankfulness shows that we recognize God is control, it shows that we trust God has a plan, it acknowledges Gods authority and it thus allows Gods power to operate.
I believe thankfulness opens the doors of your heart and your life to God, to allow Him to work with power, because by being thankful you are being submissive and recognizing His authority!
Its been said that you get two types of people in the world, those that don’t see a miracle in anything and those that see a miracle in everything. So don’t look for signs or miracles or power, because its all around us, its in our lives we just need to open our eyes and see it. Ask God to do what He did for Hagar, open our eyes that we may see the well of water (Gen 21) or to open your eyes that we may see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire as he did with Elisha’s servant
But I want to finish on this story. There was a farmer by the name of Neville that owned a beautiful and large farm. One day a Federal Drug Enforcement police office came to the farm. The policeman said I want to do an inspection of your farm, looking for the illegal cultivation and production of drugs. Neville being the law abiding citizen he was, said no problem, just don’t go into that one paddock over there. The policeman immediately pulled out his badge and said “now look here I can go anywhere I like, This badge gives me the authority to do whatever I have to do! Neville responds, Oh well then if you have to, no problem! So of course it’s the first paddock he goes to. Little did he realise that in the paddock was a huge and nasty Charolais bull. As the bull chased the policeman who was running for his life down the fence line he shouted out to Neville, Do something! Do Something! He is your bull! So Neville called out” Show him your badge Show your badge!!
The moral of the story is Authority and power are not the same thing (and that’s no Bull!). but if we want the power we need to PLUG IN!