Grace Bible Church
Pastor/Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The apostle John says Now, salvation, power, and the principle of authority has come.......why?
Because the who questions these things, salvation, power, and authority, is Satan himself who accuses God's people before God day and night, and he has been cast down.
Question Salvation = Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Question Power = that power you rely upon, -- the power of God in Act 1:8, Heb 4:12; or the power of self, ROM 10:3.
Questioning Power - ROM 10:3 Not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
MAT 22:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.
Paul also said in 2TI 3:5 that many of the early believers in the Church-age, were "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;"
The big problem that existed in the dispensation of the Law was not the problem of salvation or the problem of what power was needed but it was the problem with authority.
All scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
ACT 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men.
When it comes to something that is the policy of the organization or the job or the church, then it is totally wrong to reject authority and question it at all.
Keep your mouth shut about the authority that you have rejected unless ----- you don't mind paying the price that you will pay for rebelling against authority, which is what Satan is doing.
Authority is your friend---not your enemy!
There are blessings for respecting and listening to the voice of authority.
K.J. = 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
The Jews not only had a problem because of their fears and not being able to pick up the shield of faith, but they also had a problem because they had the attitude of Satan in Rev 12:10, they questioned authority!
God has authority over nature, and nature obeys God, MAT 8:27; Mar 4:41; Luk 8:25; Rom 8:20-22.
MAT 8:27 And the men marveled, saying, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
MAR 4:41 And they became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Mar 1:27 And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "what is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
1Pe 3:22 He is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
The pastor-teacher and church officers have authority over the congregation in the local church, 1Co 16:15‑16; 2Co 10:8; 1Th 5:12; Heb 13:7, 17; Isa 54:17.
2Co 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you,
1Th 5:12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
Government has authority over its people to protect the sanctity of their freedom, property, and human life, Rom 13:1-7.
The husband has authority over the wife. The husband's authority over his wife provides great happiness in category two love, Eph 5:22; Col 3:18.
Parents have authority over children, Eph 6:1; Col 3:20.
Eph 6:1-2, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),
Eph 6:3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
Authority in business stabilizes the economy, Eph 6:5; Col 3:22.
Eph 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh.
Freedom through military victory is based on the principle of the authority of military rank, Neh 4:13-15.
Freedom without authority is chaos. Authority without freedom is enslavement.
2,000,000 adults in the Exodus generation were constantly complaining.
Moses had true humility and humility does not make an issue of self and it is not overly self-conscious. Instead humility makes an issue out of Bible doctrine.
1. Because humility makes an issue out of Bible doctrine, it does not get caught up in the functions of subjective or self-righteous arrogance.
2. Humility functions under the principle of grace orientation and occupation with the person of Christ.
3. Humility is objective and genuine evaluation of your own helplessness to solve the problems of stress, pressure, calamity and disaster.
4. Humility from the biblical viewpoint is always God-consciousness rather than self-consciousness.
God consciousness includes personal love for God the Father and occupation with the person of Christ.
5. Humility does not deny the function of self-consciousness of the soul, but in the Christian life relates it to Bible doctrine and the escrow blessings of every believer.
Moses was not a man of destiny until he spent 40 years in Bible class between leaving Egypt and coming back to Egypt 40 years later.
6. Humility cannot co-exist with sins, as well as the sins of arrogance and the emotional complex of sins.
7. Humility is the basis for objectivity in life as well as keeping professionalism and integrity together.
What was his profession? Leadership! What was integrity? Humility!
No one ever had 2,000,000 rebellious people to lead, except there may be an exception of that today.