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Trust and Obedience

Obey those leading you and be submissive, they indeed watch over your souls, as account about to give...1

Our relationship with our heavenly Father is one of trust and obedience. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,2 When we understand his great love for us, we love because he first loved us.3 Through this love and trust, our roots growing deep in him, we are obedient. This type of trust and obedience go hand in hand when dealing with earthly authority; others trust, submit, to authority when leaders are submissive, obedient, to the authority of God.

Trust is the essence of faith, our laboring into believing is one of persuasion and it is one of trust. Moreover, now is faith the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen.4 Faith is defined as belief, trust; it is God's divine persuasion. The root of the word faith is peithô ("to persuade, be persuaded").5 Jesus the author of faith,8 It is the work of God, believing, we must labor into belief. This same word is used to refer to faith as fruit of the Spirit,7 and Jesus refers to his words as spirit and truth. The universe was formed in the beginning by his words, made visible from that which is not visible, by faith the world was formed.8  Faith is increased through his word. We are to trust in the Lord with all our heart, this increases faith and obedience.

Obedience is an outflow of the heart, it shows our love for our heavenly Father. If you love me, the commandments of mine you will keep.9 This does not say; I love you because you keep the ten commandments. No, we know that righteousness nor life can never be achieved through obedience to the Law.10 Jesus said, I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.9 It was such a love for the Father and us, that he humbled himself and became a bond-servant, to the point of death on the cross. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men, Jesus said. This should be our defining purpose in life, that we love the Father with all, and that we love or give ourselves for others, so that they too might know Him. The full godhead existed in Jesus, but he counted all that loss to serve us.

Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, because of love, and others followed him. This unity with the Father was a sign that he was from the Father. Trust comes before obedience, like a child adopted into a new family the most important thing is for that child to know his identity in the family. Discipline without a foundation of trust will never produce true faithfulness, nor true obedience. Authority comes from submission to the heavenly Father, when authority has this foundation, others will submit, as they trust God. Ungodly authority doesn't like such, We must obey God rather than men.11 When earthly authority comes against the authority of God, we must obey God. Godly leadership is by example, it isn't controlling, it never attempts to lord over. 

Biblical authority is done willingly, it exercises oversight, not for profit, not lording over, it is to be an example. Biblical authority watches over (looking diligently with caring interest) for your souls, as if they will give an account. The Bible describes this as a good shepherd who cares for his flock. It is not done under compulsion, as if required, obligated, or forced, it is to be done of free will in obedience to God's will. Leading is not to be done for base gain (greedy). We usually think of money as gain here, but sensuality, pride, and power can drive abuse of authority. In our pride we can establish attitudes and organizations that do not put forth God's will as much as our own; this is my ministry, my way or the highway, I am not accountable, even my board is made up of yes men who always agree with me... This type of abuse is why it is important not to put those in leadership positions who are not mature for such a position. The motivation of authority should not be a selfish one.    

Lead with eagerness (a ready mind. thoroughly willing, before passion). This eagerness should be steadfast, in the spirit of God, not a passion of sensuality. This word for passion relates to a storm, tempest, or what some call righteous anger. I am to be passionate, thoroughly willing, but I am not to be led sensually, following my senses, feelings, and emotions as if they were from God. Only the Lord exercises righteous wrath, so we must depend solely on Him as we experience (express) anger.14 I believe that when we operate to such sensuality we give ground to the enemy within our organizations, and no longer is the flock in unity but scattered in confusion. When we lack true accountability we put ourselves in a position to abuse authority. 

Overpowering authority, or that which lords over, is probably the most common authority that people experience, and have been hurt by. Many have a difficult time trusting authority. It is why we should not place immature people in leadership positions. This word for lording over is katakurieuo which means to exercise decisive control (downward) as an owner with full jurisdiction. The root words are from katá (down) and stréniaó (living in sensual, lustful behavior). It is an authority that is sensual, personal gain of power, pride; I'm in charge. Authority is not to lord over, against, control, subjugate -- exercise dominion over (lordship), or to overcome. We as believers belong to God, we are heirs, sons, no longer slaves, Jesus is our Lord and Master. When another lords over a son they are basically saying I am your lord, a god, I exalt myself over you, this is the essence of Satan's rebellion in the family, he wanted to be as God, and like Eve he tempts us today that we too can be like a god. When leaders walk in humility it sets an example and others will submit to authority as they submit to Christ.

Leadership is to be an example. We talk about how we want people with a servants heart in our organizations but we ourselves are expected to be such, examples. Authority is not a downward push on people, lording over them, but it is an exercise of upward example, of submission to Christ. Not as exercising lordship over those in your charge but being examples to the flock and having been revealed the chief shepherd, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.16 Of course this is not an easy thing, but it is the price for leadership, we are to count the cost before following Jesus. The reward for Godly leadership is of an eternal one. Also through example you will reveal the Chief Shepherd, to those under you. This is the essence of Biblical authority and of what Peter writes of. We are to be submissive to Christ, and through this example of submission; humility, caring, willing, gentle, loving, in the spirit, oversight, others will submit to our authority as if submitting to Christ himself. Seeing Christ in you will develop Trust which will lead to Obedience, as if to Christ. 

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