©2003 Pastor Tom Miles

God's order for Authority in the body!

I. God's design in the beginning

A. Adam, Eve and the divine order

In the beginning God... with these words we see that it doesn't matter who has been delegated with authority, God is the one ultimately in charge, whether we are talking about Israel and her kings, or the Church and its shepherds.

Adam, in Gen. 2-3, was given the responsibility to lead and teach those who had been placed under his charge, and he was given a helper that would assist him in this mission. I believe that this is the established order that God intended throughout history. God-Man (one leader)-Woman (helper)-Children (our charge... the flock!) As the family structure grew this basic pattern never changed, the head of the household remained the leader or authority figure.  And as we will see it is the order that God instills throughout time.

B. Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Saul, David, and others

The world ended with a flood and only Noah and his flock (family) were left.  Noah accepted the authority of God and did as he was told and Noah's family accepted his authority and did what he requested.  Noah, just like Adam was not perfect nor was any of the folks we are going to look at but God still held fast to His design of order.  Abraham’s life is a reflection of God’s order.  He became the father of the nation of Israel and it is through Abraham that we come into the blessings spoken of in Galatians 3:7.  God is beginning to imply leadership on more than one person as we now look at Jacob and Esau.  Authority is displayed by both of them.  Moses and Aaron share roles of authority.  Joshua becomes the leader of the nation and when he is gone and the elders lead the nation and eventually even they are gone and no leadership is visible chaos overcomes them.  God then begins to raise up judges to rule His creation.  And all again is well until the judge dies and then order is gone and chaos comes again.  Kings came next and it might not have been God’s plan for kings but simply for leaders and throughout time we have seen in the nations one leader with many helpers.  Saul was king, David was king, Solomon was king and with each one God’s rule of order remained the same. Even if the leadership was not good God did not change the order of authority.

Coming into the period of Roman rule we find Jesus coming into play establishing His church. We find no place in the scriptures that Jesus said God’s order of authority and rule will now be changed.  There was still one central figure of Authority with other leaders beneath that one with others beneath them etc.   As Jesus appointed disciples He gave to them certain duties and responsibilities and some more than others were in charge or over the others.  We can see that in reading through Mark starting around chapter nine and going through to 14.  Jesus had authority figures beneath Him, and He went as far as to take Peter even one step further and said to him to feed His flock (John 21:15) Peter was also a leader in selecting the replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15) Jesus said those that would hold a position of leadership would be those that could serve (Mark 10)!

Let's look at Peter again, he was a recognized leader yet when in Jerusalem he bowed to the authority of James the brother of Jesus and Paul even recognizes the leadership of James (Acts 15 & Acts 21).  Even amongst the first assemblies there was a leading figure that seemed to be over the elders.  There were elders (more than one) but there was always one over the rest called a bishop or shepherd. The Gentiles followed this same pattern  it is the pattern that God originated at creation. The one Bishop or Shepherd sat with the Elders and they went over what would happen and I would say that just as it is today in any church with a Shepherd and Elders the Shepherd doesn't even vote other than to break a tie so his authority isn't all that ruling  it is mostly for order.  Great decisions are made in the body of Elders with the Shepherd or Bishop (pastor) being there also and being in charge but not voting unless to break a tie.  But when it comes to what takes place during the service, Sunday school, etc., Bible Study, all leaders know their roles and are happy in the role given them.

Paul and others established many churches appointing leaders in every church. Timothy (who wasn't an apostle) is an example of one who was given authority in the church at Ephesus. Paul also gives detailed instructions to Titus on how to lead a church.  Even in the book of Revelation we see the divine order that God established in Genesis prevailing. Chapters two and three consist of letters written to the seven churches.  Each letter is written to a single individual in charge of the church.  The recipient of each letter is referred to as the "angel" or “messenger” of the church, which is a descriptive metaphor for a single individual, which would commonly be the leader. “ANGEL: a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20).” Look at how the scripture reads in Revelation:

Revelation 1:20 The sacred secret of the seven stars, which thou sawest upon my right hand, and the seven lamps of gold: The seven stars, are, messengers of the seven assemblies, and, the seven lamps, are, seven assemblies
Revelation 2:1 Unto the messenger of the assembly, in Ephesus, write: These things, saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven lamps of gold:
Revelation 2:12 And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Pergamum, write: These things, saith he that hath the sharp, two-edged sword:
Revelation 3:1 And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Sardis, write: These things, saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that, a name, thou hast, that thou art living, and art, dead.
Revelation 3:14 And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Laodicea, write: These things, saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God:

And unto the -- ‘messenger’ singular have them tell the body or remind the body to go back to their first love, to go back to what they know is right, to come out of sin etc., and Angels of God living in the heavenlies do not need to be reminded to love God, or do what is right etc. So this is being directed to the -- ‘Messenger’ of the church to deliver to the body of the church.

Now just as there were problems throughout time with the leaders, judges, kings, etc., there will be problems with leaders today but we do not let that destroy us!  One or two bad apples do not spoil the basket.  I will be the first to admit that not all senior pastors or head pastors are doing God’s will!  If a pastor is truly walking in the anointing of God He will know when to be quiet and let the Spirit flow through another and he will also know when the Spirit is not flowing because there are those that abuse the moving of the Spirit. There will always be those who do not like the idea that God chooses certain of His servants to lead His flock, and chooses others to be helpers under that leadership.  But from the beginning of HIS creation there was a set pattern of order.  Reading Numbers 16:11 to 33 gives great insight to God’s order desired.  But all in all Being willing to honestly, commit with perseverance to God’s design of order and authority submitting lovingly to what He has called us to within HIS house is the first step!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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