Your Authority, Your Choices (From our 2-2-25 worship)

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/SbLxFWxjqw4 Summary:The Choice of Authority in Our LivesIntroduction: A Tragic Example of Authority Gone WrongOn March 26, 1997, deputies from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office were called to a large home in an affluent neighborhood. From the outside, the home appeared ordinary—just another mansion in a wealthy area. But what they found inside was anything but ordinary.Inside the house were the bodies of 39 people—men and women who had willingly taken their own lives. These individuals were part of a group called Heaven’s Gate, a cult that had been preparing for this moment.Their belief? They were convinced that the Hale-Bopp comet, which was passing by Earth at the time, was hiding an alien spacecraft behind it. They thought that by leaving their earthly bodies, they could ascend to a higher level of existence and board this spaceship.From the outside, their actions seem unbelievable, even ridiculous. We may be tempted to laugh, to shake our heads, and ask, “How could anyone believe such a thing?” But the reality is people do what they do for a reason. No one just wakes up one day and decides to follow a destructive path.The Bible gives us a clear answer to why people follow false beliefs:📖 Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”These people genuinely believed they were making the right choice. Their decision was based on an authority they had chosen to trust—the teachings of their cult leader. This tragic event serves as a powerful warning: Who or what we trust as our authority in life determines our destiny.The Central Question: Who or What is Your Authority?Every person on this earth lives under some authority. The question is not if we have an authority, but which one we have chosen.When we think of authority, we often think of government officials, police officers, judges, or bosses—people in positions of power. But authority is not just about power over others; it’s about what guides our lives.Each of us has something or someone that we allow to influence our:DecisionsMoralsLifestyleGoalsThis is why Joshua challenged Israel in his farewell speech:📖 Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV) – “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua didn’t just ask the Israelites to believe in God—he told them to serve Him. True authority isn’t just about ideas or beliefs; it’s about actions.The Two Possible AuthoritiesThe Bible makes it clear that there are only two authorities we can follow:God – which leads to life.Sin – which leads to death.📖 Romans 6:16 (ESV) – “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”Many people try to live somewhere in the middle—believing in God while still following their own desires. But Jesus made it clear:📖 Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”We all have a choice to make—and neutrality is not an option.Authority Will Be TestedChoosing to follow God’s authority doesn’t mean life will be easy. In fact, expect resistance.Even Jesus was challenged on His authority:📖 Matthew 21:23 (ESV) – “And when He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?’”Jesus’ teachings offended people because they challenged their way of life. The same will happen to us when we choose to follow Him.📖 John 15:18-20 (ESV) – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”Standing for God’s authority will cost something—friends, reputation, comfort. But it’s worth it.Authority Leads Us to Hard but Worthwhile PlacesFollowing God isn’t always easy, but it leads to the best outcome.Even Jesus submitted to the Father’s authority:📖 John 6:38 (ESV) – “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.”His obedience led to:Healing the sickTeaching the truthServing othersDying on the cross for our sinsLikewise, when we follow God’s authority, He may lead us:Into situations that challenge usTo sacrifice personal comfortTo serve others even when it’s hardBut ultimately, His authority leads us home.God’s Authority Leads Us HomeAt the end of time, Jesus will defeat all enemies, including death, and return authority to the Father.📖 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 (ESV) – “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”God’s authority isn’t about control or power for its own sake—it’s about leading us home.Think of Luke 15, the story of the Prodigal Son. The father waited eagerly for his son to return. That’s how God sees us—longing for us to come back to Him.Conclusion: The Invitation to Follow God’s AuthorityEvery day, we must decide:Will I follow God’s authority or my own desires?Will I walk the narrow path or the broad way?Will I ser...