"What's Your Authority" by Dr. Taylor Marshall
"What's Your Authority" by Steve Ray
Why the Catholic Church claims that Peter (Rock) was given the authority of Christ
Epistle from Ignatius to Ephesians: "The more, therefore, you see the bishop silent, the more do you reverence him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household,[11] as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon thhe bishop even as we would look upon the Lord Himself, standing, as he does, before the Lord. For "it behoves the man who looks carefully about him, and is active in his business, to stand before kings, and not to stand before slothful men."
Excerpt from Imitation of Christ
1.9 Obedience / Subjection
The Ninth Chapter
Obedience and Subjection
IT IS a very great thing to obey, to live under a superior and not to be one's own master, for it is much safer to be subject than it is to command. Many live in obedience more from necessity than from love. Such become discontented and dejected on the slightest pretext; they will never gain peace of mind unless they subject themselves wholeheartedly for the love of God.
Go where you may, you will find no rest except in humble obedience to the rule of authority. Dreams of happiness expected from change and different places have deceived many.
Everyone, it is true, wishes to do as he pleases and is attracted to those who agree with him. But if God be among us, we must at times give up our opinions for the blessings of peace.
Furthermore, who is so wise that he can have full knowledge of everything? Do not trust too much in your own opinions, but be willing to listen to those of others. If, though your own be good, you accept another's opinion for love of God, you will gain much more merit; for I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it than to give it. It may happen, too, that while one's own opinion may be good, refusal to agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.
A reflection by Matt Shurtliff:
Matthew 8:5-10
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him,
6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
7 He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
8 The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
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"Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior".
Lots of people say this. For the most part, people are "all in" on the idea of Jesus as Savior - how could you not be? He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world, and we all absolutely need that
But what about Jesus as Lord? When someone is Lord, they are a ruler. They have absolute, unqeustionable authority. That isn't a popular idea these days, and for us in America, it's a repulsive idea. Our country is based on the premise that we don't deal with those guys.
That wasn't the case for the centurion. He was a military man. He had people bound to his orders, and he was bound to the orders of his superiors. Completely bound, without question.
As a man who served under authority, he recognized authority when he saw it. He didn't need proof. He didn't need a demonstration. He didn't need Christ to come with him. He was absolutely, 100% sure that if Christ said the servant was healed, that he would be healed. No questions asked.
I think it's worthwhile for all Christians to take a long, hard look and determine whether or not Christ is Lord in their life. Do you believe Christ is authoritative in what He says? If so, do you submit to His authority, really and truly?
--
Matt Shurtliff
St. Patrick's Parish, Gretna NE
email: shurtliff.matt@gmail.com
Daily Message Archive: http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/
'See ye that I alone am, and there is no other God beside Me: I will kill and I will make to live: I will strike and I will heal, and there is none that can deliver out of My Hand.'
--Deuteronomy 32:39
Matthew 8:5-10
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him,
6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
7 He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
8 The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
-----
"Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior".
Lots of people say this. For the most part, people are "all in" on the idea of Jesus as Savior - how could you not be? He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world, and we all absolutely need that
But what about Jesus as Lord? When someone is Lord, they are a ruler. They have absolute, unqeustionable authority. That isn't a popular idea these days, and for us in America, it's a repulsive idea. Our country is based on the premise that we don't deal with those guys.
That wasn't the case for the centurion. He was a military man. He had people bound to his orders, and he was bound to the orders of his superiors. Completely bound, without question.
As a man who served under authority, he recognized authority when he saw it. He didn't need proof. He didn't need a demonstration. He didn't need Christ to come with him. He was absolutely, 100% sure that if Christ said the servant was healed, that he would be healed. No questions asked.
I think it's worthwhile for all Christians to take a long, hard look and determine whether or not Christ is Lord in their life. Do you believe Christ is authoritative in what He says? If so, do you submit to His authority, really and truly?
--
Matt Shurtliff
St. Patrick's Parish, Gretna NE
email: shurtliff.matt@gmail.com
Daily Message Archive: http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/
'See ye that I alone am, and there is no other God beside Me: I will kill and I will make to live: I will strike and I will heal, and there is none that can deliver out of My Hand.'
--Deuteronomy 32:39
