Welcome to the Authority of God series called: The Secret Place.  The day I wanted to open this series, we were snowed out.  If we had church, you would have heard me talk about three facts about God’s authority and a story about Namaan.  Real quickly.

Fact number 1: God’s kingdom is just that, His kingdom.  There is no voting.  God doesn’t change His holy principles because of a most recent pole.  God’s kingdom is just that… His kingdom.

Fact number 2: God’s authority comes in two forms.  The direct authority of God [that’s when He tells you something directly: don’t steal].  God’s delegated authority of God [that’s when God tells you something through the authority in your life].

Fact number 3: How you live is completely up to you.  The number #1 reason for people’s problems is simple: People absolutely refuse to fall under the authority of God.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. NIV  James 4:6-8

 Then I would have spoken about Naaman.  The main point being, the thing that stops us from submitting to God’s authority is PRIDE.  People who don’t go to church say, “I will do it my way!”   People in church say, “I will do it God’s way until I don’t like it, then I will do it my way.”  The amazing thing about Naaman, he was so prideful that he almost missed out on being healed from leprosy.

Question for us:  Is your pride worth it?  Is it worth hanging onto your pride and refusing to fall under God’s authority?  Is it worth living a damaged life, but refusing to fall under God’s authority?  Is it worth living messed up, empty life, but refusing to fall under God’s authority?

 Listen to what happens when we do fall under God’s authority.  Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, "You are my defender and protector.  You are my God; in you I trust."  He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.   He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his are; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.  GNT  Psalms 91:1-4

Last week Sam did a great job talking about God’s direct authority:  Kim: How do we make choices - the kids gave their kiss away.   Sam: Embrace the Process - Stephen was an anointed man of God… who was killed.

 This week, I want to talk about God’s delegated authority  [that’s when God tells you something through the authority in your life].  Let me read to you God’s view on authority.  Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.  NIV  Romans 13:1-3

So here is the question you have.  If this is true, then why does God allow bad people to lead?  Doesn’t that mess with your mind?  Hitler killed 11 million people.  Stalin killed 20 million people.   Don’t you think: My boss is clueless.  My parents don’t get it.  The volunteer leaders at church don’t talk to me or I don’t know them.  The coach doesn’t play my kid.  My husband doesn’t lead - I beg him to but he would rather watch TV.  Bush - Obama - one of them or both of them upset you.  If this verse is true, then why does God allow bad people to lead?

Here is the big point of today.  It’s a hard one to understand because we live in America, we don’t serve a king.  The priority of God’s kingdom is not our personal comfort, your understanding or your joy.  It’s bigger than that.  God’s priority is the redemption of people.  This is why.  You have been invited into a life that’s unfair.  You’re invited into a kingdom where the priority isn’t your comfort, your understanding or your joy.  The priority is the redemption of people.  Truth is, for people to see God and be redeemed, maybe, maybe, you will have to absorb hurt and give back love and respect to those in authority over you, so that, God can redeem the people around you.

Time Out: I heard a sermon recently.  The speaker said that this decade is the decade God wants to bless you.  This is nonsense and so many people love this.  Truth is, this decade God wants to redeem people.  You are invited into a life that is unfair, maybe, maybe, you will you will have to absorb hurt and give back love and respect to those in authority over you, so that, God can redeem the people around you. 

Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 years old when they confronted Pharaoh to free the slaves.  If you think about it, it was actually kind of a joke because two no name shepherds [who represented the slaves] were confronting the most powerful man on earth.  What did they say to the man who thought he was god?  The God of the slaves, the real God, wants you to free His people.  Pharaoh says NO, and the most interesting thing takes place.  God sends ten plagues to show all of Egypt how weak and worthless their demonic gods were.  God sent the plague of turning all water to blood.  Frogs.  Gnats.  Flies.   All Egyptian livestock killed.  Boils break out on their bodies.

Moses and Aaron are in a bad spot.  1.) They were told by God to confront Pharaoh - they did.  But things went from bad to worse.  2.) The Jewish slaves are now angry with Moses and Aaron because their life are harder. 3.) Pharaoh and his court are getting angrier and angrier.

 Imagine yourself being a Jewish slave.  Why has God forgotten us?  Why has God allowed Pharaoh to rule over us?  How can a loving God allow this, it’s so unfair. Listen to what tells Pharaoh through Moses.   GOD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh. Tell him, 'GOD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Release my people so they can worship me.  This time I am going to strike you and your servants and your people with the full force of my power so you'll get it into your head that there's no one like me anywhere in all the Earth.  You know that by now I could have struck you and your people with deadly disease and there would be nothing left of you, not a trace.  But for one reason only I've kept you on your feet: To make you recognize my power so that my reputation spreads in all the Earth.  You are still building yourself up at my people's expense.  MSG Exodus 9:13-18 

...for one reason only I've kept you on your feet: To make you recognize my power so that my reputation spreads in all the Earth…   Why does God allow bad authority to exist?   The priority of God’s kingdom is not our personal comfort, understanding or joy.  It’s bigger than that.  God’s priority is the redemption of people.  The story ends, God completely wipes out the most powerful, most advanced, most feared army in the world.  The demonic gods of Egypt were worthless compared the Holy God of the slaves.  This sends a fear through the world.  An understanding that God, the true God is on the move.  Maybe we should serve the God of the Jewish slaves.

So let’s make this personal.  How do we respond to delegated authority that we think is unfair?  You who are servants, be good servants to your masters - not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason.  There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.  This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.  MSG 1 Peter 2:18-21

You’re invited into a life that’s unfair. You’re invited into a kingdom where the priority isn’t your comfort, your joy or your understanding.  The priority is the redemption of people.  Truth is, for people to see God and be redeemed, maybe, maybe, you will have to absorb hurt and give back love and respect to those in authority over you, so that, God can redeem the people around you.

You see, your pride, your rebellion, your arrogance stops God from redeeming the people around you.  It’s the husband who decides he doesn’t have time for God.  It’s the wife who tries to steal her husbands authority by taking control and demanding how things need to be done.  She never realizes that her following her husband invites him to lead.  It’s the son or daughter who has a hard heart and fights their parents. It’s the church person who get’s involved with the demonic cancer called gossip. It’s the worker who is convinced that their boss is an idiot and makes sure everyone else knows too.  Your pride, your rebellion, your arrogance stops God from redeeming the people around you.

The priority of God’s kingdom is not our personal comfort, your understanding or your joy. It’s bigger than that.

God’s priority is the redemption of people.  This is why.  You have been invited into a life that’s unfair.  You’re invited into a kingdom where the priority isn’t your comfort, your understanding or your joy.  The priority is the redemption of people.  Truth is, for people to see God and be redeemed, maybe, maybe, you will have to absorb hurt and give back love and respect to those in authority over you, so that, God can redeem the people around you.