Page 96 - The Christian Life and the Church Life_Government of God

Living under Authority and Representing God 95

He openly said, “I heard these ones criticize me. I am amazed they are still
alive.” He and his followers would appoint elders. If anyone who would not
agree, they would fire him and appoint the ones that would agree. This is
hideous! This has its source in the Devil himself! We have to be so clear that
everything derives from God and even once the apostles appointed the elders
in Acts 24 and 1 Timothy 1:5, the apostles realized, “Now you elders are
directly under God as the authority. We will shepherd you. If there are unusual
needs, we will help you, but we will not now try to control you and check
on you, ‘Okay, are you doing what we want?’” What has been happening, I
visited this country, where the headquarters was of this person, and the Lord
gave me a rather clear, spiritual understanding of this massive, hierarchical
structure built-up over the whole continent depriving all the saints form the
universal fellowship in the Body. I had this sense, and I began to pray, “Lord,
you are going to destroy this entire structure and have a genuine recovery
here.” This has been going on for some years.
When We Touch God’s Authority, Our Touching God Himself

When we touch God’s authority, we touch God himself (Isa. 6:1-5).
Meeting God’s Authority Being the Same as Meeting God
Meeting God’s authority is the same as meeting God (Amos 4:12).

Offending God’s Authority Being the Same as Offending God Himself
Offending God’s authority is the same as offending God Himself.
Our Needing to Meet Authority, Be Restricted by God,
and Be Led by His Delegated Authority
We all must meet authority, be restricted by God, and be led by His
delegated authority (Isa. 37:16; Phil. 2:12; Heb. 13:17). We all must meet
authority—yes, we have a personal contact with Him. It is not a theory, it is
somewhat like a jolt of electricity, “Whoa, that is what is it? Oh, I will never
touch it again!”. We are not ashamed to say, in a proper way, in a pure way,
“We were led in many matters in the work, in the ministry by the delegated
authority but he did not lord it over us. He was in the spirit of the Body more
than any of us. But there is such a leading.”