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What is Spiritual authority and how does it apply to me? Isaiah 14:13,14 For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above G-d's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.' In serving G-d we must be careful not to violate authorities because to do so would be a principle of satan. Remember that the core of the dispute between G-d and satan is the issue of authority. Remember too, that rebellion is the beginning of violating authority. Before we can be used by G-d, we must have a full understanding and acceptance of authority. To put this simply; We can only work and be in the center of G-d’s perfect will for us if we are working under obedience to G-d’s appointed authority. When we first become believers we are filled with enthusiasm but our self-will is barely restrained. As we mature and learn to walk in obedience and work under authority we grow spiritually. Authority is everywhere; in the home, at work, at school, on the street. The policeman that directs traffic is in authority and is appointed there by G-d. Is he smarter than you, richer than you, more important than you? Why should he have authority over you? If G-d did not want him there he would not be there. We all understand that G-d is the ultimate authority and is the head. Well if all members of the body are subject to His authority, then in effect we are all subject to one another and in G-d’s will. The fact is that once you learn to be under G-d’s authority you will consider yourself nothing even when G-d puts you in authority. Those
of us who work for G-d in any type of ministry position, need to not
only learn to be under authority, but also to exercise authority Let’s
take a look in the Torah and learn a lesson from Moses’s brother and
sister Aaron and Miriam: Numbers 12:1-15 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn't He spoken through us, too?" But the LORD heard them. Now Moses was more humble than any other person on earth. So immediately the LORD called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, "Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!" And the three of them went out. Then the LORD descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. "Aaron and Miriam!" He called, and they stepped forward. And the LORD said to them, "Now listen to Me! Even with prophets, I the LORD communicate by visions and dreams. But that is not how I communicate with My servant Moses. He is entrusted with My entire house. I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as He is. Should you not be afraid to criticize him?" The LORD was furious with them, and He departed. As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, Miriam suddenly became white as snow with leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened, he cried out to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please don't punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed. Don't let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth." So Moses cried out to the LORD, "Heal her, O G-d, I beg you!" And the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, wouldn't she have been defiled for seven days? Banish her from the camp for seven days, and after that she may return." So Miriam was excluded from the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again. Since Aaron and Miriam also heard from G-d, what did they do that got G-d so mad at them? Aaron and Miriam were older brother and sister to Moses, so in their home and family setting they would rightfully be in authority. Miriam was not happy that Moses had married a descendant of Ham. However, she crossed the line when she slandered Moses’s calling and work for G-d. She was openly rebellious to G-d since He chose Moses. In that arena Miriam should have been subject to her younger brother’s authority. By standing in rebellion, 65 |