His Word

The Crisis of Authority:

• “No one can tell me what to do.”
• “Truth is personal.”
• “Authority is evil and abusive.”

We start forming our attitudes about authority at a young age.

• Distrust of institutions (government, church, family, work, leaders)
• Our hurts individually and collectively have led us to Celebrate and focus on self-rule, self-definition and self-actualization.

Is the problem overactive authority, is it independent authority, is it unaccountable of individuals and institutions of authority, is it broken authority exercised apart from God?

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 (ESV)

God created Governing authority to establish and protect order.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:1–3 (ESV)

1. God Is the Only Absolute Authority

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:19 (ESV)

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein Psalm 24:1 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (ESV)

Key Principles:

• Authority does not originate with governments, church, businesses or parents.
• Authority is these institutions does not originate in themselves.
• All authority begins with God and flows outward from Him.

Cultural Contrast:

• Culture says, “Authority is constructed; it is earned; it is won in a battle; it is established in conflict and domination of people or events.”
• Scripture says: Authority is revealed, recognized and delegated.”

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (NASB1995)

Clarification:

• This does not mean all authority is good.
• It means all authority is answerable to the God who knows it all and owns it all.
• To walk by Faith is to recognize that God is in charge of every situation and event in our lives.
• That is what Daniel recognized.
• That is what Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego recognized.
• That is what David recognized.
• That is what Moses recognized.
• That is what Pharoah and Egypt realized.
• At the foundation level of every biblical story in this reality.
• We acknowledge that in the good and the bad and we trust in Him.

Big Idea:

Rejecting and/or resisting authority doesn’t make us free, it just makes us our own god.

2. Why Do We Resists Authority?

Reason #1 - Authority Has Been Abused

• Spiritual abuse, political corruption, parental failure, physical abuse, Positional abuse for Personal gain or advancement, selfishness.
• Leaders have acted with Personal Pride, competition, selfishness, entitlement, and independence and because they have we become convinced that resistance is justified and our only choice.
• God is watching the affairs of men, and he will hold leadership that abuses to account.

The bible never excuses abusive authority. He judges it.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ. Ephesians 6:5 (ESV)

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Colossians 3:21 (ESV)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (ESV)

Reason #2 - Authority is seen as restrictive - Autonomy Has Become Sacred

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV)

Cultural Lie: Freedom comes from throwing off authority.
Biblical truth: Freedom comes from submitting to authority and trusting in Him.

Reason #3 - Authority Is Confused with Control Rather Than Connected with Service

• Authority is seen as license for domination rather than stewardship
• Authority is seen as a vehicle of entitlement for self-benefit rather than for service to others.
• Authority in Scripture is a responsibility of service not a platform of privilege.

3. Jesus Redefines Authority

• Not borrowed
• Not voted in
• Not seized

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Matthew 28:18

• Washing feet
• Laying down His life

The One with all authority chooses the cross.

• He never exploits
• He never lies
• He never abandons

Many reject authority because they’ve never seen it exercised like Jesus’.

We Respect Authority but We don’t Idolize Authority

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:1–7 (ESV)

We submit but not blindly

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 (ESV)

• Submission is real
• Resistance is an expression of faith not personal disagreement
• God’s authority always outranks human authority

Christians are not anarchists—but neither are we passivists.

4. How Should we Live in an Anti-Authority Culture

Live a life of Submission not resistance. God uses authority to discipline.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Hebrews 12:7–8 (ESV)

Discipline trains us in humility and marks us as sons.

Resist authority Cautiously. You may be resisting God.

• When prayer rather than anger initiates it.
• When it demands sinful actions. Ralph and the State Contract.
• When it is abusive or puts you in physical danger.
• When it denies Christ’s lordship by putting man over God to produce a result.
• When it is Selfish and Self-centered, becoming destructively narcissistic.

Resistance has consequences so resist with caution.

• Servant Hearted
• Not controlling
• Not domineering

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2–3 (ESV)

No matter what authority you have it is delegated authority. Christ is the one with all the authority we should represent Him.

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal individuals suffering from fibromyalgia.
• We believe the Lord wants to reset the hearts of individuals that have irregular heartbeats.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal people of eczema today.

His Word can never fail, but it waits to be received!

We don’t need more Hype; we need His Word. We need more life-giving substance and spiritual hydration!

His Word, like Spiritual Hydration sent from Heaven, is available to all who come to him thirsty!

“Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver, come, buy, and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost!Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy?Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods. Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live.I will make a permanent covenant with youon the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David. Isaiah 55:1-3 (CSB)

If you’ll stand under the Authority of His Word and Receive it Consistently. It’s Impossible to Stay the Same!

His Word is the sole authority for my life — in what I believe and how I live!

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes fro my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do. Isaiah 55:6-11 (CSB)

We don’t have a Seed Problem (His Word) we have a Reception Problem!

• Mark 4:1-20 – Parable of the Sower

Chronic Spiritual Health Issues

• The Thief - Matthew 12:29
• A Root Problem - Ephesians 3:17
• A Priority Problem - Matthew 6:33
• Did you actually take it in?
• If it’s not in you, it can’t do what it was designed to do!
• Is His Word in you?Because the Word of God NEVER fails…But it does wait to be Received!When it’s received and flowing it’s impossible to stay the same!

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal individuals suffering from incontinence..
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who is having right ankle pain.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal people having stomach pain.
• We believe there is someone who has been having episodes of blurred vision and headaches that have been keeping you from going to work; we believe the Lord wants to heal you today.
• We believe we heard the Lord say He wants to heal the mind this weekend. We heard the healing of double mindedness and mind looping.
• We also heard crippling fear and anxiety that requires medication. The medication is not helping, and you feel hopeless; the Lord wants to set you free!

"The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” Genesis 6:6-7 (NASB 1995)

• This word sorry isn’t saying He's sorry but that He was grieved, deeply sorrowful over the sin that had entered the hearts of His perfect creation.
• Where is our heart posture? Whats going on in our hearts?
• We live in a godless society because we worship the god of self.
• Our hearts are caught up in things that sway us to make decisions that aren’t aligning with God. With His Word.

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord" Genesis 6:8 (NASB 1995)

• I’m NOT talking about favoritism! - you don’t have to work for it. You don’t need man’s approval! You can’t fail with His grace that abounds!
• God is in the simple things we often overcomplicate. He’s looking for willing vessels—hearts positioned in obedience, to carry out His will through His Word.

Obedience isn’t powered by comfort, it’s powered through communion.

Favoritism will always let you down because men are flawed BUT Gods favor is perfect because it doesn’t look at your appearance, how hard you work… it looks at the heart!

• Favor with God suffers with others.
• Favor with God feels undeserved, born from humility.
• Favor with God places you in circles you’d never choose for yourself.
• Favor is based in Gods love, and favoritism is based in our performance.
• Favoritism is a form of acceptance, apart from God‘s love. It’s an orphan spirit! - it’s a prison!
• Favor in your life on the other hand will grant favor onto others so they can see Gods love through your heart posture.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB 1995)

God is looking for uncommon men & women that may not look the part… but carry the right heart! - Gods heart!

So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the Lord closed it behind him. Genesis 7:15-16 (NASB 1995)

• If God shuts the door then why do we think we have permission to open it ,all over again?

The danger wasn’t the flood, it was the people, and the condition of their hearts.

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. John 14:21 (NASB 1995)

• Love is the reason why God shuts the door!
• Love is the reason why God persists and pursues!
• Love is the reason that Grace and Mercy abounds!
• Love Is at the CORE of our identity!

We’ve adopted this idea that because we are Christians that God understands our hearts and He does but the problem lies within us because we don’t want to understand His heart!

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NASB 1995)

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. Proverbs 17:9 (NASB 1995)

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. Hebrews 12:15 (NASB 1995)

That identity we seek has already been given to us through Christ.

We may not worship a graven image but the enemy has deceived us into thinking that “Grace”is permission to sin because we “worship the idol of self”!

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:18-21 (NASB 1995)

Grace has been given unto us so that we can overcome sin nit so that we can abuse it so we can continue to sin!

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be the likeness of His resurrection. knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:1-7 (NASB 1995)

How is your heart posture? Towards God? Towards one another?

These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 (NASB 1995)

If we allow for God to shut the door behind us He will help us endure the floods of life!

Do you know who else closed the door? The Bridegroom!

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13 (NASB 1995)

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. Genesis 8:20-21 (NASB 1995)

It was sonship that was released from that cross!

• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering with pain in their right shoulder blade area.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who is having a lot of pain and tenderness in the heels of their feet.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering from sciatica pain.
• We believe someone is dealing with severe tightness and inflammation in their IT band. This is causing lower back and hip pain.

The Lord wants to heal that today!

What you Behold is what you Become!

The Question is: Is whatever you’re beholding making you better or bitter?

God’s desire is for his children to be together, to host/carry his Fire.

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4 (ESV)

If we keep beholding what the World says about us, we exclude ourselves from what He says about us!

• The only thing limiting you, is your view of you!

Marxism has dramatically marked our culture:

• Persistent self-identification primarily as wronged
• Externalization of responsibility
• Interpretation of neutral events as hostile

In cultural form, it can look like:

• Moral leverage through grievance
• Identity rooted in injury
• Moral authority tied to suffering
• Power analysis as default lens
• Personal responsibility minimized
• Institutional suspicion normalized

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:26-35 (ESV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers. nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

If we keep beholding the distractions and fears that divide us, we will never fully enter into our Distinctions.

What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is
anything?No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 1
Corinthians 10:19-21 (ESV)

There are certain songs that I could listen to right now that immediately take me to an unsanctified place, so I don’t listen to them anymore, I might even tease about them, but I don’t feed on them anymore!

• The issue is not what party you are a part of or even the policies, practices and procedures that are currently in place
• Researchers collected sweat from people under extreme fear (first-time skydiving) and compared it to exercise sweat; when strangers smelled the fear sweat, their brains showed fear-circuit activation, especially the amygdala.

What Distinguishes us from the World!

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. Act 17:26 (ESV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV)

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken, that is, things that have been made, in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29 (ESV)

The more we behold the Lord, the more fire He kindles.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV)

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering from migraine headaches.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal couples who have been struggling with infertility.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering with problems in their metacarpal bones.