As stated in our last study, in contrast to the growing lawlessness there is an emerging generation of spiritual leaders who will come forth in the opposite spirit. These are the ones who will preach the gospel of the kingdom with power. They will be trusted with unprecedented power because they will have been found trustworthy. They will be trustworthy because of their deep and genuine respect for authority and the anointing. This deep and sincere respect for authority will be one of the most striking contrasts between those who are the Lord’s, and those who have given themselves over to the ultimate rebellion of lawlessness.
As we have also covered in the past, God’s answer to lawlessness is not legalism. Many have tried to cast out the spirit of lawlessness by using a control spirit, which will actually only multiply the evil we are trying to displace. This has caused a great overreaction to authority within much of the church, which will prove devastating in the times ahead for those who are caught up in it. Again, there is a ditch on either side of the path of life. We must guard against falling in the ditch on the other side of the path because we are overreacting.
Authority can be used for the greatest good or the greatest evil. Used rightly, it will bring great peace and security to those under it. Used wrongly, it can bring a crippling anxiety and discord. For this reason it must not be entrusted to the immature or the insecure. The wounds from controlling, domineering authority can be the deepest and hardest to heal of all. Yet, as we have previously covered, almost all who are called to a position of great authority will be trained to deal with such authority, as we see in the example of King David who had to deal with King Saul.
The Lord is going to raise up shepherds after His own heart to shepherd His people, but because there is almost always a “Saul” before the “David,” many will be turned off to all authority and miss God’s provision. Overreaction to bad authority is a deadly trap. One way that David kept from overreacting was his commitment to honor Saul and not raise his own hand against him. David could have chosen to let rejection and bitterness gain entry into his heart, which would have set the course and character of his own reign, but he chose not to. We must do the same and resolve to forgive any who may have misjudged us or misused their authority in our life. We must consider it a greater opportunity to grow in the nature of Christ, who will forever be the One who was the most misjudged and abused by authority. He did not hold it against them, but prayed for their forgiveness even from the Father.
Before considering a few simple things that we can do to combat this growing lawlessness, let us take time to again consider what the Lord Himself said about it in the following Scriptures:
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'’’ (Matthew 7:22-23)
"The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
"Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28).
"And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
"But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).
What must we do? First, we must understand that though we are not under the law, neither are we above it. We must submit ourselves to the Lord and respect His authority. We must teach our children to do the same. If we do not teach our children to respect authority, we are not equipping them for what will probably be the greatest battle they will have to face in these times. Remember why Abraham, the “father of faith,” was chosen by God, as we are told in Genesis 18:19:
The Lord said that He had chosen Abraham so that he would “command his children . . . after him to keep the way of the Lord.” The very right of parents to exercise authority over their children is under increasing attack in these times. In this we must prevail for the sake of our children. However, it is essential that this be done in love, and not frustration, anger, impatience, etc. If we do not discipline with the fruit of the Spirit, it will be counter-productive and incite even further rebellion.
We must also understand that sin is lawlessness, and impurity leads to lawlessness, as we see in Romans 6:19-23:
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis mine)
It was Achan’s lawless spirit and direct rebellion to Joshua and to God that had to be removed from the camp lest it spread. Achan’s rebellion led to a dramatic death for himself and his whole family. However, like faith, lawlessness usually begins with a seed, which is then watered and cultivated, bringing forth sin, as described above. It often begins with impurity, which will always lead to lawlessness. Impurity and lawlessness are bound together, which is further described in I John 3:3-4:
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
Finally, consider how we can comply with the exhortation of Romans 13:8-14, which follows Paul’s exhortation to honor those who are in positions of authority:
For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Again, God’s answer to lawlessness and rebellion is not legalism, but love. If we are growing in love for God and for others, it will be the desire of our hearts to keep our hearts pure for them. Love is the fulfillment of the law, and it should be what motivates us to teach our children and to respect authority.
This is such a crucial issue in our times that I feel compelled to address it in some depth as often as its lessons arise in this study. The church is in desperate need of true shepherds who have the Father’s heart for His people, but few have been willing to submit to the process required to conform our hearts to His. Do not waste the trials that come to you in whatever form—in the church or in non-church relationships such as on your job, family, civil governments, etc. Like David, resolve to honor all who are in authority, and do not let bitterness or rejection find a place in your heart.