House - Part 2 - Authority Figures Series

House

Part 2 – Authority Figures”

I. Introduction

I mentioned last week that we use all kinds of terms to try to understand the concept of church. The one term that we are focusing in on is the idea of God building a house. And so, I reminded you that the material He is using to build this house is us. It is not actual concrete and steel. That is why we aren’t hung up on this physical building. We want to steward this building. We want to utilize this building, but if you aren’t being built up and established as the dwelling place of God then as nice as this building may be God is homeless! I also began talking to you about the systems of structure, order and the principles upon which God’s house operates. You will remember I cursed last week in church. I said that the house rule is authority. God’s house is established and built on the idea that whatever He says goes! There is no room for negotiations or debate. He says jump we say how high. Yes sir should be the most common response heard from us. Now I also told you that we resist authority because we have seen it abused and that causes us to mistrust leaders. I also told you that as great as being an American is it also presents us a challenge because we are taught to do our own thing, demand our own way, and relinquish authority to no one. This is great for government, but will cause you to live an unblessed, uncovered, and ultimately a cursed life even if you sit on a chair in this house! We need to stop thinking like an American for a moment and start thinking like a member of the house!

Authority is the key component of accessing a blessed life!

So this morning I want us to delve a little deeper in the idea of authority because in order for us to live blessed we have to learn to submit. However, God doesn’t want us to check our brains at the door and just submit to anything or anyone. So, God has chosen to wield or exert His authority through 3 avenues or vehicles. We need to understand these 3 things so that we can respond accordingly. I am going to deal with the first two authority figures that we must learn to submit to and then next week we will deal with the third.

TEXT: Psalms 138:2

2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

I. Authority Figure #1 – God’s Word

Think about that statement for just a moment. He has exalted His Word above His own name. How powerful is God’s name? It is so powerful that the Jews wouldn’t even speak His name in public. It so powerful that the Bible declares that at the very mention of His name demons tremble, everyone and everything is forced to their knees in worship, and out of their mouths will come a confession that He is Lord. And yet, as powerful as His name is the Psalmist declares that He has exalted His word above even His name! God’s Word is powerful! God’s Word is authority! Even Jesus himself knew how powerful the Word is.

Where did Jesus turn when facing off against the devil? The Word! God used God’s Word to take authority! Any Word that Jesus would have spoken would be carried out. He says about himself in Matthew 28:18 that all authority has been given to Him. I mean He is God. He could have looked at the devil and said “boo” and victory was sure. And yet, He uses the written Word of God to wield authority!

God’s Word is the authority figure that we must submit to!

Now most of us will quickly give lip service to submission to His Word! However, I believe that most of us really don’t live our lives submitted to His Word. Oh, yeah it is God’s Word, I believe this, and I live by this as we blow the dust off of it.

I don’t think we really understand the power we have free access to or the place of prominence this book should have in our lives!

Think just a moment about what you miss if you don’t have Word in your life or if you aren’t submitted to the power & authority of the Word in your life. The Word

1. Increases our faith (Romans 10:17)

2. Sanctifies us for His use. (Ephesians 5:26-27)

3. Keeps us from sin (Ps. 119:11) and guides us (Ps. 119:130).

If you don’t know where to go or what to do could it be that you haven’t submitted to His word?