Friday April 04th, 2025
« Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God »
1Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God.
2 Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself.
3 For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you,
4 because they are God’s servants working for your own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real. They are God’s servants and carry out God’s punishment on those who do evil.
5 For this reason you must obey the authorities—not just because of God’s punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
6 That is also why you pay taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties.
7 Pay, then, what you owe them; pay them your personal and property taxes, and show respect and honor for them all.
Romans 13:1 says that anyone who is in authority was put there by God.
In fact, Romans 13:4 says a leader is a minister of God and a revenger to execute wrath upon those that do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:4ESV says
« For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” »
- Anyone in authority is powerful and should be obeyed unless their commandments negate the word of God.
Romans 13:3-4 says that the king bears a sword and you should fear him because he is not wielding it in vain.
In other words, he is empowered to use that sword if you do wrong.
Our experience when the Coronavirus pandemic started clearly showed the power of those in authority like never before.
For example, when the government declared a lockdown, everyone was more or less automatically placed under house arrest. God gave them that much power.
It doesn’t matter whether you are the most anointed fellow around – you must obey them because the One who anointed you is the same Person who put them in power.
What will we Christians look like if we always disobey constituted authority?
Do you think our Heavenly Father wants the whole world to see His children as stubborn and unruly people?
If anyone would disobey authority, it should not be Christians because the very essence of Christianity itself is in holiness, that is, complete obedience.
- When a businessman who is also a Pastor is the very one doctoring figures and evading taxes, would he be able to preach the gospel to the tax officials who discover his crime?
When people see you throwing trash on the street or running a red light, what image are you painting to them of your Father?
Believe me honestly, when you disobey constituted authority, you have disobeyed God, so when the authority uses their sword on you, God will not come to your rescue.
God requires His children to obey constituted authorities.
Disobeying those He has put in authority amounts to rebellion, which is a sin, 1 Samuel 15:23.
Application – Disobeying constituted authority is disobeying God.
Author – Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye; General Overseer of the RCCG
Posted by Naomie Joseph
Soul-restoring, mind-recalibrating Praise and Worship sessions – Evangelist Jemps Benoit ; Minister Paola Médi
Life changing Christian stories : Supernatural Stories
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