Submit to God’s Order
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14Devotional Series: The Good Shepherd
Teaching: The Good Shepherd pt. 2 (SUN_PM 2021-03-07) by Pastor Star R Scott
In First Thessalonians 5:12 it says, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” In this particular passage it is very interesting, the mandates that are given. First of all, there is a mission that is given to the church, and that is to know those who are laboring among you. Well, how do you know them? Do each of you, then, have to spend x-number of hours with each one of the elders and get to know them and know what their favorite color is? The Bible says by our fruit we’re known. Amen? Yes, there is to be an intimacy, a time that we can fellowship together, always an openness and ready to meet every need that is in the church. But God has established an order and the care of the church starts through the deacons, doesn’t it? So, we watch, and we know through sound doctrine.
The one thing we see here is there is a hierarchy. These people are over you. People are not wanting to hear this in the church today, and this is why I said there is going to be a lot of damage that comes. This is being promoted in the professed church, very strongly today; this priesthood of the believer, that there is no hierarchy, that we are all the same in Jesus. And the reality of that is we all relate to Him personally, equally, in our redemption, we have communion with Him directly, we don’t have a human priest that we have to go through. Aren’t you glad that we have that bold access into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus, amen? Aren’t you glad that even when your deacon, when your pastor, or when your best friend is not praying for you, Jesus ever lives to make intercession for you? Thank God for our Good Shepherd who is constantly aware of the state of His flock.
But in a day of lawlessness, we don’t like this hierarchy. It’s satanic, because many of us have no problem, as it relates to the world and things that are secular, falling into authority on your job or obeying the police officer or whatever else it might be. Who do you think is behind, then, this constant questioning of spiritual authority and why? Because when you become independent and you become part of the fringe of the flock, Satan is seeking those that he might devour: the strays, the headstrong, the wanderers, those that end up in the thickets and down in the gullies, and the Good Shepherd will do whatever is necessary to retrieve those sheep. In fact, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
True biblical submission means you take the course that person in authority set as your own course, just like you came up with it. Submission is to take it as your own. We don’t all submit that way, do we? If you don’t, you haven’t submitted; you’ve only acquiesced. But true biblical submission is that: recognizing true authority, the order that God has set in His church.
Father, we thank You for Your Word and the great order that You have placed to protect us. We ask that You would work in each of our hearts that love of the truth, that we would run to the Word of God. To work in us obedience, because we love You, and want to keep your commandments and do those things that are pleasing in your sight. Father, we know that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth; “Thy word is truth.” And for that Father, we’re going to give you all of the praise, we’re going to give You all of the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.
The one thing we see here is there is a hierarchy. These people are over you. People are not wanting to hear this in the church today, and this is why I said there is going to be a lot of damage that comes. This is being promoted in the professed church, very strongly today; this priesthood of the believer, that there is no hierarchy, that we are all the same in Jesus. And the reality of that is we all relate to Him personally, equally, in our redemption, we have communion with Him directly, we don’t have a human priest that we have to go through. Aren’t you glad that we have that bold access into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus, amen? Aren’t you glad that even when your deacon, when your pastor, or when your best friend is not praying for you, Jesus ever lives to make intercession for you? Thank God for our Good Shepherd who is constantly aware of the state of His flock.
But in a day of lawlessness, we don’t like this hierarchy. It’s satanic, because many of us have no problem, as it relates to the world and things that are secular, falling into authority on your job or obeying the police officer or whatever else it might be. Who do you think is behind, then, this constant questioning of spiritual authority and why? Because when you become independent and you become part of the fringe of the flock, Satan is seeking those that he might devour: the strays, the headstrong, the wanderers, those that end up in the thickets and down in the gullies, and the Good Shepherd will do whatever is necessary to retrieve those sheep. In fact, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
True biblical submission means you take the course that person in authority set as your own course, just like you came up with it. Submission is to take it as your own. We don’t all submit that way, do we? If you don’t, you haven’t submitted; you’ve only acquiesced. But true biblical submission is that: recognizing true authority, the order that God has set in His church.
Father, we thank You for Your Word and the great order that You have placed to protect us. We ask that You would work in each of our hearts that love of the truth, that we would run to the Word of God. To work in us obedience, because we love You, and want to keep your commandments and do those things that are pleasing in your sight. Father, we know that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth; “Thy word is truth.” And for that Father, we’re going to give you all of the praise, we’re going to give You all of the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.