Text: Acts 9:1-19
Memory verse:
”And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”“
Acts 9:5 NKJV
The unsaved man can not obey God nor be subject to His will. He is naturally rebellious to the direct authority and the constituted authorities of God. He is governed by the spirit of satan and does not have the capacity to obey God until he encounters God.
The controversy in the universe is basically on who shall have the authority (Matt 4:9-10). Having fallen, satan is on earth with his rebel angels, stirring rebellion against God’s authority (2 Thes 2:4). He deceived the first man and caused him to fall likewise through rebellion.
As soon as a man is saved and begins to attribute authority to God, his conflict with satan begins. Satan becomes an adversary, that is, an opposer. To maintain that authority, one must continue to be subject to it with all the heart.
To serve God, it is therefore important that everyone meet God’s authority and have an understanding of it. Before Paul knew the authority, he rebelled against it, attempting to wipe out the church. He was moving from city to city, persecuting the church, until he met the Lord on the way to Damascus. Then he saw that it was difficult to kick against the goads, that is, for human power to fight against God’s authority (Acts 9:5). The hardest thing to come against is God’s authority, for He uses His power to maintain His authority (Heb 1:3). He fell to the ground and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. He recognized His authority. A proof that he was saved and had met God’s authority was his submission to the direction given him by Ananias thereafter. How could Paul, being a clever and capable person, listen to the words of such an unpopular little brother, like Ananias, if he had not met the authority of God? You see, whoever has met authority relates with authority in all his dealings and not with man. He doesn’t see a man, but the authority vested in him. A man who has met authority doesn’t obey man in the real sense of it but God’s authority in that man.
A man who hasn’t met God’s authority before obeying man is on the wrong road, and he is self-righteous and religious. To be on the right road, one must meet God’s authority first before obeying man.
Friends, have you encountered God’s authority? Are you saved or merely playing religion? Are you on the right or wrong road?
Prayer points
1. Father, please encounter and save everyone who is on the wrong road of self-righteousness in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to always see the authority invested in man rather than the man in all my dealings, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. A proof that I am saved and have encountered God’s authority is my submission to delegated authorities.
2. The hardest thing to do is to fight against God’s authority because He maintains His authority by His utmost power.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng