Sermon # 7 - Obedience To Spiritual Authority Series

Let us read 2 Corinthians 9:8, “Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.” (ISV)

As we continue to study the word ‘overflowing’ we realize that the scripture does not talk about this overflow of blessings only at certain times, but at all times. Sometimes when there is famine in a nation, we might think that as believers we too must face the famine. However, as believers in the Lord Jesus we must understand that there is a huge difference between us and those around us. Therefore, even when there is famine in the nation, we have a God who is able to sustain us even through the famine. Not only on some days or at some times, but it is God’s will that we will have this overflow of blessing in every situation, and through all of our days.

The power of Elijah’s words

We read in 1 Kings 17:1, A prophet named Elijah, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to King Ahab, "In the name of the LORD, the living God of Israel, whom I serve, I tell you that there will be no dew or rain for the next two or three years until I say so." (GNB)

In the above mentioned verse Elijah, a Prophet of God spoke to Ahab, King of Israel and declared to him that there would be no rain or dew on the land until he said so. Elijah was bold enough to say that there would be no rain in the land until he said so.

There is a certain authority in the words we speak, that God has granted to us as his sons and daughters. We read in Proverbs 18:21,‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’

Elijah stood in God’s presence

Elijah also declared that he stood before King Ahab in the name of the Lord, which indicated that Elijah’s authority came from God. The reason Elijah was given this authority was because he stood in the presence of God.

Often we have no time to stand and wait in the presence of God, but are constantly running. Our days are so tightly scheduled we have no time to wait, and listen to God. Only when we stand in God’s presence can we hear what He has to say to us clearly. If we are the kind who are constantly on the run, it is time we took a break to listen to what the Lord has to say to us.

Elijah believed in the living God

Elijah referred to God as the living God of Israel. King Ahab had brought in the Baal’s and many other idols which were worshipped in the land of Israel. In a land filled with idolatry, the people lived in such a way that it was evident that they did not worship the living God.

How often when faced with challenges and hardships, there are many who make decisions that make it obvious that they do not believe that we worship a true and living God. The true test of our faith is only when we encounter challenges. How we handle them will be the evidence of our faith. It is easy to worship God and be regular at church when everything is going good, however, the real test is when we are hard-pressed with difficulties and trials. At those times the decisions we make will signify as to whether we truly have our faith in the fact that God is alive.

God’s authority versus the world’s authority

When Ahab who was the king of Israel met Elijah the Prophet of God, there were two authorities that met each other. One was the authority of the world and the other was God’s authority. King Ahab thought he could do anything because he had the authority to do so, and that no one could come against him. What Ahab failed to realize was that the authority that was bestowed on him was the authority given to him by God above.

Sadly there are many believers who want to do what they desire to do, and what they think is the right thing to do. There are many who live this way wherein they think that they are ‘kings’ of their lives, and will not submit to any authority. Some children too fall into this category when they chose to disobey their parents, and live in rebellion. Also there are some youth who after they come to a certain stage in their lives will not acknowledge all that their parents have done for them, and will choose to do their own thing. If we do not acknowledge that everything that is in our hands is given by God, we too will fall into this same trap. Have you noticed some young people doing a wheelie with their bikes in heavy traffic because they think that they have the freedom to do so? What they fail to realize is that the license they have to ride the bike was given to them by the transport authorities, and they have to abide by the rules failing which they will have to face the punishment from the cops who have the authority to cancel their license.