1. Authority

2. We Recognize The Need For It
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3. Religion?

4. Matthew 21:23-27
“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?’ 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John; where was it from? From heaven or from men?’…”

5. Matthew 21:23-27
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

6. Definition - Authority
Greek Word – Exousia (exousia)
Vine: “The power of authority, the right to exercise power… the power of rule or government… the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others.”
Thayer: “The power of authority and of right… the power of rule or government”

7. Some Look To Self Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;       It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,       But its end is the way of death.

8. Some Look To Other Men Colossians 2:20-23
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

9. Some Look To Other Men Matthew 15:8-9
‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,       And honor Me with their lips,       But their heart is far from Me.        9 And in vain they worship Me,        Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

10. We Must Have Authority From Heaven.
2 John 9-11
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

11. Our Need For Authority Displayed
Genesis 4:3-7
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
cf. Hebrews 11:4, Romans 10:17

12. Our Need For Authority Displayed
Leviticus 10:1-2
Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

13. Our Need For Authority Displayed
2 Chronicles 26:16-20
But when he (Uzziah, awl) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the LORD—valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God.”

14. Our Need For Authority Displayed
2 Chronicles 26:16-20
19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him.

15. We Must Learn From These Examples
Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

16. Authority Right and power to rule, exercised properly by God.
If we deny the need for it, we deny a fundamental principle in the word of God.
We must learn from the examples recorded of those who denied the need for authority.

17. Be Saved Tonight! Believe – John 8:24 Confess – Matthew 10:32-33
Repent – Luke 13:3
Be Baptized – Mark 16:16
Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10