Submitting to authority.

As a generation being raised by God to move into the kingdom work, we must understand that we are still in the wings of our pastors and church leaders...we shouldn't think that we are given greater grace and favor because of our gifts. We can minister to others only because our pastors have agreed to release blessing and favor for us to minister. this is important for all of us.

i always minister to people, but i make it a point that i ask my pastors to release me and pray for me, that whatever i speak or do will bring favor to the Lord and bring a good testimony to my church (my local church...)

this is not an option, it's a must for all of us. venturing with our gifts needs the wisdom of the "gray hairs" in ministry and submitting to them is fulfilling the call to submit over authority, especially church authority.

as kingdom people, we are under the authority of the KING OF KINGS, with the ministers as GENERALS, being a kingdom people, we are called to submit to them as we take part as soldiers, and as soldiers, we take orders and obey them- that is submission.

What if they are wrong? do we still submit?

There are instances that we have to weigh the situation and see the cause of the problem. and then deal with it. if it includes a certain group, we should listen to both sides...even if they are at fault. if we are at fault, we must listen to the counsel of others.

the tendency of being over energetic and is in the transition period of having responsibilites, we tend to see it as black and white-with the black as dominant. this is one situation that is hard to deal with, especially if in authority is someone we "despise" and reiterate to make "comments" of their imperfections. this is wrong. (of course, i have gone through that stage...)and it is a bad testimony of our christian life. we are despising the authority the Lord Jesus Christ has given over us, and it momentarily leads to sin and rebellion.

another thing is that, when we rebel against the authority God has given, when we come to the season when we become leaders, we are marred by that mistake and chances are, we will experience the very same things we did towards our leaders.

this is hard for us to do, but it is for a greater cause and will take time to develop, even i is in the process of learning to submit more and learn more...but it is my prayer that we might see this time as a chance to make the right choice and be on track of what God is doing. re-alligning our motives, hearts and works to the FULL AUTHORITY of OUR KING.

God bless!