What do people generally not accept at all but that they are wishing so much once it has disappeared?
AUTHORITY, yes, the authority that people hate and seek to destroy, but as soon as they have succeeded, they have only one haste, it is to set up a new authority to which they will submit also naturally!
We are living in a time during which people are taught how to have authority; these teachings are delivered during seminars, conferences or by books. According to these teachings, authority is easy to access for everybody!
This kind of teachings is very successful because people often want to dominate and have authority.
On the opposite, let's notice that very few teachings are given to learn to be a good and faithful service provider!
Despite all these numerous teachings about how to get authority over others, most observers agree that there is a serious crisis of authority in the world, both in politics and business. or family. Today, it is very difficult to find these days leaders like De Gaulle, Churchill or Adenhauer!
Europe desperately is seeking for valuable leaders, but such authority is not within the reach of everyone.
Europe has most of the time been since the end of the Second World War sheltered by a master and a policeman in the person of the United States. The United States have indeed protected Europe from the rest of the world. Europe, that increasingly resented the authority of the United States, is now trying to eliminate it, but as we said above, if the authority of the United States disappears, Europe will feel in danger and Europe is looking for a new powerful leader in its terrirories.
Europe is still unaware that it will soon blindly follow a man with galvanizing power. This man will succeed in blinding his empire and will seduce his people to the point that he will be even worshipped like a god claiming even that he is God. But when the European nations will realize what they have done, it will be like coming out of a nightmare (Revelation 13: 1-9)!
" 1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Elohim, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 IF ANYONE HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR."
Believers should understand in time why this kind of authority is bad and how to escape from it so as not to be seduced by it.
All the events described in this part of the book of Revelation of John will find their origin from the authority that has been given to the beast! This kind of authority is a real danger for us if we let ourselves be seduced by a lack of knowledge. We must not go too far if we remember what happened to a large majority of Germans during the reign of Hitler.
So if we possess the necessary knowledge and make use of it, then with the help of Elohim, our Creator, we are expected to avoid THE SKIPPINGS ON WHICH THIS WORLD WILL IRREMEDIABLY STUMBLE.
What is authority?
Many names are frequently used to define authority, it is about POWER, RESPONSIBILITY, FUNCTION OR EVEN BEHAVIOUR:
Power limits of people, responsibilities of Heads of States, the exercise of the function and behavior during action execution are describing forms of authority.
In the word authority exist the notions of an order given by someone (the authority) and the way in which this order is executed (submission). It is important to observe from now on that the one who gives the order and the one who executes it can be possibly the same person: this means SELF-CONTROL. The Christian is an example of self-control because he freely sets a discipline of life and he tries to follow it!
Different types of authority
The world has tried several types of authority:
• Autocracy or dictatorship is the system in which one man is in charge and often by threatening his people. Elohim condemns this last case of dictatorship:
" And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."
(Ephesians 6: 9)
• A second form of authority is the one most of us have the privilege to enjoy to some extent, I mean democracy; in this system, a group of elected people gets the leadership for a period of time and should reflect the good or bad ideas of their population.
• Anarchy is an uncommon form of power where everyone is his own leader. This kind of authority if it has existed once is expected to generate chaos.
Whatever the power systems in the worldusually, the goal of leaders in charge is to turn a subordinate into a fanatically devoted collaborator and to achieve this, people will try to be admired by those who are under them. An extreme case is to pretend to be a god as was the case for Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Augustus, Louis XIV or Hitler.
A fundamental difference separates the Christian from the world:
The Christian does not try to make himself admired by those around him, but on the contrary, he is seeking to love not only his friends but also all the others without any distinction, even his enemies!
"43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore YOU SHALL BE PERFECT, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT.” (Matthew 5: 43-48)
We see that LOVE for Elohim and his neighbor is the corner stone of authority as conceived by our Creator.
Authority according to Elohim.
Here is how authority can be defined according to the concept of Elohim:
Authority is a service of taking responsibility for a project entrusted to us by Elohim's will; this project should be done till its complete achievement!
Jesus-Christ used the power he had received during all his life on earth according to the mission given to him by his Father:
" 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10: 17-18)
And Jesus conducted his mission till its very end, leaving us an example to follow:
" So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30)
• Authority and power, contrary to what people simply believe, is not only to give orders without being responsible for them, but also to take the initiative of a mission proposed to us and accepted by us.
• We do not take power, but we receive it from Elohim and we become responsible to Elohim.
• Once a mission is accepted, we must make all the necessary decisions that flow from it, undertake action-plan by training those who agree to follow us and give them the necessary teachings we have received from Elohim reveals. This is what the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation will do when Elohim gives them power (Revelation 11: 3-12):
" 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Elohim of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from Elohim entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. "
The origin of the authority.
The two witnesses whose story we have just read have received their power from Elohim and they have not usurped it.
Jesus-Christ clearly states that all power is given by Elohim, our Father and the Elohim of heaven entrusts power to both Jesus and men (John 19: 7-11):
" 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of Elohim.” 8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Paul confirms the teaching of Jesus (Romans 13: 1):
" Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim."
This knowledge is crucial because we must at all times give respect to the will of Elohim and never despise or criticize His will at risk otherwise to rebel!
Let us also note that Paul does not say that what the people in power do is in accordance with Elohim's will but rather that the responsibility entrusted to them comes from our Lord. They are therefore responsible for what they do.
Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson very dramatically (Daniel 4: 9-19):
" 9 “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy Elohim is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold,
A tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said thus:
‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of a beast, and let seven times pass over him.
17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.’
18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy Elohim is in you.”
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!"
Now think about the behavior of Daniel, despite his particularly delicate situation because as he is speaking to the most eminent and powerful man on earth, he will obey to the king even if he will displease him and risk his life!
But let's continue the reading and see what will happen to this supreme leader (Daniel 4: 20-29):
" 20 “The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—
22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 “And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven [e]times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
26 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
How to behave in front of authority?
The believer is facing two simultaneous positions, in one, he is the leader and in the seond, he is the servant. Even if he is alone, he has authority over himself!
What are the basic features of the attitude one must have in both cases? Our best illustration comes from Jesus, our Lord (Hebrews 5: 7-10):
"7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by Elohim as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”
Jesus Christ first of all learned to obey, to submit himself to the authorities, both that of man and that of his Father! So we have also to start
BY SUBMITTING OURSELVES!
And here we have a lot to learn because we have the unfortunate tendency to always believe that only our way of thinking is good and certainly better than those of others even when they have been given responsibilities. This attitude is valid in our professional life or in our private life. Does that mean we have to submit to anyone and on anything? Of course not!
When something is apparently imposed upon us, there is a whole process to be done before making our free choice or decision. We must ask ourselves a series of questions and provide the answers that will dictate our conduct, a conduct that conforms to the will of our Father.
The first question is relative to our position vis-à-vis the one who orders us: "Have I received authority to judge or criticize, or even refuse the order given to me? Am I entitled to act against a superior? "
If the answer is no, then one must submit in TRUTH, following the examples left by David (I Samuel 24: 1-13):
“ 1Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) 4 Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 And he said to his men, “Yehoah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Yehoah’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of Yehoah.” 7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that Yehoah delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yehoah’s anointed.’ 11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 Let Yehoah judge between you and me, and let Yehoah avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you."
This is the exemplary conduct that David had. He respected the man who wanted to kill him many times because David knows that Yehoah is the only judge in this case. So, he submitted to Saul, his Kimg.
Reading what follows, we will see this way of doing is not an isolated case (I Samuel 26: 7-10 and 19-20):
" 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Elohim has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yehoah’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As Yehoah lives, Yehoah shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.... "
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may Yehoah reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand."
This humble attitude of David has a profound effect on Saul as can be seen from what is written above.
Saul speaks of success for ALL of David's businesses.
These events during David's life show that, even in the extreme case, where an authority set up by Elohim wants to kill us, the believer must still respect him and have in mind that Elohim ALONE is judge between both of us!
This attitude was also that of Daniel with the king of Babylon: he never despised it and did not rebel against the principle of his kingship.
Similar attitudes are left to us as examples on the one hand by the Lord Jesus at the time of His execution and on the other hand by His Jewish people at the time of the Holocaust. The Jewish people unconsciously associated themselves with their Messiah and Savior by following his path, already prophesied by Isaiah, in chapter 53, verses 1-10:
" Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of Yehoah been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and Yehoah has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased Yehoah to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of Yehoah shall prosper in His hand. "
Let Jude encourage us forcefully to have in all circumstances an attitude of respect vis-à-vis all authorities, verse 8-9:
" 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “Yehoah rebuke you!”
Which attitude to adopt versus the orders of authority?
To have an attitude of respect towards authorities does not mean that we must blindly fulfill all the desires and orders from them!
So we come automatically to the second question to ask about our relationship with an authority:
If an authority or somebody in charge requires from us something that goes or does not go against the will of our Creator or His commandments?
Answering this question is vital and it is here that our carnal nature represents for us a great danger!
Indeed, the question is not to know if what we are asked is in accordance with our taste and our wishes. What is important is not to act against Elohim's will. If what we are asked to do does not break the commandments of Elohim, then without delay and with maximum zeal, we must take action to accomplish that in the smallest details; it is necessary even as far as possible to go beyond the demand.
Let's take the extreme example of Jesus Christ's when he is facing death: Do you believe that Jesus, our Savior, had in his carnal nature the desire to die?
Let's read how he begs his Father to avoid this extreme issue in Matthew 26: 39 and 42:
" 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Jesus, having well understood what the will of his Father is, is going promptly to meet those who are looking after him to kill him.
By analogy, almost two thousand years ago, Abraham certainly did not want to kill his son Isaac, and yet he, too, took the road to sacrifice him and to obey his Lord.
Often, we place too much importance on the way an order is given to us, we look at the packaging rather than the content! When those who have power over us act in an unpleasant and bruising way to tell us what they want us to do, then we often let our carnal nature make reasoning that drives us to rebellion against authority.
How would we have responded to Nehemiah's arrangements to keep the Sabbath in Jerusalem? Let's read how it happened in Nehemiah 13: 15-22:
"15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy! "
Nehemiah is shocked to see the scandalous manner with which people are trying to break the Sabbath of his Elohim. Nehemiah is governor and therefore has responsibilities toward Elohim. It is for this reason that he will decide to close the doors before the Sabbath to put an end to the trading activities of foreigners and the works associated with it like transportation of heavy goods during the holy day of rest. If you had lived in Nehemiah's day, would you have opposed his decision claiming for instance that it is not precisely written in the Bible that the gates of the city must be closed during the Sabbath? Would you have claimed to want to be free to come in and out of Jerusalem even on the Sabbath? Or would you have accepted Nehemiah’s decision taken as a mark of his love for Elohim.
Today, we are faced with many similar situations where an authority set up by Elohim makes decisions about the Highway traffic rules, taxes, behavior in public places. Similarly, the head of a family also makes decisions for everything that happens in the family. All these decisions may please or not please, but to the extent that they are not contrary to an instruction of Yehoah, we must try to submit to them heartily: we show in this that we love and respect the person who has authority over us and we also show Elohim that we are putting our carnal nature in second position because we love for Him. We have seen above that Jesus has also put his love for His Father on top by accepting to be executed!
Peter shows us as examples women, in his first letter, in chapter 3, verses 1 and 2:
" 1Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. "
Paul is still much more precise and he warns us in Romans 13: 1-7 against the temptation we could have to refuse submission to decision of authorities and consequently acts of rebellion against Elohim that might follow:
" 1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of Elohim, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is Elohim’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is Elohim’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
We remind you that what is written above has value only if all we are asked to do is not in opposition to the law of Elohim.
So after having thus learned humility by submitting ourselves to any authorities, we can now begin to learn how to exercise authority!
But what is the Authority?
Have you ever thought about authority, how can you define it? Here is a very simple definition: The authority consists in the following:
KNOW HOW TO MAKE A DECISION FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THOSE WHO DEPEND ON US.
Well-applied authority leads to the success of the enterprise, both for those who exercise authority and for those who collaborate with it. This was for example often the case of King David.
To exercise authority does not mean make decisions lightly and upside down because we have the power to do so! To act in disorder is not according to the taste of Elohim. The decision-making process and the exercise of power should be done by following a process of counsels revealed in the Bible.
First of all, we must meditate and clearly understand all the aspects surrounding a decision we will have to take to measure all the consequences.
After this stage of meditation, it is advisable to be humble and make the effort to take advice from those around us, without any consideration of people: we must be able to consult equally those with whom we get along well as well as those with whom we have fewer hooked atoms. Good advice can sometimes come from the mouth of someone we mistakenly believe to be our enemy. Josiah paid with his life for not listening to Pharaoh Neko (II Chronicles 35: 20-24).
Read also the book of Proverbs, chapter 15, verse 22:
" Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established."
Let's read again in this same book, chapter 11, verse 14:
" Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
You can see that the exercise of authority does not mean being blindly authoritarian but acting after taking the advice of as much as possible advisers. The Bible is full of examples of the application of this precept.
First of all, the example of Moses in the Sinai desert. Let's read this story in Exodus 18, verses 12 to 22:
“12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to Elohim. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before Elohim.
13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of Elohim. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of Elohim and His laws.”
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and Elohim will be with you: Stand before Elohim for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to Elohim. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear Elohim, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you."
Hezekiah also took advice into account before making very important decisions. Let's read his example in II Chronicles 30, verses 1 to 5 and 26:
“ 1And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yehoah at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yehoah Elohim of Israel. 2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. 4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly. 5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yehoah Elohim of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner....
26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem."
The consequence of this exemplary attitude of Hezekiah with regard to his way of worshiping and obedience of the law is summed up a little bit later, in chapter 31, verse 21:
" And in every work that he began in the service of the house of Elohim, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his Elohim, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered."
The New Covenant texts are also a mine of good advice for believers. Paul has done much to help local church members to take good decisions. These counsels are reaching us at the end of the centuries to help us make the right choices if circumstances similar to those of the cruel persecution of his time are coming again today. Let's read for example Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7, verses 1 and 25 to 28:
"1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman....
25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from Yehoah; yet I give judgment as one whom Yehoah in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. "
The process of decision making and the exercise of authority is not over yet! After taking all the advice from those around us, we must still consult our Father with prayer and ask him to accept to guide us in our decision-making.
David left us a very good example on this subject in I Samuel, chapter 30, verses 1 to 2 and 5 to 8:
“ 1Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way....
5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Yehoah his Elohim.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of Yehoah, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”
And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”.
Now let us have a look at the last step in the process of decision-making, the action!
Once Elohim's response is received and there is no longer any doubt, action must be taken. But beware, Elohim does not tolerate any delay nor more hesitations, it is necessary to take action quickly, with zeal and to know how to go to the end in all circumstances. The rest of the story of this episode in David's life illustrates this particularly well. Let's read the rest of the story in verses 9, 10 and 17:
“ 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor....
17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. "
David went to the end of the chase and was not swayed by discouragement! It was a complete and miraculous success.
After these good examples of David's attitude, let's have a look at a bad example that is recounted in Elohim's Word for our teaching. Here David has misapplied his authority, he has not meditated before acting. He did not take any advice before making his decision. He did not even consult Elohim as he had done so well in the passage above!
Let's read this nightmarish event in II Samuel 11, first verses 2 to 4:
“2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house."
Let's continue the story and see again that David will still give orders without meditation, without calling on counselors or praying to Elohim:
" 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” 6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David."
Uriah, out of respect for his men who are in the battlefied, refuses to enjoy his home contrary to what David wanted and Uriah therefore has no relationship with his beautiful wife, which could have led to believe that the child to be born is of him. So David puts an horrible end to his abuse of power by having his faithful general assassinated in an ignoble manner, as we read in verses 14 and 15:
“14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”
The sad result of this misuse of authority is not only the death of Uriah but also that of the son resulting from his rape of Bath-Sheva!
David has misused the power that Elohim confided to him, and it ended in failure, the consequences of which he paid heavily later, as we read in chapter 12, verses 9 to 12:
" 9 Why have you despised the commandment of Yehoah, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says Yehoah: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ "
Exercise authority but in its limits!
We must not flee our authority but make a wise use of it. But as great as our authority is, we must always know its limit.
Moses had received from Yehoah the mission to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land. The authority of Moses was extremely great, but yet, observe how he knew not to go beyong its limits by reading Numbers 20, verses 14, 17 to 18, and finally 21-22:
" 14 Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us,...
17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”
18 Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”...
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him. 22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor."
Yehoah did not allow Israel to enter the territory of Edom. Moses also knew that only Yehoah has the authority to judge Edom for this bad attitude at that time. We must always bear in mind that exercising authority outside the domain entrusted to us by Elohim always ends badly. It is enough to re-read what happened to Mary and Aaron when they wanted to usurp the power that Yehoah entrusted to Moses!
But I suggest you read the most dramatic example in the story of which Isaiah speaks, chapter 14, verses 12-14:
" 12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”
And the dramatic consequence of this rebellion of Satan is described in chapter 20 of the book of Revelation, verse 10:
" The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
A key to not derailing authority is the use of softness as you can read on this website by reading the article on Sweetness.
First of all: exercise his authority on yourself!
To learn how to exercise authority, we must first learn how to exercise it over ourself.
Then, step by step and according to the understanding we get from our Lord, we have the duty to exercise our authority over others. But we must set an example by showing humbleness by not having others doing what we should do ourselves!
To be humble is to be a servant of Elohim and our neighbor even if the authority entrusted to us is huge, like the power entrusted to Joseph when he was in charge to rulle all Egypt in the name of Pharaoh. Despite all his authority, let us read how humbly he is asking Pharaoh for permission to leave the land to bury his father Jacob in the land of Canaan (Genesis 50: 4-7):
" 4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’ ”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,... "
And finally, let's read in I Peter 2: 9-21 the most important reasons why we need to be very careful about authority:
" 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of Elohim, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify Elohim in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for Yehoah’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of Elohim, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of Elohim. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear Elohim. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward Elohim one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before Elohim. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. "