Week 6 | Spiritual Authority | Dan

Ch. 9,10,11,16

What is in your heart comes out through your mouth. One who is rebellious in heart will speak rebellious words. "It is easier to utter rebellious words than to perform rebellious acts." It's easy to say things in front of certain people. We want to be people who obey from the heart. Then we would also naturally be people who have their tongues under control.

Rebellious words come from reason. But God's people should regard his authority higher than reason. I know we're not called to be dumb Christians, but this is where acquiring knowledge can get you in a very dangerous place. I've met people who are educated in theology and take so much pleasure in slandering leaders and other believers because we apparently don't know anything. I would rather be a dumb Christian than a smart "Christian" who is doing more to help Satan than God. If you entertain reason, there is no end to it. But none of us is smart enough to tell God what to think, or to act like everyone should seek our approval before they do anything.

Those in authority do conflict, and they do fail to be aligned with God's authority at times. But how we respond to that reveals whether or not we understand God's authority. We've already learned that we must have an attitude of submission, although obedience to earthly authority is not absolutely required. Let us be tender and soft and under restraint. This is not a sign of weakness or stupidity, but of truly living under God's authority and His principles.

It is for God to judge those who are in authority and fail by not accurately representing Him. When Moses misrepresented God, God had to vindicate Himself, and Moses wasn't allowed to go into Canaan. Being in a position of authority is a serious matter. It could even be suggested that a servant's life ends when his service ends, as we see in Aaron's example.