Tag Archives: Authority

Nothing

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In a fancy room, removed from the prying eyes of the general public, debate has taken place.  All members of the conversation emerged.  Each one went to his expected place. 

As if rising to crescendo from the stillness of breath, the leader begins to speak.  With great confidence of his unalterable position, the Pope has declared that Jesus is no better and no worse than any other version of God on the face of this planet.

I look around and I see no change to the grass.  It is still green.  I look around and I see that all the buildings are still on their foundations.  I woke from sleep and took note that my eyelids functioned just fine.  Even my cell phone obeys my command to write.

See, the Pope’s power to bring Christ down is of no effect at all.  But I do wonder what the response of Islam might be.  I wonder how Islam feels about having their God brought level in a mud puddle with the Christ.

Any man can say anything he wants to say, it does not make his words true.  Any man can fill himself with truth for the grace of God abounds.  Or any man can revert from speaking the truth and become a blatant liar, for free will abounds in this place of shadows.

The world will be a buzz.  Heaven does not even notice.

Backward Resolution

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I refuse to be a goat.  Therefore, if anyone has need of my earthly possessions, come and take them.  But is the receiving of my perishable things truly clothes and food for you?  Still I will not hinder the thief.

But are you a wise one?  Are you able to distinguish between the perishable things of this world, and the things which I have that are eternal?  Will you have the things of mine that only last one day?  Or will you be bold and ask for the things that never fade.

I refuse to be a goat.  I refuse to hide His property.  Since the day and the hour are unknown, I will busy myself with the things of God.

I look around and see the signs of the end of the age.  I remember the seven woes spoken.  I know whose son is the Christ.  I understand the greatest commandment.

I will pay my taxes to Caesar but I will render my things to God.  The wedding banquet remains invited.  I will not listen to the wayward tenants who care for his vineyard, even to this day.  I will not question the authority of Jesus.  Lest I become as the fig tree.

By His Grace

Purchased Authority

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Authority is such a fleeting reward.  For a price you can gain believability.  Man has bottled the truth of the Living God, and will sell it for a certain price.

The manufacturing facilities are called colleges.  A man or woman is vetted by those who say they know.  Authority is not given without a punishing ordeal.  But once it is received a man may walk about this earth as if full of power.

But is the authority given by men truly a viable resource of truth?  Or is it a source of division?   At worst a ruse.

I don’t claim to know the price tag for a bachelor’s degree today.  I can’t remember the cost of my own.  But on cursory search it looks to be over $10,000.  With that a man has preliminary authority.

But let him search for more strength.  Man has created better, better and best.  You can gain what is called a masters degree.  Then if you are a truly diligent and godly man, you may seek for a doctorate!

What is the price tag of a Doctorate degree?    A man could easily spend 200 thousand dollars.  But don’t bulk!  Consider the authority he has just purchased.

How much did Moses spend to become the voice of God for Holy Law?  For what price did Abraham pay to achieve the title of “Father of faith”?  I wonder what Adam paid to become the first man.  And the College of shipbuilding seems to have faded into obscurity; yet Noah built an ark which withstood the most fierce of raging waters.

Was there a college available that helped Christians endure murder at the hands of the Romans?  Does anyone even ask what degree Billy Graham had procured?

There ought to be a sign above every Christian college door,
“ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK“.  For there you will learn what men have to teach.  My friend, I testify, they are persuasive.  But I also testify they are utterly useless.  The summation of their teaching is simply one sentence: Seek the Living God in Christ Jesus”.

Why do I need to spend 200 thousand dollars to do that?  The answer comes back as a slap in the face.  “If you want men to listen to you, you have to have an authority they respect.”

Really?  Is that why the Christian Church is such a vital part of this world today?  Is that why there is a line outside every church on Sunday morning waiting to hear the sermon?  Is that why the parking lots are crammed with more cars than the Super Bowl parking lot?

Thank you for the answer.  I confess I didn’t know.

By His Grace

The First and Basic Truth

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I am sorry for you, men of the world, for you willingly reject the authority of man in the things of God.  God Himself has chosen to speak through men.  But you cannot stand such a glorious authority.

You gladly give authority to other men for lesser things.  Frankly because you know you can tear these men down at will.

You can restrain the men you elevate, by the strength of popularity, financial subsistence, or even by death.  But any man sent by God Himself rises above your filthy hands.  And for this you despise such men.

I am sorry for you because you dismiss the possibility of eternal life.  All the while you elevate the liars and the hypocrites to the places of honor.  I am sorry for you, because you will continue to do this until these things are taken away from you.

I am sorry for you, because you do not know the beauty of the things you dispatch so willingly.  By this proud strength, you think you have freedom.  But this proud strength restrains you as slaves to unrighteousness.

I write this to the men who are of today.  But you are no different from the generations who have passed before you.

I do not say this to accuse you, but to expose what keeps you blind.

Every man gives account of his own life.  Do you desire freedom?  Do you desire eternal life?  Or do you find yourself content to live a life of slavery to everything that is false?

It is an easy thing to live in lies, for we are, by our nature, liars.  Even forced by the nature of things around us to live a great lie.

And we are lazy slugs.  Desiring peace and tranquility, we strain to retain our own wickedness.  Our soul knows, that if we are wicked, the Lord will be kept far away.  To our shame, we call this peace.

But our soul also knows that we will be caught up to Him, regardless our state of affairs.  Yet men prefer to live in ignorance.

The Lord has established His Holy way from forever.  But every man is born in this place of time and wickedness.  Before he learns to speak, man is taught the authority of pride.

Are you willing to learn the authority of humility?  Are you willing to entertain the Holy Fire of the truth of God?  Every man will certainly entertain it on that great day of judgement.  But the gospel has been sent to us that we might escape The Horrible Flame.

This Gospel has been handed from God to man once and for all, and this by the Holy wisdom of God; that he may test the heart of every man.

There is a question written in the fabric of creation, and every man can read it clearly.  “Will you humble yourself and seek the face of He who is Holy, Holy and Holy?  Or you will you retain the freedom to be proud?

You will gladly accept the authority given to a man by the schools of men; that machine of men which produces liars.  Plumbers, electricians, doctors, psychologists, lawyers, and every occupation of man, receives your respect.  Are you willing to listen to those who are the product of the eternal Holy Spirit of God?

You reject them because they are taught in a school which you are not allowed to control.  Wouldn’t it make sense that such men are more reliable than those who are taught for the sake of financial gain or pride?

Are you willing to receive the painful transition from wickedness to righteousness, before the painful and horrible Day of God arrives?  Are you willing to entertain eternal truth?

The lies you currently embrace are death.  Are you even willing to embrace that first and basic truth?

By His Grace

“Some Things”

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President Nixon at Capital Motorcade

President Nixon at Capital Motorcade (Photo credit: SheepGuardingLlama)

To serve the Lord is a distinct privilege.  To know Him in Jesus is a direct blessing from the Father.

There are some things that are sincerely hard to accomplish for His sake as we fight against the flesh.  But there are also some things that are not hard at all.  All these “some things” require is an awareness of His commands.  These “some things” don’t require a continual alertness that the flesh requires.  One of these “some things” is the following:

13 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”  (Romans)