"The one from himself speaking, his own glory he seeks, however, the one seeking the glory of the one having sent him, he is true and falsehood is not in him."1
Jesus spoke these words, He said if anyone is seeking to do the will of God, you will know whether the teaching is from God or if they speak of their own authority. Authority is not self seeking. Jesus did not demand authority from people, He could have used such authority and power to demand submission, but He did not. His words were Spirit and Truth, and He said when we are seeking the glory of God, we will know what truth is, but if we seek our own glory then we will be deceived. Authority can not be used as a means to control people, such authority seeks its own glory.
The people asked surely our leaders would tell, if this were the Christ. But of course they did not tell as they did not seek the glory of God, but their own glory. What does this glorying in authority look like? certainly it had an external show of piety, as it did not live to the same standards as it put on the people. Jesus said, "do as they say not as they do," as most were hypocrites and self-righteous leaders putting heavy burdens on the people, requiring them to live to standards they themselves did not meet.
Paul writes doctrines of demons, seek to leaven the whole lump. The deception is in that it sort of is true, it is old covenant, all the scripture is truth, right? If Moses was a leader and he had such authority then I do too? In the new, Jesus is given all such authority in heaven and on earth; Teacher, Rabbi, Lord, King, High Priest... just so no one is confused as to what authority looks like. Jesus said, if you knew the Father you would know Him, if you sought the glory of the Father you would know the truth, and whether he is from the Father. If we seek the glory of God we too will know the truth.
Evil authority seeks to control, so there must be clear understanding of authority or it just makes it easy for anti-christ. When you are punished without a trial, when you have no way to appeal, no way to seek justice, if you do not "buy in" to sacrifice it is called persecution. Self seeking authority persecutes people. Nicodemus knew it was unjust what was being done to Jesus. Even the high priest chimed in, what if He wasn't seeking the glory of God, would it last? Self glorying authority is not good, this type of authority crucified Jesus. It is something the founding fathers of this country knew of, it was an authority that the Reformation sought to dispel and overcome and it is still our fight today.
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Jesus spoke these words, He said if anyone is seeking to do the will of God, you will know whether the teaching is from God or if they speak of their own authority. Authority is not self seeking. Jesus did not demand authority from people, He could have used such authority and power to demand submission, but He did not. His words were Spirit and Truth, and He said when we are seeking the glory of God, we will know what truth is, but if we seek our own glory then we will be deceived. Authority can not be used as a means to control people, such authority seeks its own glory.The people asked surely our leaders would tell, if this were the Christ. But of course they did not tell as they did not seek the glory of God, but their own glory. What does this glorying in authority look like? certainly it had an external show of piety, as it did not live to the same standards as it put on the people. Jesus said, "do as they say not as they do," as most were hypocrites and self-righteous leaders putting heavy burdens on the people, requiring them to live to standards they themselves did not meet.
Paul writes doctrines of demons, seek to leaven the whole lump. The deception is in that it sort of is true, it is old covenant, all the scripture is truth, right? If Moses was a leader and he had such authority then I do too? In the new, Jesus is given all such authority in heaven and on earth; Teacher, Rabbi, Lord, King, High Priest... just so no one is confused as to what authority looks like. Jesus said, if you knew the Father you would know Him, if you sought the glory of the Father you would know the truth, and whether he is from the Father. If we seek the glory of God we too will know the truth.
Evil authority seeks to control, so there must be clear understanding of authority or it just makes it easy for anti-christ. When you are punished without a trial, when you have no way to appeal, no way to seek justice, if you do not "buy in" to sacrifice it is called persecution. Self seeking authority persecutes people. Nicodemus knew it was unjust what was being done to Jesus. Even the high priest chimed in, what if He wasn't seeking the glory of God, would it last? Self glorying authority is not good, this type of authority crucified Jesus. It is something the founding fathers of this country knew of, it was an authority that the Reformation sought to dispel and overcome and it is still our fight today.
If I seek my own glory I will concentrate much effort on authority, because I have to control the people. I will use position and authority to enforce my teaching and my position. No longer do I facilitate the Teacher, Jesus, to God's glory, but I am seeking my own. If we abide in Christ we will know if the teaching is from God or not. This is the great thing about God's authority, if everyone sought His glory it would be His Church, not to the glory of people. We would allow our deeds to be in the light, as they are good.
The kingdom of God is before us, if we seek it First. This is a challenge for us today as it says if you truly seek to do His will, there will be Unity. I believe this issue of authority is one of importance, it surely needs to be brought into the light, as it will be the enemy who will abuse it. Our government was set up with checks and balances to prevent such centralized authority, earthly organizations need such accountability, it is a government of the people, by the people, such is for the glory of God.
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