Submission and Authority

Submission and Authority
YMMP 09

Freedom
For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17)
Freedom without authority?
Highest authority is that Jesus is Lord. Live it out.
You want freedom? Grab on to the truth

World today- Tolerant and Permissive society, lead to chaos
Every time we want something, we change the law
Freedom without restriction
Freedom seen as rejection of authority?

2 ways of looking at Freedom
External Freedom
Internal Freedom. (John 8:31,32,36)

Free not to be dominated by self
Free from guilt and power of sin
Free to love God and serve others
Free to do what is right
Free not to break moral law but to keep it
“and I’m free…free fallin”-Tom Petty

Submission
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32
Cannot have freedom until we submit to God’s terms
Real freedom comes from Right authority

How did Jesus get all His authority?
John 8:38,4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 8:26, 12:49, 14:31, 17:4
He submits to the will of the Father

Generation Y
Lifestyle centered
Impatient
Very aware socially
Demanding of people, leaders
Hugely confident, educated
Ask questions and want flexibility and options
Greatest challenge: Fear and Unbelief

Answer to young people is not to entertain them
“I am what I own” generation
Not to give them everything but to empower them
2 Cor 5:15, 2 Peter 1:5

Do God’s will. John 17:13-19. Luke 19:10, John 3:16
Know Submission, Know Authority

World says:
-We come from nothing
-We don’t live for anyone,anything
-We’re going nowhere

Who is your Master? Saviour and Lord
Acknowledge His Lordship, Phi 2:9-11
Why are people not changed? Position @ altar
When we die, we find life, then we give it away! 2 Cor 4:7-12

Shut up and die(to self) Gal 2:20.
Are you truly dead?Don’t fight back
Get over yourself

Authority
Jesus
Acted with authority
Spoke with authority
Taught with authority

John 1:12. Exousia- “rightful unimpeded power or authority to act”
Authority
Matt 28:18. Jesus has authority from heaven
Luke 4:5-7. The devil has authority because we give it to him when making choices
Gen 1:26-28. We were given authority to rule.

God places value on authority for:
Order
Protection
Roman 13:1-2. Secular Authorities are put there by God
Bible is an authority 2 Tim 3:16
Authority
Governing Authorities
Government. 1 Peter 2:13,14
Families. Eph 6:1-4, 5:22-32
Church. Romans 8:14(HS), 2 Tim 3:16(Word)

3 Ways Walls of Authority can crumble
Poor leadership
Application
Rebellion

“Shut up, Grow up, Do as you are told!”

3 Types of Authority
1. Task
-opposite is Disobedience
2. Teaching
-opposite is Unteachability
3. Spiritual
-opposite is harden hearts

Submit- to arrange in order
Heart attitude and things you do with your body
Eph 4:26. Anger is an attitude and gives Enemy a foothold
Submission-know our place

Obedience means to hear(Greek)
When leaders ask of you, submit in heart attitude.

Why authority?
Grow in wisdom and character. Luke 2:49-52
Protection under it. 1 Sam 15:23, Prob 22:15
Receive direction because of openness to others

Non-submission in Bible
Gen 9:20-27. Noah and Ham. When leaders fail you, test of your rebellious heart
Numbers 12. Aaron and Miriam. Rebellion holds up the camp. Talking a lot
Numbers 16. Korah. Eyes of reason and not faith. 2 Cor 4:1-6
God will put up with your moaning but He will not tolerate rebellion
Numbers 16:41-50. Rebellion is contagious. Deal with things.Don’t build your own camp
2 Sam 15. Absalom.


Submission but disobedience in Bible
Daniel submitted to kings of Babylon but not always obeyed.Consequences.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego not bowing to idol
Jesus in Heb 5:7-9

Submission brings God’s Power

Steps to Disloyalty
1.Inward attitude, independent spirit. Phi 2:20-21. List out your rights, expectations

2.Wounded spirit. When things don’t happen the way you want, you get into distrust. Luke 17:7-10, Col 3:23,24. Detailed instructions needed.

3. Alertness to discontent,taking up offence, vicarious anger. Ps 15:3

4. Judgmental Spirit. Magnify reports of discontent. Gal 6:1. Watch yourself.

5. Disloyalty

Principles of the Kingdom
Submission
Repentance
Forgiveness
Faith
Giving
Humility
Service

Principles of the world?

Summary
Phi 2:5-11. Jesus humbled Himself,even to death
After that, all authority is given to Him
Humility releases the power of God

Our role in life: Die, Find life, Bring life and authority to places of Death

Methodist Convenant Prayer
Christ has many services to be done:
some are easy, others are difficult;
some bring honour, others bring reproach;
some are suitable to our natural inclinations
and material interests,
others are contrary to both;

The Prayer
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.