1. Psalms 107:1-2, NKJV
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.

2. Proverbs 29:15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

3. Our Need for God’s Authority

4. Our Need for God’s Authority
1. Our limited knowledge Job 28:12-13, 28 A. Made to learn Rom. 1:19-20; Acts 17:26-27 B. God gives needed knowledge 2 Pet. 1:3
God
Truth
I. Because of our limited knowledge Job 28:12-13, 28
- God created us as dependent beings—without all the answers but able to learn what He has revealed--
A. Made to learn
1. It is obvious that we are created to learn, not just follow instinct or imitate everything that we see.
2. It is a gift, not an accident, and God expects us to use it Rom. 1:19-20
3. Acts 17: Ongoing learning reminds us of how little we know and of the necessity of learning the most important things first.
B. God uses His authority to share and spread the knowledge that we need
1. 2 Pet. 1:3 all things that. . .
2. Man by himself has a limited, flawed knowledge of:
a. God 1 Cor. 2:11 He must reveal Himself
b. truth Jn. 18:38; Ps. 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
c. himself Are we merely highly developed monkeys? We might think so without revelation Gen. 1:27
d. eternity Mt. 25:46 we can't rely on personal knowledge to know of this until we were dead.
e. worship Jn. 4:22 (Acts 17:22)
Myself
Eternity
Worship

5. Our Need for God’s Authority
2. Our limited experience A. Marriage Prov. 5:15, 17, 23; 18:22 B. Parenting Prov. 1:8, 10, 15; Josh. 24:14; Prov. 13:24; 31:10ff
II. Because of our limited experience (wisdom in Prov)
A. Some things we can learn by experience--do we want to learn all of them that way?
B. Friends 1:10, 15 this father is teaching his son about friendship—not letting him learn on his own.
C. Marriage 5:15, 17, 23; 18:22
1. We all begin with some knowledge of but no experience in this relationship.
2. This demonstrates the need for someone to guide us--who better than the creator of marriage (Mt. 19:6)?
3. Our country spends much time/$$ studying whether co-habitation is a good idea, psychologists recommend divorce if can’t be happy (though they’re learning--“There’s a ‘sleeper effect’ to divorce that we are just beginning to understand”), etc. = being wise in own eyes = learn the hard way.
4. Marriage (or divorce) without God’s help produces misery---one of God’s ways of opening our eyes to our need for His authority!
D. Parenting 1:8
1. Solomon didn’t say “let them decide” but instruct them in a law = train them to make the right choice.
2. All children need parents who are not afraid to be different from most parents (Josh. 24:14), discipline promptly (Prov. 13:24), teach God’s plan for marriage (Prov. 31:10ff, incl roles and intimacy).
3. Parenting without God’s help produces misery---another way God is teaches us of our need for. . .!
“Why Marriage Matters” Time July 13, 2009, p48
-“There’s a ‘sleeper effect’ to divorce that we are just beginning to understand”
“Why Marriage Matters” Time July 13, 2009, p48

6. Our Need for God’s Authority
3. The ease of being guided by emotion A. Saul 1 Sam. 13:12 B. God’s law provides stability Col. 3:17 C. Emotion-ruled decisions oppose Christ 1. elevate self over God (2 Kg. 5:12) 2. fail to rightly divide and apply truth 3. have unintended consequences (Lev. 10:2)
“…then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." (1 Samuel 13:12)
III. Because of the ease of being guided by emotion
A. Saul would fit into our society when he disobeyed God but defended himself, saying I felt compelled and explained all the good works he was going to do (1 Sam. 13:12).
B. God uses His authority to teach us not to act on impulse but within the limitations of God’s law (Col. 3:17).
1. strength Pro.16:32 Sexual purity, temper, and true worship are not decisions made on a whim
2. Jesus was a master of his emotions- our example 1 Pet. 2:23 (Mt. 26:53)
3. In time, as we learn to do all in His name, our emotions make obedience to God more pleasurable and add fuel to our desire to please God and not ourselves.
C. Emotion-ruled decisions oppose Christ’s authority because they
1. elevate pleasing man over God
a. 2 Kg. 5:12 Naaman’s choice of rivers
b. Aren’t all religions, churches, or churches of Christ as good as any other? (Rev. 2-3)
2. fail to do the work of rightly dividing the word of truth
a. 2 Tim. 2:15
b. it is easy not to look closely at classes, sermons, or songs which make us laugh, smile, or cry but comparing every word to the word of truth is the only way to know whether we have God’s approval.
3. lead to unintended and unforeseen consequences (Lev. 10:2)
a. they offered fire which God had not commanded—we are not told why but emotion is possible
b. their action would justify priests from other tribes (Heb. 7:14), high priestess, creating new feast days (1 Kg. 12:33), David build the temple (1 Chr. 17)---all things that God did not command.
c. today God has not commanded church-sponsored sports or camps (“outreach”), but if a church can sponsor a camp, can they buy marshmallows for the roast, paddles for the canoe, Monopoly for game night?

7. This year’s Men’s Retreat is hosted by Southwest Church of Christ!
Conducted by rotating Northwest churches, this weekend is a time for men to learn about integrity, leadership and how to live dynamic, powerful and servant focused lives for God.
This year’s Men’s Retreat is hosted by Southwest Church of Christ!

8. Our Need for God’s Authority
3. The ease of being guided by emotion A. Saul 1 Sam. 13:12 B. God’s law provides stability Col. 3:17 C. Emotion-ruled decisions oppose Christ 1. elevate self over God (2 Kg. 5:12) 2. fail to rightly divide and apply truth 3. have unintended consequences (Lev. 10:2)
III. Because of the ease of being guided by emotion
A. Saul would fit into our society when he disobeyed God but defended himself, saying I felt compelled and explained all the good works he was going to do (1 Sam. 13:12).
B. God uses His authority to teach us not to act on impulse but within the limitations of God’s law (Col. 3:17).
1. strength Pro.16:32 Sexual purity, temper, and true worship are not decisions made on a whim
2. Jesus was a master of his emotions- our example 1 Pet. 2:23 (Mt. 26:53)
3. In time, as we learn to do all in His name, our emotions make obedience to God more pleasurable and add fuel to our desire to please God and not ourselves.
C. Emotion-ruled decisions oppose Christ’s authority because they
1. elevate pleasing man over God
a. 2 Kg. 5:12 Naaman’s choice of rivers
b. Aren’t all religions, churches, or churches of Christ as good as any other? (Rev. 2-3)
2. fail to do the work of rightly dividing the word of truth
a. 2 Tim. 2:15
b. it is easy not to look closely at classes, sermons, or songs which make us laugh, smile, or cry but comparing every word to the word of truth is the only way to know whether we have God’s approval.
3. lead to unintended and unforeseen consequences (Lev. 10:2)
a. they offered fire which God had not commanded—we are not told why but emotion is possible
b. their action would justify priests from other tribes (Heb. 7:14), high priestess, creating new feast days (1 Kg. 12:33), David build the temple (1 Chr. 17)---all things that God did not command.
c. today God has not commanded church-sponsored sports or camps (“outreach”), but if a church can sponsor a camp, can they buy marshmallows for the roast, paddles for the canoe, Monopoly for game night?

9. Our Need for God’s Authority
4. The ease of following “the path of least resistance” A. What if this was your rule of life? B. God trains us to make difficult decisions - courage Lk. 12:4 - love 1 Jn. 5:3 - endurance 2 Pet. 1:6
IV. Because of our tendency to follow “the path of least resistance.”
A. Consider if we let this guide our decisions in:
work- “cut some corners” (dishonest but easier)
family- avoid rebuke or punishment (at least they’re quieter)
church- not discuss controversial issues (more peace)
why do most ppl choose the broad, wide way (Mt. 7:13-14)?
B. God uses His authority to teach/train us in the qualities which help us to make difficult decisions:
1. courage Lk. 12:4 trusting His authority over body and spirit causes us to grow bolder
2. love Jn. 15:13 is this how we would show love w/o His authority to guide us? Not me!
3. endurance 2 Pet. 1:6
a. In 2014, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S. (42,773 deaths, almost 10,000 > 2004) and 1.1 million people made a plan and attempted suicide---how would they benefit from God’s authority?
b. Heb. 12:2 We have a “cloud of witnesses” who teach us to endure.
4. trust Phil. 4:6-7 anxious- how, when resolved?
a. Easy path- get answer now or make own answer (Saul 1Sam. 13:12 vs Ps. 27:14 Wait, I say, on the LORD!)
b. In times where we are hurt or frustrated b/c life is out of our control, we have the blessing of trusting the One who has all authority and power! accessed

10. Our Need for God’s Authority
To turn to God Eph. 2:8-9; 4:4-6
To return to God 1 Jn. 1:9
To walk with God 1 Jn. 2:6