If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown .  But if it is of G-d, you will not be able to sto p t hem . You may even find yourselves fighting against G-d . "  The council accepted his advice . They called in the apostles and had them flogged . Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Yeshua, and they let them go . The apostles left the high council rejoicing that G-d had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Yeshua .  And every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: "The Messiah you are looking for is Yeshua."

Again, G-d honored their obedience to His higher authority and saved their lives .

Another very interesting example of G-d directly protecting those who follow the principle of spiritual authority is found in the Book of Daniel.

Daniel 3:8-27 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews .  They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "Long live the king!  You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worshi p t he gold statue when they hear the sound of the musical instruments .  That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace .  But there are some Jews – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon . They have defied Your Majesty by refusing to serve your gods or to worshi p t he gold statue you have set up . "  Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him . When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worshi p t he gold statue I have set up?  I will give you one more chance . If you bow down and worshi p t he statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well . But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace . What G-d will be able to rescue you from my power then?"  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you .  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the G-d whom we serve is able to save us . He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty .  But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worshi p t he gold statue you have set up . " Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage . He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual .  Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace .  So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed .  And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in!  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell down into the roaring flames .  But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie u p t hree men and throw them into the furnace?""Yes," they said, "we did indeed, Your Majesty . "  "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted . "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire . They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being !"  Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High G-d, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire .  Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them . Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched . They didn't even smell of smoke! 

But the reality is that even with head knowledge of G-d’s authority, we get filled with pride, we think we know best and we become rebellious to G-d’s authority. Here is an example of King Saul trying to please G-d but doing it his own way, and on his own terms .

King Saul did what too many believers do. He chose to appease G-d with religious practices instead of perfect obedience. He decided that he would do most of what G-d said and then satisfy G-d with his own “G-d will like this” plan. G-d told Saul to completely kill a sinful nation, ALL the livestock and ALL the people. So Saul (in his pride and infinite wisdom) kept the best livestock and used the excuse that he did this to make an offering to G-d. Sounds like a good “religious” thing to do. But, is this being subject to authority or is this rebellious? Obedience is far better than sacrifice!

1 Samuel 15:1-23 One day Samuel said to Saul, "I anointed you king of Israel because the LORD told me to . Now listen to this message from the LORD!  This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt . Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation – men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys . '"  So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim . There were 200,000 troops in addition to 10,000 men from Judah .  Then Saul went to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley .  Saul sent this message to the Kenites: "Move away from where the Amalekites live or else you will die with them . For you were kind to the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt . " So the Kenites packed up and left . Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt .  He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed 

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