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Paul's Thorn in the Flesh -8.x and below

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh -9.x and above

The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit -8.x and below

The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit -9.x and above

Submitting to the Authority of God’s Light

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men

loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every

one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his

deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19-20)

As the early Church leaders expounded upon the New Testament God soon directed Christians to organize into a functional unit. Organization and order are needed to sustain a growing movement. The Christian church should ever be growing and remain the greatest movement on the earth. This is because it carries the light of God to the darkness of men in this world.

The church once was the strongest and most powerful movement on the earth. It was said of the Christians that they have “turned the world upside down”. (Acts 17:6) The early church had such an impact on the world because they made sacrifices and submitted themselves to God with trusting love. Jesus said; “Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)

Today the church is suspect when making the claim that it is the most powerful movement on the earth. It has the most power, that is certain. However, today the group most willing to “lay their lives down” are not Christians but radical Muslims who are using this to terrorize the world in the effort to impose upon mankind their own concepts of laws.

Part of the problem is that Christian leaders are only preaching part of God light. They are all too often using their positions to keep their followers under them, instead of leading them to feed in fields of green pastures where they will learn to submit more to God's power, will and ways.

Faith teaching today is usually limited to “getting things” instead of removing spiritual mountains. Success and “biblical prosperity” is limited to obtaining earthly wealth instead of the “true riches” (Luke 16:11) of faith, love and wisdom; because too many Christian leaders are focused on earthly things instead of those things that are where Jesus is today.

It is a fact of history that as each Christian denomination developed, no mater how sincere and spiritually minded they started out as; eventually people with management skills were elevated to positions of leadership over spiritual leaders. Their organizational skills are useful and meaningful. But if the spiritual light of God is quenched the church becomes weak and powerless. The remedy is to listen for and submit to the intimate light of God.

“What I tell you in darkness, speak that openly in the light: and what ye hear

in the ear, preach that upon the housetops” (Mat 10:27)

Regarding delegated authority, be it civil or religious, it is not always easy to determine which authority to submit too. One authority might say do this, another might say “don’t do that and do this”. All too often people are tossed too and fro in bewilderment and frustration.

Some today claim that all we need to do is submit to the leader and God will take care of the rest because that is “God ordinance”. But that defies the direct command of God for every individual believer to act responsibly and walk in the light that God gives them.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while

ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness

knows not where he goes." (John 12:35 see also Eph 5:8; & 1 John 1:17)

The light of God carries with it authority. Jesus, as an example did not haphazardly obey every religious or civic rule. He walked in the Light and followed that light as His heavenly Father gave the light. Jesus respected others but He always honored God.

Submit One to the Other

These things happened and are an example for others. These things were written down as a warning for us who are living in the closing days of history. So, people who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don't fall. There isn't any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans….” (1Co 10:11-12a)

As all scripture, the above text should be read and understood in context. I am using it here only to illustrate that Paul’s fallout with Mark and then Barnabas were given to us by God. He inspired the recording of their indifference as an example and a warning that this can and may well happen to the best of Christians. There is no evidence that God didn’t cause their indifference or encouraged it. Neither does God at any time justify either one of them, or one over the other. But God did decide to use them as lessons for us.

Instead of allowing indifference to win the day, we should be sensitive to the fact that God speaks through many means. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. He speaks to us in visions, dreams and most assuredly through the bible. He speaks to us through providence, through history and experience. He also speaks to us through His Body: That is the members of the Body of Christ. Peter, very attuned of this through his own experiences wrote;

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5b)

Illustrated in this simple statement are several important points. First, consider that babes in Christ need a stronger commanded to submit; they are more prone to ignore the wisdom of their elders.

However, regarding the mature elder, they rarely need to be reminded to submit. This is why Peter said, “Yea all of you”. True elders (I don’t mean old people, but spiritually mature people) already know very well that they were to be submissive too. They have learned that submitting to others is a part of the Christian’s way of life. It is wisdom and the responsibility of every believer to submit to each other.
Submitting to one another speaks as much to sensitivity as to obedience. Again, Jesus had told His original disciples, the foundational fathers of our faith; that authority is not to be with us as it is in the world, one lording over another, or one executing authority upon others. We should be receptive of each other, seeking and allowing truth to dominate our obedience. Thus the attitude of yielding and preferring others is cited repeatedly as part of our way of life.

The greater you are is revealed by the measure of your ability to receive. Are you teachable? Great leaders allow others to speak into their lives with sufficient knowledge and experience not to be moved by false truths.

In God’s mind being “submitted” doesn’t mean enslavement. God wants His subjects to willingly submit. He doesn’t force His will on those who do not want Him. This is where many Christian leaders miss it. Most want to lead and are not open to new leadings. They want their members to obey them without providing sufficient reasoning. The result is we see a self-centered church structure again, just as the Jews did when Jesus first came.

Well before God provide the two covenants He gave us an example of man reasoning with man. The recorded history of Job is unique in this matter. Most think of the story of Job and remember the conversation between God and Satan. But most of the story surrounds his discussions with three miserable councilors.

However, did you ever notice there was a fourth councilor to Job? He was a youth and his name was Elihu. His council and wisdom was excellent and much different than the first three. His message was inspired by God and dominated the conversation. (Chap 32-37) Only after Elihu was through speaking did God speak up. What was God’s council? He chastened Job.

Elihu, being younger, had remained silent and in the background, listening to the arguments and complaints of Job and his three peers. When he finally spoke out it was with God’s inspiration.

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu…against Job… also against his three friends… because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu… answered… I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and did give my opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me;… (Job 32:1-10)

The four elders listened as the inspiration and wisdom of God spoke through Elihu, the younger. Then God spoke up and the rest is good history that we today should reflect on more carefully for it carries with it many other truths we will not consider here.

My point in this chapter is to encourage you to be more receptive, more sensitive to what God might be saying to you, especially through His Body. Mutual submission is a key to those things. How can mutual submission be experienced if we are not willing to let each voice be heard? What excuse will we offer to God when we stand before Him and He asks why didn’t you hear me?