BY WHOSE AUTHORITY, MAN’S?

            Why does mankind usurp authority over his fellow man? To usurp means to take possession of by force or unjustly; as, to usurp the office, functions, powers, or rights of another, especially of a king or ruler? One could answer this question expressing many reasons and some would be justified, however, when it comes to Scriptural Authority, God has the absolute answer Jesus Christ is the Head and man is His Body when we speak of the Church! . Scripture also proclaims that the Saints are Kings and Priests; is it any strange thing that satan uses very deceptive devious methods to try and destroy the kingdom of God?

            When Jesus came to His own, he did not come with a rod of iron, but one of influence. His words demonstrated absolute power over nature, but He only taught with a meek Spirit trying to influence man, His creation to come to the Light. His words were absolute wisdom and knowledge, therefore they said of Him; And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as [one] having authority , and not as the scribes.

            The winds and the seas obeyed the voice of God speaking through the man Christ Jesus, but His own for the most part, the children of Abraham didn’t harken. In His rejection Jesus before He turned away wept over them for they did know the peace that belonged to them.

            The whole purpose of the Gospel is to give man choice, not to take it away from him! What kind of wife would you have if she followed you because of fear due to usurping authority over her? Many of Christian Churches dwell in total confusion because the ministry picks up another spirt and they become satan’s to usurp the authority of God. There is nothing left then but the doctrines of man being influenced by another spirit in the church. James in his statement to the Elders and other Apostles said; For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

            Of course we know that the true Apostles taught the disciples the commandments of God and they taught them all that the Bible says, but they did not force them by psychological brain washing with a wrong spirit. Nor did they destroy their right of choice which is a heart thing between man and God! For if you take away a person’s ability to make a choice, you take away their faith. When you take away faith you take away Joy, Righteousness and Peace which is in the Holy Ghost. The mind starts serving satan’s darkness of fear and despair which he orchestrates through the person which he uses as his minister. People actually serve man by their works thinking that they are serving God and eventually their soul is taken into captivity.

            The teaching of influence which Jesus used to demonstrate a Great Light (a pearl of great price) was supported by Divine power, but many loved their darkness and didn’t come to the Light. It was a ministry of Charity, Longsuffering and Compassion, even to the point of laying down His life.

Quote! I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

            Again, the Scripture teaches that satan is the accuser of the Brethren, not God and neither should His Ministers be. When a Minister picks up the spirit of and becomes one of satan’s ministers, the saints are brought into the bondage of darkness in satan’s domain. They are left only with the feeling of guilt and condemnation with no answers of how to get rid of the torment in their minds. Their prayers never seem to get answered and they will continue down the slippery slop to demonic possession if God does not intervene. Satan’s purpose is to destroy!

            One can discern the spirit in a church by the fruit. The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Charity which causes refreshing living waters to flow through the body quickening and making alive the church with edification. When this is not present which comes often times the Minister has left the Spirit of reconciliation and has taken on the spirit of condemnation. God is not the author of confusion, that is, the ministering of religion and doctrines of man. The carnal mind is enmity with God and cannot please God.

            The Apostle Paul never usurped authority over the church and he was a wise master builder with much influence. Quote! For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction,...

            The word authority is numbered 1849 by Strongs Concordance and in Greek is the word exousia’ which is pronounced ex-oo-see'-ah. It comes from another Greek word numbered 1832 by Strongs meaning, in the sense of ability. It is interpreted into English in the 1611 AV New Testament the following times; power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1 and is used a total of 103 times. The word ex-oo-see-ah in English and means; power of authority to influence and of right or privilege. This is where it is used in that context. MT: XXI.23, MK. XI.28; LK. XX.2 spoken of the authority of an Apostle 2 CO. X.8.

            There is a deeper meaning to all of this! When we forsake or allow ourselves to be led away from the Fountain of Living Waters, we are written in the curse of the earth. Quote! O’ LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. The earth, satan’s domain is cursed because of Adam’s sin, cursed is the ground for thy sake. Genesis 3:4.

            When man partook of the tree (satan’s fruit) of darkness it brought him into the curse of good and evil and out of the absolute presence of God. He lost his way; he groveled in confusion because good and evil are variable. The knowledge of good and evil (causes man to go to war; marriages to break up and judges to tamper with the laws to suit the times) has brought man into great turmoil throughout all of recorded history.

            Satan said; “and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” The word gods in this passage means, princes, that is, they received morality, the imagination of the mind. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Be careful, lest any man should steal your crown!

Dr. Strome, Th.D.

In our Master’s Service, Glory be to Jesus our Lord.

February 2004