Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear Heavenly Father, You alone have ultimate authority, and I worship You. Thank you that are in control of my life and my situation. I also thank you for the spiritual leaders in my life and at church. I ask that you would help them to follow and obey you with all of their heart. Help me to submit to them as I see them submitting to You. Teach us all to follow you the way we should. Help me to support those in spiritual authority, and to encourage them as they encourage me. I praise You for who You are and how You work through Your church. May you be exalted in my life today. Amen.
Bible Verses
Hebrews 13:17-19
Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
Reflecting on God's Word
According to verse 17, what is the "work" of our spiritual leaders?
Why do our spiritual leaders do this "work"?
Who are they accountable to?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
It is evident that those who are in spiritual leadership are accountable before God on the day of judgment. According to these verses, how can we make them joyful on that day?
Is there a link between my willingness to follow and the joy of those in spiritual authority on that day?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
Is it hard for you to submit to those who are in authority in your life? Why or why not?
What is your initial reaction to the statement "obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say"?
Have you ever had a "bad" spiritual leader? If so, does it make it harder for you to submit and obey today?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
Think of those who are in leadership at New Life. Is it hard for you to submit to anyone in leadership? Why or why not?
Do they exemplify a Christian life? If so, should I follow? How?
How can I make their spiritual leadership at church more joyful this week?
Thoughts
Many people in America have a difficult submitting to those in authority. Because of our own rugged individualism, we want to do things "our way" and have "nobody tell us how to live." However, in the Bible we find something completely different. God designed the universe under structures of authority. We see God as the ultimate authority, His Word as authority and truth for our lives, and we also see authority within governments and within families. We also see authority that God has delegated and structured within the church. God has placed leaders within the church to preach and teach what He has said to us in His Word. Because of this, these leaders have spiritual authority in the church.
Hebrew 13:17 says that these spiritual leaders are responsible to "watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God." We can see here that these leaders are called to watch over us, just like a shepherd would watch over their sheep. But that isn't the end of the statement. Those who are in leadership within the church are "accountable to God." In other words, they are both shepherds and sheep at the same time. We obey them as they obey God Himself. As they follow Jesus, we can follow them. Their authority and spiritual leadership is contingent upon their ability to follow God. Therefore, we are called to obey them as they obey the Lord. Verse 18 says, we need to give them are reason to shepherd with joy. One way we can do this is by obeying them as they follow the Lord's leading. Properly understood and implemented, this is God's design for the church.