During the last week of our Savior’s ministry here on earth, while the time for His death on the cross was drawing near, Jesus entered the temple and was challenged by the chief priests and elders.  They asked Him, “By what authority are you doing these things” (Matthew 21:23).  While their motives are wrong, their question was a good one.  It is never wrong to inquire about the authority behind one’s actions.

The importance of having authority for all that we do is clearly established by the Word of God.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
¹⁷  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The phrase “word or deed” covers everything we teach, preach, or practice.  Many good and sincere people have been lost over the years because they were not aware of this simple truth.  Doing unauthorized things has always brought the wrath of God upon individuals.

Leviticus 10:1-2 (ESV)
¹  Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. ²  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Where do we find the authority of God today?  We find it in the Bible, specifically, the New Testament.  This means whatever we do religiously, we must be able to turn to the Word of God and find the book, chapter, and verse that authorizes it.  I will use the Lord’s Supper to illustrate this.

We are commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).  When are we to do this?  Most believe we can do it whenever we choose to do so.  Denominational churches leave it up to their leaders to decide the time and day they will observe the Lord’s Supper.  Some only observe it once or twice a year, and then they do it on whatever day they choose.  That is not what we find in the New Testament.  The New Testament church observed the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.

Acts 20:7 (KJV)
⁷  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

The scriptural pattern for us to follow is to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.  That is the Lord’s Day, which was the God-appointed time for saints to assemble. It is not only the time they partook of the Lord’s Supper, but also the time when they gave to the Lord to support the work of the church.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (ESV)
¹  Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. ²  On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

Giving is another example of doing something in an authorized way.  Today, most denominational churches command tithing.  Is there New Testament authority for this?  No.  We have no command or example of the New Testament church practicing tithing.  In other words, we cannot turn to the Bible and find authorization for such a practice.  However, we can give book, chapter, and verse for the church giving to the Lord on the first day of the week, and giving, not a tithe, but as they prospered.  It is only when we do it in this way that we can say that we are giving in the name of the Lord.

These are just two examples, but, as we discovered earlier, everything we do must be authorized by God.  It is a good thing to ask, not only others, but also ourselves, by what authority we are doing these things.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.