Respecting the Authority in Your Life

Main Point: Discuss the importance respecting those God placed in authority. Roman 13:1-2 "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished." Questions: 1. How easy is it for you to submit to the authority in your life?
governing authorities, etc) (i.e. manager at work, teachers,

2. Do you agree with every decision a person in leadership makes? When you dont agree, how do you tend to respond? (submit, get angry, gossip about them behind their back, etc) 3. What is the penalty for rebelling against authority according to verse 2? Romans 13:3-4 3) For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4) The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong." 4. When do you have a reason to be afraid of leadership and people in authority over you? 5. When you do what is right by the leadership in your life how will they respond? (v.3) So how does one do right by authority appointed by God? Here are some ways 1.) Submit: It is for your own good! Romans 13:5 "So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience." So, punishment is not the only down fall. When you are not submitting to the leadership and authority in your life, your conscience becomes more and more unclear. In other words, your souls ability to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong begins diminishing. Your decision-making becomes cloudy. Paul talks about this occurrence in 1 Tim 4:1-2.

2.) Pray: 1 Timothy 2:2-4 "Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." THEY NEED YOUR PRAYER! Pray that they will make good decisions while in their leadership position. This will not only help them but it will help the people they are in authority over to live in peace. Its the human condition No one wants to be told what to do - Especially if we disagree with what we are told to do. What if you dont respect the person that the order is coming from? That makes it even harder! We need to look past personalities and people and respect the office that God has placed them. In the end, you will be glad you did.