TEEN TREE 
OF LIFE
THE DOCTRINE OF AUTHORITY
Part 1
July 22, 2018
BEFORE we begin, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, take a moment to name your sins to God the Father. This will allow you to be filled with the power of The Holy Spirit as you read this booklet (EPH 5:18 & 1JO 1:9). IF YOU HAVE never believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have that opportunity right now. Simply tell God the Father that you are believing on His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you make that decision, you are now a believer and will always be a child of God! When you die, you will spend eternity with Him forever in heaven! (JOH 3:16 & ACT 16:31).
Authority is defined as the power to determine, decide, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine and a power or right delegated or given. Authority applies to people having legal power to make and enforce the law, to make policy, or to make decisions. Authority is also an accepted source of information, as in the case of the authority of the Pastor-Teacher to provide doctrinal information from Scripture. Authority can be defined in terms of an expert on a subject. Under the Laws of Divine Establishment, authority is defined as that legal power delegated by God, whereby certain people have jurisdiction over and responsibility for others.
God has established realms of authority. He has delegated authority through His mandates in the Old Testament, as in 1SAM 15:22 which says it all about the importance of obeying God’s mandates: “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” There are also many mandates throughout the New Testament through which God has delegated authority.
God has authority over nature so nature obeys God. This is taught in MATT 8:27: The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him [Jesus Christ]?”
Angels are subject to Divine Authority according to 1PET 3:22: [Jesus Christ]who 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 according to 1COR 16:15‑6: You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. (New Living Translation) Paul affirms this in 2COR 10:8: For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame…
1THES 5:12-13 says this about the authority in the local church: 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, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. HEB 13:7: says an important thing about the rulers of the local church: Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Imitating someone’s faith is a great compliment and shows tremendous respect for authority.
Now let’s look at other realms of authority which are sanctioned by Our Heavenly Father. The Government has authority over its people to protect their freedom, property, and life: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. (ROM 13:1-5) Now that is a GREAT verse!!
God has also decreed that the husband has authority over the wife. EPH 5:22 teaches us this: For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. Parents have authority over children: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (EPH 6:1) This is an important way to look at the importance of respecting your parents’ authority: Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. (COL 3:20) Teachers have authority over students and coaches have authority over athletes, too! Management has authority over labor: Slaves, obey your masters; be eager to give them your very best. Serve them as you would Christ. (EPH 6:5 Living Bible) One thing you should take note of is that at the time this was written, slaves or servants were part of the working class. If this verse were written today, it would say “workers, obey your bosses.” And that’s how it applies to us in this day and age. COL 3:22 (Living Bible) offers a great slant to this message: You slaves must always obey your earthly masters, not only trying to please them when they are watching you but all the time; obey them willingly because of your love for the Lord and because you want to please him.
You may not have thought about this but freedom through military victory is based on the principle of the authority of military rank. There is the authority of law enforcement over citizens and of course, there is authority given to those who govern our cities and country. Look at: ROM 13:1-7: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
It goes without saying that God is The Highest Authority but hand in hand with Him is His Word. Our Lord Jesus Christ says in JOHN 15:12-15: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Notice this sentence from Our Lord’s statement: You are My friends if you do what I command you. So, if you don’t follow God’s Commands (which are Our Lord’s as well), you are not Our Lord’s friend! And “doing what I command you” means keeping God’s Word resident in your soul and applying it on a consistent basis. Keeping the commandment of Jesus Christ means the Bible has authority over our lives. Therefore, the Bible is our authority as the Word of God.
{to be continued}