LESSON 2.C
1. The authorities whom God has established in the family are parents in relation to their children, the husband to the wife, and the master in relation to the servant.
2. In the church it is God in relation to Christ, the Pastor in relation to the members/workers and the members/workers in relation to their work.
3. In the world the authorities are the kings in relation to their subjects and the rulers in relation to their subordinates. All of these authorities have their respective conditions.
4. In all we do in God we must meet the conditions of God to obtain what God wants in any given situation. The scheme is hearing, believing, doing, and obtaining. Before we can obtain from God we must meet the conditions of hearing, believing, and doing, correctly.
5. We often times focus on the obtaining, but God does not. We most often concentrate on the promises, but God’s ways are not our ways. God is focused on whether or not we have met the condition to receive or obtain the promise. We need to focus on the things and meet the conditions God thinks are important.
6. There are six areas of responsibilities, which each area has conditions to meet, IF one desires to serve as God’s delegated authority. If not, they automatically disqualify themselves from that position and the delegated authority that goes with it.
A. Husband
(1) The Bible teaches that wives should be subject to their husbands; yet husbands should exercise authority with a condition. Three times in Ephesians 5 husbands are called upon to;
”Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25)
(2) Undoubtedly there is authority in the family nonetheless those in authority need to fulfill God’s requirements.
(3) The love of Christ for the church sets the example for the love which husbands ought to give their wives. If the husband wishes to represent God’s authority they must love their own wife. And, if the family gets it right the local church will also.
B. Parents
(1) Unquestionably children must obey their parents, even so, the authority of the parents has it responsibility and condition too. The scriptures says,
”And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
(Ephesians 6:4)
(2) In spite of the fact that parents do have authority they need to learn how to control themselves before God. They should not deal with their children according to their whims, thinking they have the absolute right to do whatever they want to do.
(3) God has created us and has never ill-treated us. It is wrong to do to children what we would not do to friends, students subordinates, or relatives.
(4) There is a paramount need for parents to control themselves. The objective of all the authority parents have toward their children is to instruct, to bring their children up in the discipline and admonition of God.
C. Masters
(1) Servants ought to be obedient to their masters, yet to be master is likewise conditional. God will not allow His delegated authority to act intemperately. They must have the fear of God.
(2) To be master they must see they too are under authority of God. For this reason they can not be unbridled, arrogant, and intimidating. Their indispensable attitude must be gentleness and love.
D. Pastors
(1) The Pastor is the authority in the local assembly. The Brethren should learn to be subject to the Pastor and those he appoints.
(2) Since the Pastor is set up by God in order to care for the church they themselves need to first know how to obey and come under control that they may be examples to others.
(3) The Pastor is held to the highest standard that is the standard of submission, servanthood, and love for the people.
”But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Luke 10:42-44)
D. Workers
(1) It takes self-discipline to draw respect from others and to qualify oneself as God’s representative. A worker must never seek glory and honor from men, but from God alone.
(2) To be in authority is costly, and one needs to be ready for a lonely life, a life of self-sacrifice, and death to one’s selfish desire.
