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[0:00] Take your Bibles and open them this morning.

[0:15] First of all, it's 1 Peter chapter 2, and I want you to find verse 16, 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 16. We're not going to stay there, we're going to go somewhere else in the Bible this morning, and I'll explain here in just a minute.

[0:28] But find verse 16 there in 1 Peter chapter 2, and I'll read it here in just a moment. Now our subject, not last Sunday, Sunday before when we started this section of the letter, and the subject that we're going to continue to be focusing upon for the next couple of Sundays anyway, kind of falls under this heading, living righteous in a hostile world.

[1:04] Living righteous in a hostile world. And Peter's teaching at this point in the letter kind of takes a turn toward the ethical. That would be the technical term to use, Christian ethics.

[1:18] Or maybe I should use the word practical. I believe all of God's word is very practical, but the focus is practical.

[1:30] And so we could say that up to this point in the letter, Peter's focus has been positional Christianity, in the sense of who we are in Christ.

[1:42] But now it is practical Christianity. That's the focus for the next, really, rest of this chapter and on into the next chapter.

[1:52] Practical Christianity. That is how we are to live. All right, so who we are and how we are to live. And his point is, as we kind of put the two together, who we are must cross over into how we live.

[2:10] We have no right to claim anything about who we are in Christ. The two must go together. Who we are crosses over into how we are to live or how we live.

[2:21] And it's very interesting, as I said a couple of Sundays ago, how Peter kind of lays this out before us. In essence, Peter reminds his readers that they and we are citizens of two worlds.

[2:40] We are. We're citizens of two worlds. We are eternal citizens of heaven, the world to come. And at the same time, we are temporal citizens or temporary citizens of this world.

[2:58] The earth. And we must live exemplary lives as citizens of both worlds. Very important that Christians understand that and learn that.

[3:10] Yes, we are aliens, as Peter has described us as. We're aliens. We're strangers. We are refugees, in a sense. Because primarily our citizenship is now in heaven.

[3:24] But that does not mean that we have no responsibilities here as citizens of this world. And so verses 11 and 12, which we've already seen there in 1 Peter chapter 2, pertain primarily to our citizenship, our eternal citizenship, our citizenship in heaven.

[3:44] And we've already looked at that. Now, verse 13 and following on into chapter 3, really, pertain to our temporal citizenship here on this earth.

[3:58] And as temporary citizens of this world, and that's what we are as Christians, we're to live a certain way. Now, as we're going to see here in just a moment, the way Peter commands us to live is not really to our liking.

[4:17] I'll just go ahead and warn you right now. It's not really to our liking. Because our temporal citizenship here on this earth is marked by submission.

[4:32] Submission. Submission. And we don't really like that. I just want you to notice, without reading the entire block of scriptures here that fall under this subject, without reading the whole thing, I just want to show you how Peter threads the theme of submission throughout this text.

[4:52] Look there at verse 13. 1 Peter chapter 2. Where Peter says, therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance or every authority, basically.

[5:07] And then skip on down there to verse 18. Servants, be submissive to your masters. There it is again. You can skip on over there to chapter 3.

[5:19] Verse 1. Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands. You can skip over there to verse 7 of chapter 3. Husbands, likewise, though the word submission isn't there.

[5:35] The idea is there. Likewise, dwell with them. That is your wives with understanding and so forth. Honor. Giving honor to your wife. And then verse 18.

[5:45] Finally, all of you be of one mind. And again, the word submission is implied there. And so Peter threads this idea of submission throughout this entire text.

[6:01] This text that is teaching us some practical teachings. A practical theology, in a sense, on how who we are is to cross over into how we're to live.

[6:15] As citizens of two worlds. Now, frankly, we don't really like the idea of submission. I look around the room here and all of you are looking very spiritual.

[6:32] And you would have me believe that, well, that might be your problem, Pastor, but it's not mine. But honestly, submission is not an easy thing for us.

[6:46] And if we would be honest with ourselves and, more importantly, with the Lord, we would say we don't really like it at all. Submission. And in a very real sense, it's not natural for us to willingly submit to any authority.

[7:06] That doesn't come naturally. It comes supernaturally. We don't really want to do that. It's not natural for us. It's not the way we're wired. At least in that fallen part of us.

[7:19] Our flesh. We don't want to willingly submit to authority, especially if that authority is weak. Or that authority rests with someone we don't respect.

[7:35] Or that authority is corrupt. And maybe even evil. In fact, we might even succumb to the notion that when the authority is evil, then we have no requirement to submit to them.

[7:51] And we're not right in that assumption. But we don't like it in that sense, for sure. And how difficult it is to submit to someone we don't respect.

[8:02] Or someone we don't like. Or someone who's corrupt. Or someone who's evil and uses his or her authority in evil ways. In corrupt ways. And we don't want to submit in that sense.

[8:13] And yet, Peter, as we're going to discover as we work our way through this part of the letter, Peter does not qualify submission based upon the worthiness or the unworthiness of the one holding the authority.

[8:29] We're just simply commanded to submit. And right now, that makes us a little uneasy. There's already kind of a debate going on in our hearts and minds about that.

[8:44] Because we are applying that to certain scenarios and certain contexts. Certain authorities we have in our lives. And so there's always that kind of clash there.

[8:56] That kind of resistance. And it's built in to our sinful nature. Now, the key to understanding Peter's teachings here is to be found, I believe, in verse 16.

[9:10] And so, let me read that to you. And it will bear some explanation. In the New King James, anyway, it reads this way. As free.

[9:22] By the way, it's kind of written as a kind of break in the sentence in verse 15. Kind of breaks, kind of a break there. You've got that long dash.

[9:33] And then it says, as free. Yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice. But as bondservants of God.

[9:47] You're thinking, I don't even see the word submission in that verse. So how could that be key to our understanding God's teachings, the biblical teachings about submission?

[9:57] But I would suggest to you that the word submit is there. Now, some of you have a translation that might have the word live inserted there. Live as free.

[10:10] Maybe there is the word act as free. Free men or free people. But in the Greek text, there is no verb there. And so it has to be supplied.

[10:22] The context is submission. And so I'm going to suggest to you very strongly that the word that or verb that should be applied there is the word submit.

[10:35] And so we're to do what then? Submit as free. As free people. Yes, we are free. We're free. We're free.

[10:46] We are liberated. Through our relationship with Christ. The Son has made us free. Free indeed. We are free.

[10:57] But we are to submit as free people. Translation. We have been given the power to submit. To submit.

[11:08] The ability to obey the command that Peter is going to give us in relation to the government. To give us the power to submit, as Peter says, in relation to the workplace.

[11:20] And we'll get into this over the next couple of weeks. We're to submit, yes, in the context of the home. And the only way we have the power to submit is as free people.

[11:31] We have been given a freedom, a liberty to submit. But he qualifies that with the phrase as bondservants of God.

[11:42] And there again is the word submit. Now the word is not there. But the concept, the idea, the principle of submission is there. Because in Christ, you and I are servants of the Lord.

[11:59] Bondservants. Bondslaves. We have placed ourselves in submission to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ in our life.

[12:10] And so when you put all that together, we understand this. What Peter is going to tell us about submission is all defined by the power we have been given to submit.

[12:25] Because we're free to do that. Free to be submissive. Yes, even to corrupt governments. We've been given the power to submit. To be in subjection to them.

[12:35] Not only the command to do so, but also the power to do so. And we have been given that and we're able to do that because we have submitted to the Lord. That's the concept that Peter is giving us here.

[12:52] Now he's not telling us a lot about it. And yet we have here the principle of authority. And submission to authority.

[13:04] And you cannot discuss then the meaning of submission without first understanding the meaning or God's truth concerning authority.

[13:14] I mean, you can't have submission. There's no such thing as submission without authority. And there's no such thing as authority without submission. And so the two go together. And I think comes under the heading of the God's principle of authority.

[13:27] We as Christians need to learn that principle. Now Peter doesn't spell all that out here. And that's why we're going to have to go somewhere else in God's word to do that.

[13:37] And then we'll come back to what Peter has to say here. In the various contexts of submission. We must understand that God's kingdom operates according to the principle of authority.

[13:57] Now the place we're going to go to find that in Scripture is Luke chapter 7. So take your Bibles and turn there. And you can just stay there from now on.

[14:08] Because that's where we're going to park for the rest of my time this morning. Luke chapter 7 starting with verse 1. And I want to read verses 1 through 10. It is the narration of a story in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[14:25] And it's in this story we learn something about authority and submission to authority. Verse 1 says, Now when he concluded all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

[14:42] And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, dear to the centurion, was sick, ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, pleading with him to come and heal his servant.

[15:00] And when they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying that the one for whom he should do this was deserving. For he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.

[15:13] Then Jesus went with them. And when he was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.

[15:29] Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also, now notice verse 8, For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.

[15:49] And I say to one, go, and he goes. And to another, come, and he comes. And to my servant, do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him.

[16:02] And turned around and said to the crowd that followed him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well, who had been sick.

[16:18] Amazing story, isn't it? Now, you and I, as born-again believers, will not make a better or more important discovery on this side of our salvation and this side of heaven, will not make a more important discovery than the discovery of God's principle of authority.

[16:46] It's something that many of God's people have lost sight of and therefore are struggling. And really, we struggle with temptation, for example.

[17:00] We struggle with temptation. Temptation to sin. And we sometimes lose the battle. In fact, we often lose the battle because we've not submitted to God's principle of authority.

[17:14] Or we suffer emotionally. Suffer other ill things. Sometimes temporarily.

[17:25] Sometimes we suffer the rest of our lives because of certain decisions we've made in life. Decisions that reveal that we have not submitted to God's principle of authority.

[17:41] And so, we pay the consequences. We have sometimes civil problems. And we do in our society, don't we? Just ask Tom Holland over here.

[17:52] We have work problems. And every one of us can attest to that. We have problems in the home.

[18:05] Problems in our marriages. And church problems. And all of it because we are either ignorant of or rebellious toward, and the latter of the two is more likely, rebellious toward God's ordained principle of authority.

[18:22] You see how important it is? And we must understand, as God's redeemed people, we are to live under authority.

[18:33] And at the same time, God intends for us to live having authority as well. Authoritative living is God's plan for His children.

[18:45] The Bible says in Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 that when God made man, He was to have dominion over all of creation, over all the earth.

[18:57] Now, dominion means to rule. And to rule presupposes the idea of having authority. And that was God's plan for mankind in the beginning.

[19:08] And so Adam and Eve were to be the king and queen over all the earth. And yet they lost their thrones, their God-given throne.

[19:18] They lost their crowns. They fell from God's intended purpose. Why? Because of sin. Because of sin. And when they did, mankind lost control of everything that He was to have dominion over, including Himself.

[19:36] And so you see, sin has dethroned us. Sin has robbed us of our crown, our original crown. Sin has robbed us of our authority that God has given to us.

[19:48] And we only regain that authority through a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. See? Now, what then is this principle of authority?

[20:01] Well, simply put, you and I cannot enjoy the power, the pleasures, the prerogatives of authority, any authority, any context of authority, in our lives or over our lives.

[20:16] We cannot enjoy that authority until we are willing to submit to all authorities placed over us, including, especially including God, starting with Him.

[20:32] That's the principle of authority. Or to put it another way, a shorter way, you cannot be over until you're willing to be under.

[20:42] That's just simply put. Now, let's just consider that principle as we look at it here in this particular text of Scripture in Luke chapter 7.

[20:55] Number one, let's learn the source of authority. The source of all authority, by the way. And that is Jesus.

[21:10] Or the Savior. The source of authority is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, let's just think about this story here that we read, or I read to you a moment ago. There was this centurion. And he, of course, as a centurion, was an army officer, the leader of 100 Roman soldiers.

[21:28] That's what a centurion was. And as such, he was a very important person to the Roman government because the centurions really represented the backbone of Rome's military forces.

[21:45] Very important man. But also, this particular centurion, according to the story, was a good man, wasn't he? There's something special about him.

[21:55] He was kind. He was compassionate. Which was quite out of the ordinary for a Roman soldier. Especially a centurion. Because the Bible says here that he cared for his servants.

[22:08] Loved his servants. Many of them were Jews. Apparently. This one that was sick was a Jew. And he had a place, apparently, a place in his heart for the Jewish people.

[22:22] The Bible says here that he built them a synagogue. This is a very special centurion. But add to that, he was a God-fearing, godly living man in search of the truth.

[22:37] And according to Jesus, and this is the most astounding thing in the passage, according to Jesus, this centurion had a greater faith than he had yet seen in all of his travels, even in Israel.

[22:52] He had a great faith. And Jesus took note of that and turned to the people and said, this man has a greater faith than I have seen even in Israel. Now, because this centurion loved his servant, the servant in his household, the servant was sick and on just nigh unto death, and because he had a great faith, Jesus took note of that, he sent some of his Jewish friends to go out and find Jesus and so they did find him and so Jesus joins them and begins the journey back to the centurion's house.

[23:31] But on his way there, the centurion has second thoughts. He's thinking to himself, this is just not right. I'm not worthy to have Jesus come into my household and so he sends another servant to go and intercept the party and he instructs them to give Jesus the following message.

[23:50] Again, I would have you look there at verse 6. The latter part of verse 6, he said, Lord, this is the message, Lord, do not trouble yourself for I'm not worthy that you should enter under my roof, therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to you.

[24:09] Either way, I'm not worthy even to come into your presence is basically what he's saying. But this is what he said, say the word and my servant will be healed.

[24:21] Incredible. What a great faith. But this was not some kind of blind faith, was it? Or some kind of willy-nilly kind of faith.

[24:32] Some kind of faith that really amounted to well, I'll try this, you know, I've tried this and this and it didn't work, so I'll try this and maybe it'll work. This was a great faith. It was not a blind faith, not a mystical faith.

[24:45] The faith was based upon the truth. The truth about Jesus that this centurion apparently believed. But not only that, but added to that, it was also a faith based upon an important understanding that he had concerning the principle of authority.

[25:12] That's what we need to get from this. Because he says there in verse 8, for I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.

[25:22] And I say to one, go and he goes. Come, he comes. Do this and he does it. He said, I am a man under authority. In essence, this Roman centurion was saying to Jesus, Jesus, I know how you work.

[25:37] I know how you operate. Jesus, I understand that because it's the same way that I operate because you and I are under authority. That's what he was saying to Jesus.

[25:49] Isn't that interesting? I say, you know, did you notice anything strange about the way this man put it? He said, for I also am a man placed under authority.

[25:59] And then he said, having soldiers under me. Now that's interesting because, you see, the centurion did not say first, I have authority, did he? Now he did have it and he was saying that ultimately.

[26:13] But the first thing he said was, I am under authority. And so, what we have here from the lips of a Roman soldier of all people, we have God's principle of authority articulated.

[26:29] He said, the reason I have authority is because I am under authority. Do you see? Now, what then is the source of authority?

[26:42] Whether it is spiritual authority or otherwise, the source of it is a higher authority. It's pretty simple, isn't it? Now, Jesus then, this is what this centurion is saying because he's asked Jesus to come and heal this servant.

[27:03] In fact, he even said to Jesus, you can just say the word and it will be done. And ultimately, in our story, we understand the servant was healed just by Jesus speaking the word.

[27:14] And so, the idea here is that Jesus healed because he was always subject to God the Father. Jesus received his authority from the Father.

[27:31] Jesus said in Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18, all authority has been given to me in heaven and honor.

[27:41] And so, what is my source of authority? I'm in Christ. In union with Christ. What's my source of authority as a Christian?

[27:55] Authority over sin, authority over temptation, authority to bring my body, my life into subjection to God's word and to the power of the Holy Spirit. What's my authority there as a Christian?

[28:07] It's Jesus and my relationship with him. What's my authority as a husband? The source of my authority as a husband? Because I'm so good at it?

[28:21] Don't ask my wife about that. Because I'm something special or because I'm more knowledgeable about being a husband than anybody else? What's the source of my authority as a husband?

[28:34] It's the Lord. What's the source of my authority as a father? What's the source of my authority as a pastor? I receive my authority from the Lord and so do you.

[28:53] The source of the believer's authority is the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that's very basic, isn't it? Let's move on. Number two, the secret of authority.

[29:08] The source of authority is the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The secret of authority is submission, dear people.

[29:21] It's submission. Now in our fallen way of thinking and in the way of thinking prevalent in this world, this fallen world, submission and authority do not go together.

[29:32] They are opposites. But the secret to real authority is submission. That's exactly what this Roman centurion was saying in verse 8.

[29:45] He's saying, For I also am a man placed under authority having soldiers under me and I say to one, go and he goes, come and he comes, do this and he does this.

[29:59] There's not only the issue of the source of authority that being a higher authority but the principle also teaches us that the secret to authority is submission to authority and that is so key.

[30:15] The only way a Roman centurion could have authority over 100 soldiers was for that Roman centurion to be under the authority that was directly over him.

[30:27] It was the only way. And the moment that that centurion rebels against his authority at that very moment he ceases to be in authority over those under him.

[30:44] Right? It's just simple. That's the principle of authority. As long as you stay under your authority God his word and all other authorities that God has placed over us as long as you stay under your authority then and only then can you be over that which is to be under your authority whatever it may be submission is the key it is the secret to authority let me give you a very practical illustration Jonathan sitting down here and he's 13 and in a couple of years I'm going to have to teach him how to drive a car he's seated right next to his older brother our oldest son Matthew and there was a time when

[31:45] I taught him and Sherry taught him how to drive a car and I'm going to do that with Jonathan really looking forward to it too now what do you suppose would be the best way to begin then would it be wise of me to take him out to the car give him the key have him sit there in the driver seat and say son turn it on and he turns it on and then say to Jonathan all right let's see how fast you can go would that be the best way no not really in fact before I teach him anything about the gas pedal I'm going to teach him about the brake and say you see that thing down there that pedal there in the middle that's the brake put your foot on it push it that makes the car stop don't ever forget that other things you might teach but I'm certainly going to teach him about the brake before I teach about the gas now what's the point of the illustration well before

[33:07] Jonathan is going to be able to drive a car safely and legally then Jonathan is going to have to learn and submit to the principles the rules the laws of car driving that's just simple isn't it I mean who would deny that he must submit to them before he can be over he must be under before he can have authority over the car in the way that he needs to have authority over it to say go and it goes and stop when it stops and do this when you want it to do this before he can have authority over that car in a safe and legal way then he must submit to the principles of car driving and a lot of people who are unwilling to do that by the way and people have all kinds of problems and accidents and such because they or someone else has violated the laws of car driving

[34:13] I mean there are a lot of laws that come into play when it comes to driving a car aren't there there are mechanical laws there are certain things I mean you've got to learn about how a car works now there are a lot of things about how a car works that I have not a clue about but there are I know enough and submitted to enough that I can drive a car I know how it turns on how the engine works got to have oil got to have gas and there are mechanical turn the wheel make it go left turn the wheel make it go right push the brake make it stop pedal make it go and so forth they're just things you learn mechanically you've got to submit to those laws right and when people don't submit to the mechanical laws of car driving they let the gas run out then they're not going to go anywhere and there are also traffic laws aren't there Tom and people get into trouble when they say I'm not going to obey those laws not going to submit to those laws and they get in trouble they get a traffic ticket or worse

[35:15] God forbid they have accidents and cause injury to themselves and to others and so forth so you've got to obey the mechanical laws the traffic laws and there are laws of physics you must obey some people get into trouble because they try to make a car do what it wasn't built to do you know it can't jump ditches I don't care how how many times you know Bo and Luke Duke have done that you can't just hit a little bump and jump over a tractor or a dump truck or something like that there are laws of physics there are laws mechanical laws there are laws traffic laws and other laws that you must submit to to drive a car and that's just common sense isn't it and the same principle applies to our lives as believers why is it that so many believers seem to have no spiritual power or very little spiritual power in their lives can't say no to sin grapple with temptation why is it that so many believers seem to have little authority over people that have been placed under them or things they should have authority over it is because they are in rebellion against God's principle of authority they have violated it refuse to submit to it they want to be over without being under and it just won't work we want power over sin and temptation who does not we want power over in our spiritual lives we want power to be witnesses for Jesus bold witnesses and effective witnesses we want power over the devil we want power over our circumstances we want power over the challenges of life we want our

[37:12] God given authority when it comes to being parents and being bosses if you are one of those we want power to do all of those kind of things but remember the source of all authority is the Savior and the secret of all authority is submission you cannot be over unless you are willing to be under let me give you another illustration suppose I were to go over here to the piano and sit down there and try to play that piano right off the bat I am going to discover that there are laws to piano play and I must subject myself to those laws and you would find out real quick that I have never done that and there are a lot of people right here in this room a couple that I know of for sure that play this piano quite well and why is it that they are able to do that because they have submitted to the laws of piano play and so you know they are free they have been liberated liberated to play the piano and I have no such freedom and so

[38:39] I'm the one in bondage not Jonathan or Doyleen or some of you others who know how to play the piano I mean let's just say I come over here and let's see not sure which way it goes and I look at that piece of music and I think well I can do that I can do it my own way because I'm free you know I'm just free to do it any way I want to and so I'll just do that now wasn't that a blessing to you am I free to play the piano no I'm not there's only one way to have freedom to play the piano to be liberated to be a piano player and that is to do like

[39:48] Jonathan has done Jonathan come up here amen I knew he wouldn't disappoint me now who's free here me or Jonathan Jonathan has a great freedom in fact I was watching Doreen over here a while ago playing for the choir and she's having trouble turning those pages and one of them just not quite over and she's still going at it boy I would be in deep trouble even to begin do you understand the point here freedom as Peter said there in the text that I began with and we'll get back to next week and over the next couple of weeks

[40:49] Peter said submit as free as bond servants of God submit submission brings freedom submission brings liberty to to have power in your life there are some Christian husbands quite frankly who wonder why their kids have very little respect for them why their kids don't obey them and they wonder why their wives are not willingly following them and giving them respect in their leadership and they're wondering why their families seem to be constantly under the attack of the devil the problem is simple the problem is due in part to a large part to the failure to submit totally to the authority of the Lord

[41:57] Jesus Christ over your life and to all other authorities that God has placed there there are some Christian mothers who are praying for their children and they want their children to be saved and they want their children to obey and they want their children to live according to God's word and to live godly lives but their children seem to be to be rebellious and their children seem to be out of control even and these mothers wonder why why don't I have authority over my kids why are they so rebellious and defiant and it could be because some of these women are rebellious against their husbands and will not respect them and follow them and honor them with the right heart and spirit and they say I

[43:11] I'm not going to submit to that two-legged pompous self-centered couch potato that's what some of you are saying in fact some say I'm not going to submit to any man I don't care who he is because I'm free I am a liberated woman and the moment you say that the moment you think you're liberated at that very moment you're in bondage it's when you cease to be under the authority placed there by God without any qualification about the worthiness of the authority and how good that authority is or maybe how lame it is God has placed you under that authority authority and the moment you cease to be under that authority you lose the authority over those things and people in your life that God has given you to lead there are some

[44:18] Christian young people who refuse to obey their parents and they refuse to honor them and to respect them they also refuse to honor and respect all other authority in their life be it at school or governing authorities and then they wonder why they have such a hard time living spiritual godly lives and they wonder why they have always having impure and filthy thoughts and desires and activities in their lives and they wonder why God is not answering their prayers and the reason is simple you cannot be over if you're unwilling to be under the authorities placed above you now I can read some of your minds some of you anyway you're thinking pastor you don't know my parents well I may not but what does that have to do with it

[45:33] God says to submit to your parents and some of you are thinking you don't know my husband well maybe I do maybe I don't what does that have to do with it and some of you are thinking you don't know my boss no I don't but the Bible gives no qualification here in relation to the worthiness or unworthiness of the authority it just says to submit and to our governing authorities and you might be thinking you have you noticed lately what our president is doing to our country and would you have me willingly submit to him and support him and honor him well to now remind to the kind of authority the

[46:41] Roman centurion had to submit to Rome and Peter was writing his letter do you know who was in charge of his world of that day Nero and yet Peter says submit to all governing authorities to the king and all those sent by him now I also remind you of what the Bible says about all authority Romans 12 13 rather verse 1 listen to let every soul be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God for there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God ordained by God therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves very clear no qualification about the worthiness of the authority no qualification that well as long as that authority is ruling according to God's word or that that authority is benevolent and gives you freedom to live your Christian life only then are you to submit no qualification such as that we are just commanded to submit how our authorities handle their

[48:30] God given powers between them and God and one day they'll answer for that but our responsibility is simply to submit to be in subjection and we'll say more about that next Sunday so like this centurion if you and I will learn the source of real authority and that's the Savior and the secret of authority which is submission then the result will be third the success of authority and it is strength spiritual strength and that's what we see there in what this centurion said in verse 8 for I also am a man placed under authority having soldiers under me and I say to one go and he goes that's great power isn't it strength go and he goes come and he comes do this and he does it that's strength that's power and Jesus exemplifies it as well because Jesus gave the command though we don't have it recorded here that the servant of the centurion be healed and he was healed when they got there he was healed strength spiritual strength too many of God's people are morally weak in our day too many of God's people are spiritually anemic strength too many of God's people today are biblically illiterate no strength no authority no influence in the world for good but this centurion said I have great strength great strength

[50:28] I can say do this and they do it and why because I am a man under authority and the result was great strength in his authority how would you like to have spiritual strength and live victoriously and to serve effectively and learn the principle of authority it gives great strength great power I heard a story about a college football scout who was getting ready to travel and look for some recruits for the team and the coach was giving him some last minute instruction and the coach said to the scout he said you know the kind of guy kind of player that when he gets knocked down he stays down the scout said yeah you don't want him do you no I don't want him but you know the kind of player that when he gets knocked down he gets right back up again this guy said yeah that's the guy you want right no I don't want him either but you know the kind of player that when he gets knocked down he gets right back up when he gets knocked down he gets right back up when he gets knocked down he gets right back up again and the scout said that's the guy you want right no I don't want him either well just who do you want

[51:58]  I want the guy who's knocking all those other guys down that's the one I want how would you like to have some strength the strength in your life to knock down the influence of Satan in your life and the flesh bring it under subjection strength against sin to knock down sin and temptation in your life and the kind of strength that God wants you to have in your God given roles of authority not to knock people down but to be in proper authority and be successful in the authority God has given you how would you like to have that strength then be in submission to all authorities over you starting with God and every other authority he's placed there no matter how good or bad they may be you