Numbers 9:23
At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
God always chooses to lead His people by the authority He places in their lives. Whether it be a child who should follow the authority of their parent, a family that should follow the authority of the husband, or a church that should follow the authority of the Pastor, every person follows God by how they follow the authorities in their life.
God led Israel by the hand of Moses. You will notice that Israel kept the commandment and charge of the LORD by following what Moses told them to do. Every time Israel rebelled against Moses, you will find that God punished them severely. We recall Korah and the people who followed him, how they rebelled against Moses, and God killed them for their rebellion. We recall how Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses, and God gave Miriam leprosy. It did not matter that Moses was imperfect, God chose to lead Israel by his hand, and anytime someone chose not to follow Him, they chose not to follow God. Let me give you several principles about God’s leading by the hand of an authority.
First, God chooses imperfect people to be authorities, but that does not give you a right to rebel against God’s authority. God knew that your authority was imperfect when He chose them to be your authority. However, their imperfections do not give you a right not to follow their leadership. You can try to find another leader, but every leader you find to follow will always have imperfections because every authority God sets up is imperfect. If you only choose to follow a perfect authority, you will never follow any authority, which means you will live your life in rebellion towards God.
Second, if God chooses to lead through an authority, that means God leads the spiritual direction of a church through the Pastor. I sometimes hear people say that God told them their church needs to do something, but the person who says that is not the authority. Let me point you to Revelation chapters 2 and 3, where God ONLY spoke about the spiritual direction of each of the seven churches to the angel of the church, which is the Pastor. I am not minimizing that God speaks to you, but I am minimizing that God speaks to you about the spiritual direction of your church if you are not the Pastor. God will not break the protocol of what He established to appease your pride. God may speak to you about His personal will for your life, but He will always speak to the Pastor about the spiritual direction of a church.
Third, not to follow the procedures the Pastor has set up is not to follow God’s leading. You may not like the procedures your Pastor has set up in the church, but you must realize that your Pastor answers to God by how he leads the church, not you. To go behind his back and do things your way is rebellious. You may not think of it that way, but that is how God thinks of it. God will never bless the person who thinks they have a right to go behind the back of their Pastor to do what they want to do because they don't like his procedures.
My friend, you are playing with fire when you choose not to follow your Pastor’s authority. God does lead you through your Pastor’s leadership. Your decision to follow or not to follow will determine your obedience to God.
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