LESSON 2.B
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)
1. No delegated authority in the Bible given by God was greater than that of Moses, so we may use him as an example. To examine the required credentials of a delegated authority we will focus on how he reacted when his authority was transgressed, ridiculed, opposed, and rejected.
2. The entire time Moses lead the Children of Israel his authority was constantly called into question. Korah and 250 Elders, and even Aaron and Miriam (his own family) challenged his authority. But in spite of all of Moses failures God’s testimony about him was,
“(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)
Moses had the right heart condition, he was “meek” and “gentle” that is why God chose him, not because he was educated and strong in battle.
3. There are five critical credentials required to be a delegated authority. Let us look at them:
A. Meekness and gentleness.
(1) God will not delegated his power or authority to an arrogant person. Those who God sets up in authority are the meek and the tender, and this is not ordinary meekness it’s the meekness of God.
(2) The person least likely to be given authority is often the very one who considers himself an authority and least qualified. Likewise, the more authority a person thinks he has, the less he actually does have.
(3) Thus, we should never try to establish our own authority. The more we try the less we are fit for authority. It is given by God and God alone, to the meek and gentle person.
B. Not to listen to slanderous words.
(1) A delegated authority must protect his heart from such things. All who desire to be God’s spokesmen and desire to help people must learn not to listen to slander. Let God do the listening. Do not pay attention to how people criticize you; do not get angry.
(2) Those who are disturbed and overwhelmed by words prove themselves to be unfit to be a delegated authority.
C. Make no self-defense.
(1) Defense or vindication, whatever reaction there may
be should come from God. No one on earth could ever be more in authority then Jesus yet He never defended Himself. The Bible says Jesus, “opened not His mouth” He stood in silence before those who were charging Him with lies.
(2) Authority and self-defense are incompatible they can not exist together. He who justifies or vindicates himself does not know God or His ways.
(3) He who speaks for himself is under judgement. God has appointed you, He does the speaking for you. The moment you justify yourself before men, man becomes your judge. As soon as you try to explain yourself you have fallen before men.
D. No personal feeling.
(1) Those who do not know how to control their heart and lips are not fit to be in authority. In all things we must not involve our emotions, we are to have no personal opinion of our own. We are not to personally judge to punish one for their actions.
(2) Authority is set up to execute God’s order not to uplift oneself. The important thing is to help people to be subject correctly to God’s authority and justice.
(3) To be a delegated authority is not at all an easy thing, because it requires the emptying of one’s self.
E. Revelation.
(1) A man’s value before God is not decided by other’s judgement nor by his own. He is measured by the revelation he receives from God. Revelation is God’s evaluation and measuring stick.
(2) God authority is build on God’s revelation and His estimation of a person is according to that revelation.
(3) If God gives revelation is His authority is established and when His revelation is withdrawn the man is rejected and so is His authority.
(4) If we want to learn to be an authority we must pay attention to our relationship before God. If God desires to have communion with us face-to-face no one can eliminate us. But if our communication above is severed, and the heavens are shut, all we do will be for naught.
(5) An open heaven is the seal of God and the testimony of Sonship. Revelation is therefore the evidence of authority.
