Abiding under the Lord’s Authority: Part 2
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18
In this week’s blog we will explore the concepts of being under and standing in God’s authority. First let’s consider a working definition for authority to wrap our heads and hearts around the conceptualization of walking under and in the authority of the Lord.
According to the Webster 1828 dictionary, authority is defined as the legal power, or a right to command or to act: as the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children. Power; rule; sway.
Therefore, I submit to you as servants and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we should dismiss and divorce ourselves from any authority that seeks to remove our Lord’s leadership and rule in our lives. Now it should be understood that submission and obedience are inseparable from authority because both obedience and submission substantiate and give life and power to the authority over our lives. For instance, we find the following directive about obedience and submission to authority from biblical authority.
Deuteronomy 27:10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
According to the word of God, Our Father God and the Lord, retain the absolute right and authority to govern, command and act in our lives and we should always purpose to position our selves under his authority. Now what does it means to stand in His authority?
Now before I visit the question, it’s important to note that this writer is taking the position that standing in God’s authority is synonymous to standing on God’s authority. And the word of God is the absolute authority for the believer. It’s imperative that we capture a conviction as well as internalize and authorize this truth.
There are considerable and consequential constructs of thoughts that are dubious and destructive to our wellbeing and posterity. So, when we mark a man centered postmodern mindset toward authority, where do we look for leadership, answers, and truth? More than ever, it is incumbent for the Christian to secure him or herself on the rock of truth or the tsunami of syncretism, pluralism, progressive evangelicalism, and doctrine of devils will devastate and drown many.
I encourage you in our next time together to entertain this topic with me about the essentiality of the authority of God’s word in our lives.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR