Godly Words of Encouragement

 (This message was edited by pinoy_celt on 12-24-03 @ 5:45 am EST)

Now why is this important to us, especially since we’ve looked at deception and sexual sin the past few posts? It’s important because bad things happen when God’s people do not listen to the leaders that the LORD has set up over them. Just look in the Bible, especially the Old Testament. Numerous times did Israel turn away from God by not taking heed to the priests, prophets and/or leaders, and numerous times did Israel get delivered over to their enemies because of it. The same principle applies to us today. If you and I as Christians do not listen to parents, pastors, and other spiritual authorities God has set up in our lives, then we’ll live a life outside of God’s provision, and that usually means trouble.

NIV Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Obedience and submission to authority MUST begin with your parents because they are (or are supposed to be, anyway) your spiritual authorities. Now I understand that some of us have ungodly parents, grandparents or whatever the case may be. But that is NO EXCUSE to disobey anything they say as far as your conscience will allow. NIV Romans 13:5 says, “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities…because of conscience.” You and I may not agree with our parents on some issues, and I believe we can respectfully voice our opinions with them and possibly establish an agreement with them, or, if they rather not reach an agreement, at least be honest with them. But disobeying parents goes much further than disagreeing. It’s rebellion against them and against God since they represent God’s tangible authority in your life. If we disobey our parents continually, we can end up rejecting God’s promise and blessing for our lives. NIV Ephesians 6:1-3 state, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’--which is the first commandment with a promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’" Now I must be clear in that parents are not always right in their judgment over situations in which we might find ourselves, but as I’ll explain later, if we obey them and/or other godly authorities, even if they’re wrong, God knows it’s not our fault. But the main reason why we should obey our parents is this: NIV Colossians 3:20 says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” We’re here to live for one reason: to please the LORD, and to glorify His name. Here’s food for thought: NIV Proverbs 30:17 "The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.” Obedience is key to God’s best for your life.

But there are other spiritual authorities that we should obey as well. NIV Ephesians 4:11 states, “It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” I believe that the most important relationship with spiritual authority outside of parents should be with a pastor, with a man of God who oversees a part of God’s people. It’s important because sometimes it’s easier (especially for those of us with ungodly parents) to share problems and concerns with a pastor that cares about us because we can get a more unbiased assessment. But I know that not all of us can have an intimate relationship with our pastors. In that case, develop a relationship with a trusted elder of your church because they play a very important part in the church. In Acts alone, you can see how the elders are usually mentioned with the apostles as the leadership of the early Christian church. Moses needed elders to lessen the burden of decisions and judgments that had to be made whenever the Israelites had a problem to take before the LORD and/or a sin to deal with (remember that Moses was in charge of hundreds of thousands of people since he was God’s leader for Israel for a time). Our attitude toward elders should be as in NIV 1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” As far as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, it’s a good idea to likewise submit yourself to be mentored by such people of God if you truly believe that you have a calling to such a ministry.

Here’s another reason why we should obey spritual authority: NIV James 4:6-7 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God.” A second reason is in NIV Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” A third reason is NIV Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Spiritual authorities are supposed to be an example for us to follow in Christ. We all need someone like that. But in general, a very important reason to obey our spiritual leaders is in NIV Ephesians 4:12,13 “…to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” God uses spiritual authorities to make us holy and complete in Christ, as well as ready and able to fulfill God’s ultimate purpose and calling for our lives. And finally, NIV Ephesians 5:21 states, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Submit to authority because it honors God, if for no other reason.

Before we go any further, maybe you’ve been hurt by someone in the church who is supposedly a Christian, possibly even a leader. Or you might find it a burden to obey and submit yourself to all these different people. But know this: submitting yourself to spiritual authority is important because you’re ultimately sharing your heart with someone, and we all need to do that with someone we trust as often as possible. We should not let anything or anyone be an excuse for us to not open up and be honest with ourselves, with others, and with the LORD, despite what we’ve been through. Because when it’s all said and done, NIV Romans 8:38,39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Take care and God bless you

Works Cited



The Holy Bible: New International Version. (The International Bible Society, 1984).