Our Only Authority is the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the only Authority in our lives and hearts. Anyone else who is placed as the Authority is usurping the Holy Spirit. We listen to others and evaluate what they say according to the Bible.

When we obey civil authorities we do it in obedience to the Holy Spirit Who tells us in His Word to obey them when they do not disobey or dishonor God.

This is true in any relationships we have. Husbands are leaders by teaching, protecting and example but they do not override the Holy Spirit.

When we submit to our husband as he submits to God we are ultimately obeying the Holy Spirit.

All born again believers are subject to one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are not obligated to do what others tell us to do unless it agrees with the Holy Spirit.

We encourage one another in the Lord all the time. We instruct one another but none of us has authority over another unless it is a job situation, then we obey our employers as they obey God.

We are never required to obey someone who is telling us to disobey God.

Acts 5:29

"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

When we obey Christ we will choose to submit ourselves to others for their good and the glory of God at times, other times we will decline to submit because what they ask us to do is against what God is telling us to do. We always obey God first.

Exodus 1:17

"The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live."

Jeremiah 26:12

"But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard."

1 Samuel 15:24

"And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

Sadly I once heard a missionary couple instruct others to disregard the Bible if it created disunity. Unity was their god instead of the God of the Bible. Those who preach such things are not obeying God and must be suspect in all other things.

We are never to set aside God's principles for the sake of superficial peace. Just the opposite, if someone negates the Bible we are to correct them and the sin will be on them if they fight against God's Word.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 "…17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 18 I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.…"

God and his Word always take priority over anyone and everything else. If someone fights against God's Word then that is on them, they are the ones fighting, we are merely telling the truth in obedience to God.

Playing a Role or Authenticity

I once heard someone say to me, "I was playing a role", meaning this person was not authentic in front of other people so they acted the way they were expected to act without it being a real part of who they were.

We are living in times in which most people are playing a role to entice others to like them. These people cannot be trusted, we never know when they are "playing a role" or if they are being honest.

These people never offer anything about themselves and when asked they only speak of good things they think will impress the ones they are speaking to.

Many years ago when I was a child I heard an adult say; "how can we know what the true self of the television actor is when they are so used to "acting." Everthing they do and say is a "put on" to cause others to elevate and admire them.

May we practice through the help of the Holy Spirit being authentic and truthful about ourselves. Self-reflection is the key to growing in holiness, spiritual and emotional maturity.

1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

James 5:16

"16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Without confession of flaws and sins there is no spiritual and emotional maturity.