Crystallization-Study of Numbers (2)
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Message Eight
Authority, Rebellion, the Vindication of Delegated Authority, and a Proper Representative of God
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Lev. 23:4-5 These are the appointed feasts of Jehovah, even the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at their appointed time: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is Jehovah’s Passover,
1 Cor. 5:7-8 Purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened; for our Passover, Christ, also has been sacrificed. So then let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Word of Appetizer
What is the center of dispute in the universe?
The center of dispute in the universe relates to who has authority; we must contend with Satan by asserting that authority is with God; we need to set ourselves to submit to God’s authority and uphold God’s authority.
Spiritual Burden
There are two great principles in the universe—God’s authority and Satan’s rebellion; the unique controversy between God and Satan concerns authority and rebellion; we must contend with Satan by asserting that authority is with God; we need to set ourselves to submit to God’s authority and uphold God’s authority.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
God is the supreme authority; He has all authority.
There are two great principles in the universe—God’s authority and Satan’s rebellion; the unique controversy between God and Satan concerns authority and rebellion.
Chapters 12 and 16 of Numbers speak of rebellion against God’s delegated authority.
Numbers Chapters 16 speaks of man’s rebellion against God’s authority and how man opposed God’s deputy authority; chapter 17 speaks of God’s vindication of His appointed authority.
One who has been appointed by God to be a deputy authority must be a proper representative of God.
The Experience of Life
The budding rod signifies our experience of Christ in His resurrection as our authority in the God-given ministry; If there is any authority in us, this authority comes from God, not from us…. Whenever we trust in the Lord, we see authority. Whenever we express the natural life, we become the same as everyone else, and there is no authority in us whatsoever. The more resurrection life is expressed through us, the more authority we will have.
Practice and Application
We must contend with Satan by asserting that authority is with God; we need to set ourselves to submit to God’s authority and uphold God’s authority.
First, we need to be captured by Christ, and eventually, we need to become a representative of Christ on this earth to deal with the earthly nations as an ambassador.
In all that we say and do concerning God’s people, our attitude must be according to God’s holy nature, and our actions must be according to His divine economy.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Rev. 22:1 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street.
Rom. 9:21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?
Heb. 13:17 Obey the ones leading you and submit to them…
I. God is the supreme authority; He has all authority
- God’s authority represents God Himself; God’s power only represents God’s works.
- God’s authority is actually God Himself; authority issues out from God’s own being.
- When we touch God’s authority, we touch God Himself.
- In our relationship with God, nothing is more important than touching authority
- Knowing authority is an inward revelation rather than an outward teaching
- Only God is the direct authority to man; all other authorities are indirect authorities—delegated authorities, deputy authorities, appointed by God.
- We all must meet authority, be restricted by God, and be led by His delegated authority.
Key Verses (2)
Rev. 4:2…and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting.
Matt. 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I extol You, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth…
1 Sam. 15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, And insubordination is like idolatry and teraphim…
Matt. 20:25-27 …that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant; …
II. There are two great principles in the universe—God’s authority and Satan’s rebellion
III. Chapters 12 and 16 of Numbers speak of rebellion against God’s delegated authority
- The unique controversy between God and Satan concerns authority and rebellion; Rebellion is the denial of God’s authority and the rejection of God’s rule.
- Although Satan rebelled against God’s authority and although man violates His authority by rebelling against Him, God will not let this rebellion continue; He will establish His kingdom on the earth
- The center of dispute in the universe relates to who has authority; we must contend with Satan by asserting that authority is with God; the sin of rebellion is more serious than any other kind of sin.
- In speaking against Moses, Miriam and Aaron were speaking against the deputy authority of God.
- The rebellion recorded in chapter 16 was a corporate rebellion; Numbers 16:3, 9, and 10 show that the root of this rebellion was ambition, the struggle for power and for a higher position.
Key Verses (3)
Num. 17:8 And on the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and there was the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi: it had budded; it even put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes into Me, even if he should die, shall live.
2 Cor. 5:20 On behalf of Christ then we are ambassadors, as God entreats you through us; we beseech you on behalf of Christ, Be reconciled to God.
IV. Numbers 16 speaks of man’s rebellion against God’s deputy authority
V. One who has been appointed by God to be a deputy authority must be a proper representative of God
- God vindicated to everyone that deputy authority is according to His appointment.
- Since the rebellion of Korah and his company was related to the priesthood (16:3, 8-10), the budding of Aaron’s rod was a vindicationindicating that Aaron was the one accepted by God as having authority in the God-given ministry of the priesthood.
- The budding rod of Aaron typifies the resurrected Christ—the budding, blossoming, and fruit-bearing Christ—who imparts life to others.
- In typology a rod signifies authority; the budding rod signifies our experience of Christ in His resurrection as our authority in the God-given ministry.
- In Exodus and in Numbers 12 and 16, Moses represented God in a proper way; we need to learn a serious lesson from the one time that Moses failed to represent God.
- The apostle Paul was an ambassador of Christ, representing God; a person who represents God rightly must submit to authority (Matt. 8:89), realize that in himself he has no authority (28:18; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
TI God is the supreme authority; He has all authority (Rom. 9:21-22; Rev. 22:1)
(Please illustrate that God’s authority is actually God Himself.)
T2 Knowing authority is an inward revelation rather than an outward teaching (2 Cor. 10:8; John 19:10-11; Gen. 9:6)
(Please illustrate that all authority—spiritual, positional, and governmental—derives from God with the verses above.)
D2
TI Only God is the direct authority to man; all other authorities are delegated authorities, deputy authorities, appointed by God (Rom. 13:1; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5)
(Please illustrate that God wants us to submit to indirect authorities (i.e., deputy authorities) so that we may receive spiritual supply with examples.)
T2 We all must meet authority, be restricted by God, and be led by His delegated authority (Rom. 13:1-7)
(Please illustrate that why is it not easy to submit to the delegated authority God has appointed with experiences.)
D3
TI Our submission is not to a person but to God’s authority in that person (Acts. 9:3-19)
(Please illustrate that at his conversion, Paul was brought into a realization of God’s authority according to Acts 9:3-19.)
T2 The sin of rebellion is more serious than any other kind of sin (1 Sam. 15:23; Isa. 14:12-14)
(Please illustrate that Rebellion is the denial of God’s authority and the rejection of God’s rule.)
D4
TI To offend the delegated authority is to offend God (Num. 12:1-15)
(Please illustrate that in speaking against Moses, Miriam and Aaron were speaking against the deputy authority of God according to Numbers 12:4-10)
T2 The root of this rebellion was ambition, the struggle for power and for a higher position (Num. 16:4, 3-11, 16-18)
(Please illustrate that although Moses was humble in falling on his face, how he did not give up his God-given position as God’s deputy authority.)
D5
TI Resurrection is the basis of authority (Num. 17:8; 2 Cor. 1:8-9; 13:4)
(Please illustrate that the budding rod signifies our experience of Christ in His resurrection as our authority in the God-given ministry.)
T2 Authority has nothing to do with man but with the resurrection that is manifested through man (John 11:25; 2 Cor. 1:8-9)
(Please illustrate that God only recognizes those who have passed through death and resurrection as His servants.)
D6
TI One who has been appointed by God to be a deputy authority must be a proper representative of God (Num. 12:3-8; 16:1-5, 28)
(Please illustrate that in Exodus and in Numbers 12 and 16, how Moses represented God in a proper way.)
T2 A person who represents God rightly must submit to authority (Matt. 8:89), realize that in himself he has no authority (Num. 20:2-13)
(Please illustrate that what lesson we need to learn from the one time that Moses failed to represent God.)
