Wednesday – July 20, 2016
Can you believe it, Wednesday, hump day already? Another day to carry out our assignments for God in the Kingdom of God. Another day to promote and enlarge the family name and grow the Kingdom. I suspect as you finished yesterday’s teaching and looked at the title for todays that you cringed. That is quite a normal, natural reaction until we understand this concept for Kingdom of God people. Let’s review our text then I am going to introduce what may seem like an unrelated Scripture.
Colossians 3:18-19 (KJV)
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome and tells them to “be subject unto the higher powers”. The word ‘subject’ is the same word as ‘submit’ in our text of Colossians 3:18. Interestingly enough the number eighteen in Scripture has to do with bondage. Bondage is exactly how these Scriptures have been used by many to enslave their wives. This is seen in the very extreme in Islam. Islam is a very perverted form of Christianity. Islam and Christianity are diametrically opposed, just as the devil and Jesus are diametrically opposed. To call Islam the religion of peace is like calling up down.
Romans 13:1-2 (KJV)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
This Scripture and others are frequently used to explain how we get wicked rulers and that we are to be subject to those rulers. Jesus in voluntary submission to the Heavenly Father made Himself subject to Pontius and the rulers of the Sanhedrin for the purpose of our redemption. They had tried to kill Him before and He just walked away, He was not subject to them and neither was He required to submit to them. What I want us to focus on is the little phrase “higher powers”. What or Who would be a higher power to the child or son of God? Certainly not the devils including the Serpent himself. What about secular, wicked people, enforcing wicked laws? No, we are not required of God to obey wickedness. In fact to obey wickedness is to enter into idolatry choosing another god.
Persons of authority may not be born again and we are to obey them with regard to the laws that are consistent with Scripture. What about holy angels? We are not subject to nor are we to submit to holy angels, they serve us. So who are the “higher powers”? The higher powers are those who are enforcing righteousness like our Heavenly Father, Jesus (Head of the Church), and the Holy Spirit. It may also include all sorts of people who are enforcing laws that do not violate Scripture. Where there is a violation of Scripture there is no obligation to obey or be subject to that law and God will provide the wisdom to deal with it and the way out of those situations. Remember Daniel, the three Hebrews, and Moses. So to sum up, “higher powers”, are those who have authority in our lives that does not violate Scripture. This includes but may not be limited to police officers, government officials, ministry leaders, and parents. Being subject to or submitting to is always a choice that we make. To rebel against righteous authority has consequences in and of itself and is a sin before God. Like if you speed in your car and get a speeding ticket there is the consequences associated with the ticket but we would also be in rebellion before God and in need of repentance (asking His forgiveness and agreeing with Him that speeding is wickedness) for speeding. Unrepented sin separates us from God and the wages of sin are death which may be spiritual or physical or both. Okay, now back to our text with this foundation in mind.
Colossians 3:18-19 (KJV)
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Wives (physical females) are to submit or be subject to their own husbands (physical males). Wives are not to be looking to other men, other women’s husbands for guidance, in effect submitting to them on an intellectual or emotional level which is adultery. This would not include for example attending a class given by the Pastor on Marriage. Wives like husbands are to submit to God and His thoughts, His words, and His ways and then secondarily to each other. We are submitting to the higher powers as it is the will of God or as phrased in our text “fit in the Lord.”
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
