PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

All Authorities are Ordained by God (1)

Every believer, even every human being needs to recognize authority. The Bible clearly reveals that there is a basic principle of authority in the universe under God. Concerning this vital principle of authority, Watchman Nee comments: "No authority has its origin apart from God. All authorities are from God and are appointed by God. God has ordained His system of authority in the universe, and more particularly, in this world, for the purpose that this system would manifest His authority. We must realize that every authority within this system is ordained by God and is of God."

This issue of Parenthood is based on a message given by Watchman Nee. We will reflect on the crucial matter of our need to recognize that all authority comes from God. We need to train our children to know and observe this principle. The scriptures clearly teach us that God's authority is manifested in various institutions ordained by God-human government, the family, all forms of human relationships, and even the supernatural world. Paul exhorts, "Let every person be subject to the authorities over him, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are ordained by God. So then he who resists the authority opposes God's ordination..." (Romans 13:1-2). Peter also affirms, "Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as being supreme, or to governors as being sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and praise of those who do good" (1 Peter 2:13-14).

Nearly every culture today follows the lead of the United States to focus on human rights. Human rights are important, but we need to also realize that, in order for an orderly society to exist, the authority of God and of every human authority (which are ordained by God Himself) must be recognized and submitted to. Due to the rebellion of Satan, the entire world is under his influence in a state of rebellion. Hence, a growing segment of our population not only rejects evil human governments but also despises all human authority. It is incumbent upon us as believers to teach and train our children concerning the vital principles of respecting and being subject to all authority as to the Lord.

GOD ORDAINING A SYSTEM OF AUTHORITY IN THE UNIVERSE

God controls and rules over the entire universe (including the physical world) with authority. He runs the universe according to the principle of authority. If we trace authority in this universe to its highest source, we will find God Himself. As we ascend level after level on the ladder of authority, we reach the peak which is God's own authority.... It is rare to find God's authority directly acting on a person. Most of the time His authority is expressed through those who are charged and commissioned by Him to be deputy authorities. God has ordained certain men, systems, or organizations as His authority. Such deputy authorities are commissioned and ordained by God.... A command from a deputy authority deserves as much attention as a direct command from God. All authorities are from God. Therefore, direct authority and deputy (i.e., indirect) authority are equally important.

God created the universe with His word. He spoke, and it was done. God did not have to resort to any special means; He did not have to depend on any special kind of power. When He said, "Let there be light," there was light. Once He says something, it is done. This is the basic principle of God's creation of the universe. After creating all things, God instituted many natural laws to rule over the universe.... This principle applies not only to the natural realm but also to the supernatural realm (i.e., the spiritual realm). God rules over everything in the spiritual realm with His authority. God created the cherubim, the angels, and the twenty-four elders.... They are the deputy authorities appointed by God in the universe.... Unfortunately, one of the cherubim fell. Lucifer fell because of his ambition to set up his own throne to make himself equal with God. He wanted to overthrow God's authority and to build up his own authority, but he fell. One-third of the angels followed him as a result of his fall. They became the powers of darkness today. The head of this dark force is the fallen one, Satan.

In His re-creation, God created man on the sixth day and placed him under His authority. Man is different from other creatures. God entrusted man with authority and assigned him to rule over the earth and to dress and keep it. He put the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea, and the beasts and creeping things of the earth under man's dominion. All living creatures on earth are under man's authority. God commanded man not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because he would die in the day that he ate of it. Whoever ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would die; this was a fact. This command also signifies authority. It was not a threat of God. (God wanted man to receive the knowledge of good and evil directly from Him. But when man fell, good and evil became something within him.) ... Eve was tempted to eat of the fruit. In her rebellion she took the fruit and ate it. As a result, she committed the sin of rebellion. Paul said in 1 Timothy that Adam came first in God's creation, and Eve followed. For this reason the woman should submit, but Eve did not submit. She was tempted, and she fell (Genesis 3:12-13)....

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