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Sermons

Sermons

Respecting God's Authority

Seth McDonald
07/28/24 - Sunday AM Worship

Series: Authority

 
Authority #1: Respecting God’s Authority

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”        
 

  1. Defining Authority
    1. Definition: The power to make and enforce laws, to command, determine, judge, or exact obedience
    2. Two types of authority
      1. Inherent Authority – based upon a held position.
      2. Delegated Authority
        1. Permission given to another by one who has the power to grant it. – Matt 28.18
        2. When claiming to act on God's authority, we claim permission from God.
      3. God ultimately has all inherent authority. – Isaiah 42.8
      4. All other authority is delegated by God.
        1. To governments – Romans 13
        2. To the home – Ephesians 5
        3. To the church – Colossians 1.18

 

  1. Four Fundamental Truths about Authority
    1. God is Creator – Genesis 1.1; Isaiah 45.8-12; 1 Peter 1.14-16
    2. Jesus Christ is King – John 18.36; Revelation 19.13, 16; Matthew 28.18-20
    3. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of the mind of God – 1 Corinthians 2.10-13; Ephesians 6.17; John 2.47; 16.12-13; 2 Peter 1.20-21
    4. God knows best.
      1. Man is not capable – Proverbs 14.12; Jeremiah 10.23-24
      2. We need to carefully listen and obey – Ecclesiastes 5.1-2
      3. The appropriate attitude: “not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22.42

 

  1. Sin is the Rejection of God’s Authority
    1. Only two sources of authority: Heaven or human – Luke 20.1-8
      1. Either God delegates authority…
      2. Or mankind acts without God’s authority. – Genesis 3.5-6; 1 John 3.4
    2. God has a plan for us, but gives us the choice to reject it – Luke 7.30
    3. All people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3.23
    4. Rejecting God’s authority separates us from God – James 1.13-15; Romans 6.23
    5. Good news: God’s plan offers redemption. – 1 Cor 15.3-5; Rom 5.6-9; Acts 2.36-39

 

 

 

 

Discussion Questions

  1. Why does God need no further foundation for authority other than Himself?



     
  2. Why do people generally rebel against authority? Is such rebellion ever justified?



     
  3. Why is authority so fundamental to the Christian?



     
  4. When we say we have authority to act, what kind of authority are we claiming, and why?

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