Boundary Markers – 4

Boundary Markers – 4

Subject:  Authority - What God Says Matters

By Rick Welborne

Deuteronomy 19:14 (NLT) 

14 “When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property. 

--I believe most of us would agree that we would have never dreamed we would see such an increase in lawlessness and corruption in the United States of America. Where are the boundaries?

Isaiah 5:20-24 (NLT)
²⁰  What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
²¹  What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
²²  What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.
²³  They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.
²⁴  Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 

--I pray our church that God will help us to reach out to the young people in the cities and see a mighty revival come that changes everything. Pastor, put your money where your mouth is.

--We do, one of the home missionaries we support is in the inner city of Chicago and has been there for probably thirty years…we have supported him for twenty-five years and he is black.

--My heart breaks when I hear of anyone dying and know that more than likely they died without Jesus. I hope we were broken. Orlando has become one of the most dangerous cities in the US.

--So what’s wrong?  It appears to me that we have stepped outside the walls of God’s protection, we have crossed boundaries set up by God, and we have disdained God’s authority over us.

Leviticus 26:14-17 (NIV) ¹⁴  "'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,
¹⁵  and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,
¹⁶  then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
¹⁷  I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. 

--So how do we turn all of this around…not just in our country but in our homes and churches too?  

1. Return to God and His Authority. 

Romans 13:1-5 (NLT)
¹  Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
²  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 

³  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
⁴  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
⁵  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 

--This is what we must hear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. Why?  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 

--And anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. 

--I am trying my best to keep this as simple as I can so that we understand what our problems are in our country, in our churches, and in our homes.

--The governing authorities in our country are law enforcement officers who, according to God, are His servants. They certainly are not being treated like God’s servants.  

--In our churches the governing authorities are God called pastors (placed there by God) who have been given to you for your good and for the building up of the body of Christ.

--In our homes, parents are the governing authorities set up by God and as you honor them, God will bless you.

Eph. 6:1 (NLT) ¹ Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

--The God given authorities are law enforcement officers, pastors, and parents and the boundaries are what they say. Their laws or rules. Either we obey or we rebel.

--Hopefully most of us have been taught that you respect authority, and the sooner you do what they say.

--So many things we have seen could have been avoided if people had not been, first of all, breaking the law (crossing boundaries) and secondly, submitting to the God given authority.

--How many people could be living for God, could have saved their marriages, or could have avoided damaging addictions if they would have listened to their pastors and obeyed the Word of God?

--How many prodigals could be presently fulfilling God’s destiny and plans for them if they would have listened to the godly counsel of parents who loved them and had their good in mind.

2. There Are Benefits in Staying Within the Boundaries.  

--For this example we will use the word “Master” for the authority, and fences and gates for boundaries. The master loves her horses very much and that is evident by the investment of time and money. 

--Because the master loves the horses they are kept in a secure fenced in area with a gate to let them out and to let them back in. As a reminder:  Jesus said:

John 10:9 (NLT)
⁹  Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

--The master keeps the horses safe within the fences, he feeds them, he has water for them, he has their nails (hoofs) done, he cares for their health (vet) just like Jesus looks out for us.

--If the horses are stubborn and they break out of the fence and are out of the protective boundaries of their master, so many things can happen that brings them harm.

John 10:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 

--When the horses are content to stay within their boundaries and they are not out of control…the master can open the gate and allow the horse to experience personal time with the master. Please see the analogy. 

--The horses can just be for the pleasure of the master and there is obviously a bond between the horse and the horse lover. Like how God loves us!

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." 

--Sometimes a horse that is well disciplined and trained can be used for much more important roles such as competitions. Even law enforcement. The horse can be dressed with fancy tack.

--Can you see it?  When the horse is submissive and stays within the boundaries of its master…many blessings are bestowed…Even when the horse is dirty it is washed and groomed…pampered.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)
⁹  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
¹⁰  nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
¹¹  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

--There is great benefit to staying within God’s boundaries. The Lord is crying out to us to come back!

3. Valuing God’s Authority Matters!

Isaiah 55:1-3 & 6-7 (NIV)
¹  "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
²  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
³  Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
⁶  Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
⁷  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

--The Lord is saying return to Me and find the value of serving Me. Why are you trying to spend your life on that which does not satisfy? Return to the safety and boundaries of His love.

--Seek Him while He may be found! Call on Him! Turn back to Him and ask for forgiveness.