SFC CC5B Chapter Household Meeting

Hosted by: Bro Marky Martinez & Helena Angeles

Date: August 31, 2018

PONDERINGS: The Question of Authority

SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 11:27 – 33 Authority of Jesus Questioned

FOCUS: Verses 28
… and they said to Him, “ By what authority are you doing these things? Or who
gave you this authority to do them?”

PERSONAL PONDERINGS:
The people who rejected Jesus were the ones in positions of top authority
and power. They were the ones accorded with greatest importance and subservience
because of the office they occupied. Hence, Jesus oppositors were the “WHO IS
WHO” of His times.
Jesus was a threat to their own security, enough reason for their envy and
jealousy. Also, fear and insecurity because once they lose their authority—they lose
the power, honor, recognition, privileges that go with it. So, their pride whose
utmost desire was to keep themselves aloft, well–known above everyone else was
ready to strike. They would never sacrifice their altar of self–importance to Jesus
authority, whose very presence shook their ground. This pride breeds hatred. Jesus
authority was a threat to their own authority. Jesus must be eliminated. Crush item
and His authority before He brings them to their downfall.
That scenario is the very same scenario in life’s dramas of today. In today’s
society, in whatever field we look—politics, government, civic, economic, education,
etc.—the script remains the same. Even religious institution has not been exempt
from this social malady. Pride and greed reign supreme in thearena of top – most
authority and power. No one “in his right mind” would let go of the mighty pedestal
one vs standing on. This virus of pride and greed remains unchecked. It continues to
run its course. In fact, it was transcended from social – to moral bankruptcy – to
spiritual battleground. A war rages between God’s Kingdom and reign vs. the evil at
large.
Hence, as in Jesus’ time … nothing has changed. The issue remains the
same: The pride, greed and lust of man for authority which is the stage of his self-
love and self-importance – against the authority of God who is the rightful authority
as Owner of the Kingdom.

PRAYER:
Most powerful God, I seek the victory of my soul in my war against greed
and pride and envy. But I cannot do it alone, Lord. Please help and sustain me. Open
the eyes of my spirit to every little hint ofany of these sins; the most subtle sins of
greed and pride and envy. Go down with me to my innermost core; uproot the
sources of my sins and have them burned by the fire the Holy Spirit. Amen.

DISCUSSION STARTERS:

1. Please comment on the following:

Every action I make or every word I speak must be judged on the basis of these
standards:

a. Pride or Humility
b. Self-Importance or Obscurity
c. Greed or Self-giving

2. What entitlement in your life are you most afraid of losing? Why?