The Enemy’s Key to an Open Door,
If we do not have the heart of sonship toward authorities in the natural realm, how will we ever have it toward God? As Paul says in Romans 13, all existing authority has been established by God; therefore, those who resist are opposing God and inviting condemnation on themselves. How can we be in sonship toward God if we opposing Him? This goes right along with Peters instruction to “honor all people”. “All people”, certainly includes those in authority. Peter continues in the very next chapter. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to these who are unreasonable” (1 Peter 2:8 NAS). Unreasonable? It’s easy to be in subjection to someone whose always their for you, who never criticizes you, never demeans you, never devalues you, and pours their life into you. But what about the unreasonable authority figures in your life- over demanding boss, controlling pastor, the authoritarian and demanding teacher- those who just want to use you or take from you? Even then, Gods established principle applies of honoring them and making what is important to them important to us.
This doesn’t mean we should submit even to the point of going against the Word of God. The Christians in the Roman Empire refused to go against the Word of God, many of them were martyred for it. But there is a principle that says if we resist authority, there is an issue in our heart that opposes the ordinance of God and opens the door to fear and judgement in our life. When we dishonor authority, it is though we are saying,”If God put this authority in my life, then what a poor manager He is!” Whenever we do not have a heart attitude of honor to those in authority, we are dishonoring God. We may think He has given us a raw deal, never realizing that god puts authority in our lives as minister of good. Consequently, those who oppose God will “receive condemnation upon themselves.” Does God condemn us?No, the Father judges no one (see John 5:22). He doesn’t have to judge us; we take pretty good care of opening the door to self-imposed curses; for when we oppose authority, we come into agreement with the law and we bring condemnation upon ourselves. God doesn’t curse us; rather the enemy has been looking for ever open door through which to come in and steal, kill, and destroy. If he can align us with orphan thinking by our agitated resistance against authority, it will give him a key to our front door, an then the enemy has legal ground to come and go in our house as he pleases.
The sonship principle of humility, honor, an submission applies even to unreasonable authority; in Rome’s case, it was murderous, immoral and corrupt authority. When we submit to unreasonable authority, we position ourselves to see God bless, honor, and elevate us in the midst of and in spite of that unreasonable authority. Inheritance is for sons, and God can release inheritance under any circumstances to sons who are subject to the Fathers mission. Paul continues in the next few verses in Romans 13:3-8.
Why does God want us to submit to unreasonable authority? Following the principle if submitting to all authority helps us to learn to respect legitimate authority in spite of their personal blind spots. Every person in authority in our lives has character flaws, and it is easy for us to use those character flaws as justification for rejecting their authority. We need to learn to honor all people, and with our love fulfill the whole law. Submitting to all authority also helps uncover orphan thinking that may remain in us so that we can bing it to the Cross. Have you forgiven the people who have misrepresented the Fathers love to you? Why not make a list of those in authority who have hurt you- at work, at school, or in the church. Now, out loud, choose to forgive each one and speak the details of the hurt or disappointment. By forgiving them and letting go of the offense, you will begin to close the door that has been open to condemnation and that has given the enemy the key to traffic in your life. Let’s choose today tho be the day we choose to shut the door to the enemy.
If we do not have the heart of sonship toward authorities in the natural realm, how will we ever have it toward God? As Paul says in Romans 13, all existing authority has been established by God; therefore, those who resist are opposing God and inviting condemnation on themselves. How can we be in sonship toward God if we opposing Him? This goes right along with Peters instruction to “honor all people”. “All people”, certainly includes those in authority. Peter continues in the very next chapter. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to these who are unreasonable” (1 Peter 2:8 NAS). Unreasonable? It’s easy to be in subjection to someone whose always their for you, who never criticizes you, never demeans you, never devalues you, and pours their life into you. But what about the unreasonable authority figures in your life- over demanding boss, controlling pastor, the authoritarian and demanding teacher- those who just want to use you or take from you? Even then, Gods established principle applies of honoring them and making what is important to them important to us.
This doesn’t mean we should submit even to the point of going against the Word of God. The Christians in the Roman Empire refused to go against the Word of God, many of them were martyred for it. But there is a principle that says if we resist authority, there is an issue in our heart that opposes the ordinance of God and opens the door to fear and judgement in our life. When we dishonor authority, it is though we are saying,”If God put this authority in my life, then what a poor manager He is!” Whenever we do not have a heart attitude of honor to those in authority, we are dishonoring God. We may think He has given us a raw deal, never realizing that god puts authority in our lives as minister of good. Consequently, those who oppose God will “receive condemnation upon themselves.” Does God condemn us?No, the Father judges no one (see John 5:22). He doesn’t have to judge us; we take pretty good care of opening the door to self-imposed curses; for when we oppose authority, we come into agreement with the law and we bring condemnation upon ourselves. God doesn’t curse us; rather the enemy has been looking for ever open door through which to come in and steal, kill, and destroy. If he can align us with orphan thinking by our agitated resistance against authority, it will give him a key to our front door, an then the enemy has legal ground to come and go in our house as he pleases.
The sonship principle of humility, honor, an submission applies even to unreasonable authority; in Rome’s case, it was murderous, immoral and corrupt authority. When we submit to unreasonable authority, we position ourselves to see God bless, honor, and elevate us in the midst of and in spite of that unreasonable authority. Inheritance is for sons, and God can release inheritance under any circumstances to sons who are subject to the Fathers mission. Paul continues in the next few verses in Romans 13:3-8.
Why does God want us to submit to unreasonable authority? Following the principle if submitting to all authority helps us to learn to respect legitimate authority in spite of their personal blind spots. Every person in authority in our lives has character flaws, and it is easy for us to use those character flaws as justification for rejecting their authority. We need to learn to honor all people, and with our love fulfill the whole law. Submitting to all authority also helps uncover orphan thinking that may remain in us so that we can bing it to the Cross. Have you forgiven the people who have misrepresented the Fathers love to you? Why not make a list of those in authority who have hurt you- at work, at school, or in the church. Now, out loud, choose to forgive each one and speak the details of the hurt or disappointment. By forgiving them and letting go of the offense, you will begin to close the door that has been open to condemnation and that has given the enemy the key to traffic in your life. Let’s choose today tho be the day we choose to shut the door to the enemy.
ALL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO GOD WHOM GAVE A WORD OF FREEDOM TO A MAN NAMED: JACK FROST; HIS BOOK: SPIRITUAL SLAVERY TO SPIRITUAL SONSHIP
