Sermon Central
-
God's Chain Of Command
Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 28, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Failure to submit to God given authority figures in our lives keeps us from his Blessings.
God’s Chain of Command
Our nation began with the revolutionary war. It seems we have been revolting ever since. In the name of individual rights we have crushed the soul of society “submission to authority”. It seems we have been in one rebellion after another. The draft dodgers of the sixties, hippies, mini skirts, bobbed hair etc. And personally -Latreal Spreewell choking his coach PJ Carlisamo. If you do what you are told you are made fun of as a brown noser ..We have the rebel flag, rebel yell, and all kinds of new ways to show rebellion. Dennis Rodman -need I say anymore. Do you know who the original rebel was -SATAN.
Do you want to know why you are living in spiritual defeat, Powerless, and not under the blessing of God. For many it is because you are not living in submission to God given authority figures in your life. Although “rebel” is a popular title in our culture, it is not in God’s economy.
The Word of God says that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Witches were to be killed or put out of the land. You know how evil witchcraft is, and God compares rebellion to it.
Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king."
1 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4 The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due. Romans 13:1-7
I It is to be Learned in the Home.
A. It is the only commandment with a promise. “Honor Father and Mother”
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 "Honor your father and mother." This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. 3 And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing." Ephesians 6
B. If you don’t learn it early- it will be difficult to learn late.
-some are sent to boarding school, armed forces, Juvenile Hall.
C. It is submission to imperfect authority.
D. Parents should do their best to Discipline (Fair, Firm, Friendly)
(You can create rebellion) -Fathers don’t exasperate your children to wrath Eph
4 And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. (NLT)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (NASB)
Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. (TM)
Bush Banned Broccoli
After it was disclosed that President Bush has banned broccoli aboard Air Force One, the nation was embroiled in “broccoli discussion.” As broccoli growers dispatched 10 tons of the vegetable free to Washington, the President reiterated his distaste with gusto: “I do not like broccoli and I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m president of the United States and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli. Now look, this is the last statement I’m going to have on broccoli. There are truckloads of broccoli at this very minute descending on Washington. My family is divided. For the broccoli vote out there: Barbara loves broccoli. She has tried to make me eat it. She eats it all the time herself. So she can go out and meet the caravan of broccoli that’s coming in.”
