There's a story that's taken from Max Lucado has booked the
in the eye of the storm. And it's a, it's a story about a
man named, Frank Kaku, illustrates the importance of
obeying, the laws of the lighthouse.
And he says, is, I'm a quote from this excerpt here.
He says, two battleships assigned to the training.
Squadron had been at Sea On Maneuvers in heavy weather for
several days. I was serving on the lead
Battleship and was on W on the bridge as night.
Filled the visibility was poor with patchy fog.
So, the captain remain on the bridge, keeping an eye on all
the activities, well shortly after dark to look out on the
wing. Reported light bearing on the
starboard belt and the captain called out, is it steady or
moving a Stern? The lookout replied study
Captain, which meant that we run a dangerous Collision Course
with that ship. Well, the captain in called to
the signalman signal that ship and tell them we're on a
collision course and advise that you change course, 20 degrees.
And the replying signal was advisable for you to change
course, 20 degrees. The captain said, tell them.
I'm a captain change course, 20 degrees.
I'm a seaman second class came, the reply, you had better change
course, 20 degrees by that time. The captain was Furious.
He spat out. Tell him.
I'm a battleship change course. 20 degrees.
Back came the flashing light. I'm a lighthouse.
We changed course. You know, oftentimes in the
religious world people just aren't satisfied with
surrendering themselves and their will holy unto God.
You know they convince themselves that a slight
variation off course with a variation, may be only of 20
degrees. Really, What mattered to them or
to anybody. What they don't understand is
that our God is steadfast, and he is unchangeable and like that
Lighthouse, he will tell us where to go, but he himself will
not move. We are the ones who are need to
be guided, well like that ship up on the stormy sea.
We as humans are certainly are in need of guidance.
In life, we need help deciphering right from wrong and
we must be shown the course to follow.
If we plan to land safely on the far off shore and we must make
certain that our actions and decisions are Guided by one who
actually knows how to get us there.
Well, in this study this afternoon, We're going to first
of all take a look at why all true.
Religious religious Authority comes from the almighty God.
And then secondly this afternoon we're going to take a look at
various ways in which God's will is made known unto Mankind and
then thirdly this afternoon we're going to take a look at
some few practical applications of which hits just a little bit
closer to home. And so let's begin about all
true religious religious Authority originating.
And Coming from the almighty God.
And the first reason that all true religious Authority comes
from God, is because of the principle of ownership, the
principle of ownership. Now, when you think about it,
everything that you can think of everything in this universe,
especially the church. It belongs to God.
And that alone demands our obedience you know you look at
several verses that explain this one thing in this one thought
you look at what, what Luke wrote in Acts 17 and 24, God who
made the world and everything in it since he is, Lord of Heaven
and Earth. You also look back to the Old
Testament in first Chronicles, 29 11.
It says they're declaring this about God's ownership.
You Yours O Lord is the greatness, the power and the
glory, the Victory. And the Majesty for all that is
in heaven and in Earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom.
Oh Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. even another
verse, as we skip on back to access to the book of Acts
particularly 20:28, It also says At the Church of God, which he
has purchased with his own blood.
And so we see all these things about the ownership of God.
He owns everything well to practice things not authorized
by God is to fail to honor our head and our owner.
Now let's use an illustration about our own property.
You know, no one has the right to use your property without
your permission. And it's because it violates the
principle of ownership. Now.
For example, no one can use your car without you telling him,
okay. You could use my car.
Now even then, even if you give someone permission to use your
car, maybe you say you could use my car but you can only use it
to go down to the store. Now, that doesn't necessarily
mean that they have Authority or permission to take it all over
town or do whatever they want to with your car because you've
said the limit and to allowing them to use part of your
property. And so likewise, if we belong to
God, and specifically the church belong to Jesus, then right,
what, right? Two people have choosing a
practice things that are different from what the owner
has already chosen for them to be practiced.
What? Right?
Demand have making rules for the church or authorizing practices
that are not included in what God has already authorized.
Well, God does not have to specifically, say not to do
certain things because all of such things are rom, simply
because they violate the principle of ownership.
And the fact of the matter is, no one has the right to use
God's Property without his own permission, and we get his
permission in his own word. Now, moving on, to the second
principle. And the second reason that all
true religious Authority comes from God, is because of the
principle of Wisdom. Now, when you think about God's
wisdom, God's wisdom, as we all know, is infinitely above that a
man and it is upon his wisdom that we rely upon and not our
own wisdom, because what does our wisdom compared to God's
wisdom? Well, we look at several verses
such as Isaiah 55, which talk about God's wisdom.
It says their verses 8 through nine, for my thoughts are not
your thoughts. Neither are your ways.
My ways says the Lord brezza Heavens are higher than the
Earth. We so are my ways higher than
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Now understanding that, it's just, could you imagine knowing
the mind of God and His Infinite, Wisdom and knowledge.
That be incredible. Just to go inside the mind of
God. We obviously know the, we cannot
know God's will about a matter unless he reveals it to us
because God's thoughts and ways are above ours and might be
completely different than our own ways and our own thoughts.
But also, we look at Jeremiah 10 verses 20 verse 23.
It says, oh Lord. I know the way of man is not in
himself, it is not in man, who walks to direct his own steps.
So, Jeremiah, basically, say, man is not simply wise enough to
know how to live apart from God's will he needs guidance.
Now, oftentimes people will defend some religious practice
because it simply makes sense to them in their mind.
It's logical. I mean, why shouldn't we be
doing it a different way? It makes sense to them.
But here's the thing, if our human wisdom, except something,
then really, that proves nothing about whether or not God
approves of it, I mean, absolutely nothing.
In Proverbs 14:23 a 2012 there is a way that seems right to a
man but it's end is the way of death.
And so in our lives we frequently rely on the wisdom of
others to make good decisions. For example are you got all
kinds of specialists in the world?
You have mechanics, you have painters, you have roofers, you
have a, we have doctors, we have all these people that we go to
because they know more about that specific area than we two
and we rely upon their expertise in in life.
Well we trust them to make better decisions because Because
we lack knowledge and wisdom in those fields.
But in terms of religion, God warned us against following
human wisdom. And whenever we practice, or
allow things that are not revealed in the Bible, what
we're doing is we're following fallible.
Human wisdom instead of God's infallible, wisdom and we failed
to acknowledge God's expertise, in all things is what we're
doing. Now, let's look at the third
reason. Third reason of why all
religious Authority comes from God.
And it's because of the principle of worship.
Now, the purpose of worship is to please and glorify God, and
we honor and we respect him. For when we do what he says.
Now we all know what John 4:24 says.
We all know that God is spirit and those who worship Him must
Worship in spirit and Truth. We know that worship that
pleases, God must be directed by his truth, but building upon
that John writes, in John 17 and 17.
He says sanctify them by your truth.
Your word is truth. And so we know where we can
obtain the truth from. But also we also find that all
truth that is revealed to us in the gospel as Peter writes and
second Peter, one and three, he says, as his divine power has
given us to us, all things that pertain to life and godliness
through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue.
And so having understood these things about truth and and and
and we're all truth comes from every religious practice is
based either on. One of two things, it's either
based on God's Authority or it's based on man's Authority.
Now, God did not originate a practice.
Then we can conclude that, man. Must have invented it.
Therefore making it unacceptable as a means of worship because
it's not truth. You know Matthew 15:9 as Jesus
says there, he says that in vain, they worship me teaching
as doctrines the Commandments of men.
And that's what some people do nowadays.
They teach the doctrines of men. So if we do what men say to do
instead of what God says to do, it is then impossible to honor
and to respect God and worship and what we think might be
worship. Might just be vanity and just
nothing to God. now fourth reason that our religious
Authority comes from God, is because of the principle of love
Now, love when you think about it, it leads us to do what, what
pleases the one whom we love. Because we're motivated to do
something towards that being or that individual.
Well, biblical love when we talk about that, it requires that, we
keep God's Commandments. This is where a lot of people do
not really understand what love is all about when it comes to
loving God, they may proclaim the love God.
But let's see what the Bible says about how we do love God.
Because first John 5:3 says, for this is the love of God that we
keep his Commandments. And his Commandments are not
burdensome also 2nd 2nd. John 6 says, this is love that
we walk according to his Commandments now Understanding
that to invent unauthorized practices.
Is to show love for men and not love for God.
Because we're not following God's commands, you know Luke,
16 15 says and he said to them, you are those who justify
yourselves before men. But God knows your hearts for.
What is highly? Esteemed among men is an
abomination in the sight of God. So, doing what we want to
worship, you know, if I'm a Illustrated this way, it's kind
of like a man who who gives his chainsaw to his wife for her
birthday simply because that's what he wants.
Now when he does that, does he show love for his wife?
Well no, he doesn't so love for his wife.
He's sewing love for himself, it's a selfish Kind of Love.
Now, if we love God, we will do only he wants and not what we
want. People do what they want because
they have a selfish part of them of what they want.
Rather than being an excuse for overlooking.
What the Bible says, love is actually a reason for doing only
what the Bible says and leaving all other things.
Untouched and left alone because where is the truth.
Authorize such a thing. I think, the reason that our
religious Authority comes from God, is because of the principle
of Faith. Now, Faith, as we all know, is a
visible proof of our Assurance in God.
And if we are confident in God, we will seek to do his will in
all things. After all, when we look to
Hebrews chapter 11, it says in verse 6, but without faith, it
is impossible to please him for, he who comes to God, must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek him. And so, we must seek to please
him. And we do that by faith.
But when we lose our faith based upon though, well, we know that
our faith is based upon God's word.
We know Romans 10:17. So then faith comes by hearing
and hearing what hearing by the word of God.
Now, also look at Proverbs 3 and verses 5 through 7 here.
Father 6, rather it tells us to trust in the Lord, with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways
acknowledge Him and He Shall direct your paths.
So now we get back to the source of where our guidance comes from
now to follow man-made doctrines.
Is there for the put our faith in man instead of putting our
faith holy in God, it is impossible to practice anything
by faith. If it cannot be found or
authorized by the Bible people who practice things that they
cannot find in the Bible. They're not putting their trust
Foley and God. Instead they put their faith in
the wisdom of men and to walk by faith.
It actually requires us to restrict ourselves to do only
what God has revealed For All Mankind.
Now, there's a sixth and final reason here of why all religious
Authority comes from God. And it's because of the
principle of authority. Now, the lordship of God Alone,
it requires that we do everything, according to his
authority, you know, Colossians 3:17 says, and whatever you do
in word or deed. Do all the name of the Lord
Jesus. And so we see here to act in
Jesus name is really to submit to his authority because we look
to him for Authority, we look to him for guidance.
Now to do things that different from what God has said to do is
really to fail to abide by his authority, his do Authority.
You know, second John 9 says, whoever transgressions as 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.
So we have two sides of the coin here.
We either abide or donor by, but there are consequences.
If we don't abide it Galatians 18, we find that the Apostle
Paul said that, even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel to you, then what we have preached to you, let him
be accursed. And so from just these few
verses alone as our ultimate Authority, we are required.
It's not an option. We are required to obey God.
Now, I want to say this at this point we're talking about this
principle of authority, you know, when we study a practice
we should never have the logic or never have in mind when we're
studying something from the Bible.
Of saying we don't where does God say not to do this?
Because when you build, when you build like a practice or when
you're studying something with that logic, you then become to
rely upon Shaky Ground. But rather, when you study
something you need to ask the question, where does God's word
authorize such a thing or act or practice?
Where can I find in the Bible that we can do this?
We need to have that kind of understanding, when studying
such things had God, specifically itemize, all the
things that he did not want us to do.
I mean, would you imagine how huge the Bible would be?
It'd be enormous. But instead, God tells us what
he does want us to do. And everything else.
Is not authorized and unacceptable.
Now, having demonstrated through the principles of ownership,
wisdom, love Faith and worship and Authority.
That all religious Authority comes from God.
I don't take a quick look at how has made his will, is made known
to us today. You know, we look back to the
time of Jesus, Jesus prepared the way for New Testament
Christianity, when he at that time revealed, God's will the
man? It says in Hebrews 1 verses 1
through 2, it tells us that God who have Various times.
And in various ways spoke in time past by the van to the
father's by the prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by
how by his son. By his son.
We also find in Matthew 28:18, that Jesus, he possessed this
Authority. When he reveals that all
authority has been given to me on heaven and on Earth, and not
only that, but as he's revealing, his will, or God's
will unto us as he does have this Authority.
We also find it in Ephesians 1 and verse 23.
That he has authority over the church because it says, and he
has put all things under his feet.
And gave him to be head, over all things to the church.
And so Jesus has established himself as having this type of
authority to reveal. God's will unto us.
Now when in the addition of the teaching of Jesus, it just
didn't stop there because we look to other scripture as they
reveal God's will to man as well.
You know, you look at John 16:13.
It says, we find that Jesus Promised the men who penned the
New Testament that the spirit will guide them.
All truth because it says however, when you when he the
spirit of Truth has come, he will guide you into all Truth
for. He will not speak on his own
authority, but whatever. He hears he will speak and he
will tell you things to come. So we must realize that the
other man of the, of the Bible, was it Paul?
Or Peter, James, John, Matthew, Mark, all those other guys did
it, right? Whatever they wanted to write,
they were guided. They were directed by way of the
Holy Spirit. Received his message from the
almighty God. It wasn't something that it was
just their own opinion about all the holy spirit's opinion about
now, we also see about the teachings of the New Testament
at what Paul wrote to Timothy and second Timothy 3:16-17.
We find all scripture is given by inspiration of God, note that
all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for
instruction in righteousness. Is that the mind of God may be
complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And then we find second Peter, 1:20-21 that no prophecy of
scripture is of any private interpretation for prophecy.
Never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as
they were what? As they were moved by the Holy
Spirit, not moved by their own emotion.
But by the Holy Spirit, you know, it's easy to see that God
has recorded his will in the Bible to guide Our Lives.
You know, you look at John 16:13 the Holy Spirit revealed all
truth to the apostles acts 20:20, Paul preach, the whole
counsel of God second Peter. We find that in Peters lap time
people, people received all things that pertain to life and
godliness James, 1:25, 25. We find that the word of Truth
is the perfect. I love Liberty, just from these
statements alone. And from other scripture, we do
not need to seek other revelation.
It's already been revealed to us.
And from it, we can learn that, which pleases God and that which
leads to Eternal salvation, And so, having gone over while
religious Authority comes from God and how was built, his will
has made known to us. I like to take a few practical.
Look at a few practical applications when it comes to
demonstrate the need for biblical Authority.
We go back to Genesis chapter 6. Genesis 6 and 14.
We find that God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood. now,
when he mentions gopher wood, You think of other materials
metal or pine or walnut or any other material, it did not fit
the description of gopher wood now.
God did not expressly say not to use them, but they would have
been wrong because he said, used gopher wood and was silent about
all other materials. Now, had God wanted to leave
Noah free to use any kind of material.
He could have simply said to make an arc and If I had no
material at all and in that situation, Noah could have
chosen any kind of material. But once God, specified and
material, Noah was left with no other choice, but that material
now in contrast. God said to make an ark.
Now Noah could have used a hammer.
He could use a saw. He could use an ox cart to carry
the wood. He could use all kinds of tools
that Aid him in making and building the ark.
None of these things. Mention but they would have been
acceptable because Noah would have still been following the
command to make the ark. Now Having said that?
Let's bring a little bit closer to home now and talk about some
things and worship. In Ephesians 5:19.
We're told the sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
making melody in our hearts to the Lord and everywhere the New
Testament. Passage that mentions Music In
Worship, it says to sing. To sing.
Nowhere. Does God ever say to play on
instruments? Now, to play on instruments,
then would fall outside the meaning of what God has said to
do. Then now, the fact that God
expressly said to sing, but nowhere, says a playing
instrument shows that they're displeasing.
But, you know, you may have had someone, you know, argue this to
you. Someone may say well the piano
that we have o it is it just an aide to the singing, the guitar,
what other at whatever other instruments they use?
All her. All they are just to help you
sing. Well know A piano is an aid to
play just as a guitar or drums would be and playing is a
different kind of music than singing.
Just like the pine is different from gopher wood with the ark.
The piano was unauthorized because when we use it, we are
doing something different from what God has said and authorized
to do, on the other hand, if we sing songs that we find in the
song book and read the notes to help us follow a Melody, we're
still doing what God said. We are singing and we are making
Melody in our hearts and the song book, all it is, is just a
legitimate Aid. In our song service unto him,
you know, you another factor that we can look at we find is
the collection and in 1st Corinthians, 16 verses 1 and 2.
God sent for the church to obtain funds, by taking up a
collection on the first day of the week and each person is to
give according to their prosperity now nowhere.
Did he say for churches to have rummage sales?
Or to have bake sales or to operate businesses.
Such as having a Bible bookstore of, putting out a coffee cart
out in front, to make a profit for the Lord's Church.
To do, these will be different from what he said likewise to
take up collections on some other day of the week, would
also be different from what God had specified.
We may not Ximena, have Express, you said not to do these things,
not to take up collection on Wednesday or Thursday or
whatever other day of the week, but when he said to take up
collections on the first day of the week, then we can know that
to do, otherwise would displease him.
Now, on the other hand God said, The first day of the week, but
no particular time is mentioned, nor does he mention that what
part of the service or what type of AIDS you can have, he didn't
mention the have it at the beginning of worship at them in
the middle of worship or towards the end of worship.
He didn't say any of that, he just said on the first day of
the week. Now, if we were to take a
collection at the beginning of, of Sunday services and whatever
type of container, whether it be a basket, whether it be a bag,
or whatever you could think of You know, those are they would,
we would still be doing what God says because all these things
are are just legitimate AIDS and what God has commanded for us to
do. Now.
Our last illustration tonight or this afternoon, is that of the
Lord's Supper? Now we find that Jesus
instituted this, and Matthew 26. And we also find an x 20 and 7
that we find. The church was told to partake
of the, on the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week
following the example that Jesus had demonstrated now to have the
supper on some other day the week or to change the example
that Jesus left, it would simply be doing different from what
Jesus had said, likewise to add any other types of food or to
change the loaf of unleavened bread or the fruit of the vine
to other things would, Also be duped, be doing different from
what Jesus had said as well. You don't God, specify bread and
God specified, the fruit of the vine and he and to do, otherwise
will displease him as surely using pine wood for the ark,
would have been displeasing to God.
Now, on the other hand, the size of the table or the clots to
cover them or using a plate to hold the bread.
He doesn't change the example at by Jesus nor does it change the
command by which we are given. These are simply legitimate
AIDS. To observing the Lord's Supper.
Now. In conclusion this afternoon.
When we understand the Bible principles, we realize that Many
religious practices are wrong even though they may not be
expressly forbidden, but at the same time, there are practices
that are, right? Even though they are not
expressly mentioned either. but whether a practice is right or
wrong or whether it is, whether it is a tool or not, or
legitimate Aid is determined by, whether it falls inside or
outside the meaning of God's terms of, which he has
instructed us, when we practice that which we cannot find in
God's word, what we do is we walk in the counsel of our own
hearts, We fail to honor God as our owner.
We fail to honor Jesus as the head of the church.
We fail to truly love and trust God, we failed to worship God
and Truth. We fail to respect the wisdom
and authority of God and just like that ship at the sea until
we change course. We're heading for Destruction.
Now, I don't say these things here, this afternoon, because I
think there's some things wrong here in the congregation,
certainly not. But it re-establishes, why we do
what we do. It's not like the members here
got together when this church was where this congregation was
established and said they were going to do it this way.
Simply because this is the way, the best way that we think would
be the most worshipful unto the Lord.
It's that didn't happen at this place.
The reason why we do the things that what we do is because these
are the things that we find authorizing God's word.
And we're going to do what God tells us to do, and no, other
means by our own infallible wisdom or fallible wisdom.
That we're going to do these things.
It all goes back to God's word. That's the standard. and if only
denominations could realize that We thank you for listening to
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