I Fight Authority Series

However, we are not talking as much about how church leaders need to live lives worthy of respect as much as we are talking about how Christians can help leaders be all they can be.

Submit to them means that Christians are to be responsive to their leaders, yield to their authority, and subordinate themselves to them even when they have a difference of opinion.

Submission to Christ expresses itself in obedience and submission in the home, in marriage, at work, in society, and in the church. Want to have a hard time just rebel against all of these authorities

Only when Christians properly submit to their spiritual leaders does the local church have any chance to be the growing, loving, joyous family God intends it to be.

"But these people are not worthy of my respect, obedience and submission." Every person has faults, fears and flaws. This does not mean that they can act like dictators but give them respect and submission. If in leadership, how would we want to be treated?

Do not disobey your leaders

Some people are like children, see how far they can push it.

Consider the nation of Israel: because of continual disobedience, the nation as a whole did not enter the Promised Land.

Responsibility, do not dismiss

They keep watch over you as men who must give an account- Hebrews 13:17 NIV; KJV- for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account

These people keep watch for the spiritual welfare of the congregation. If taken lightly it could result in serious harm to the spiritual lives of God’s children. It could result in lost souls.

The Bible also says that teachers will receive more severe judgment because of their influence and responsibility. James 3:1- Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

When God’s people understand that their leaders must given an account to God, they will be much more tolerant, understanding, and sensitive toward their leader’s actions and decisions. They will be more willing to obey and submit to their leaders.

Do not dismiss this responsibility as unimportant.

Church leaders are held in low regard today.

"Those in these positions must be doing it for selfish motives." Not a good attitude.

Rejoice or disgust

Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you- Hebrews 13:17.

The result of submission to leadership is deep, satisfying joy on the part of those who lead.

3 John 4: I have no greater joy (rejoice) than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

To rejoice means to take delight in something. John is talking about and Hebrews.

See leadership rejoicing we need to be a people who grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism. Amplified says here, “Do your part to let them do this with gladness.”

When God’s people disobey, complain, and fight, the joys of shepherding vanish. When Christians refuse to pay attention to the shepherds, the shepherds feel “burdened.” The NIV says burden here but the word goes much deeper. The word can be translated “moan” or “grief.” Grief expresses a deep sorrow and longing for better conditions.