How To Appeal to Your Authority

Daniel gives us a great Biblical illustration of how to deal with and appeal to our authorities.



1. Accept God’s view of authority

When thinking about authority, Christians are fond of saying—God is my authority. And that would be true. God, and His Word are our authorities and guides to whom we submit. However, that’s not the whole of it. We live in a world, and relate to other authorities—how are we to relate to them? Does God have anything to say to us about them, and how we are to live in relation to those other authorities that are in positions over us? A boss, coach, teacher, or parent can be the source of difficulty and frustration, and it helps to know a Biblical way to appeal to them when necessary.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1

“higher powers” = superior authorities, those over and above us in position, who are over us and have the liberty to make decisions and choices; usually has to do with delegated/temporary authority.


4 Sources of Authority in our lives

Family – “Children, obey your parents in all things, fo r this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

Work – “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” Colossians 3:22

Spiritual – “Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as them that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is unprofitable to you.” Hebrew 13:17

Governmental – “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be the king, as supreme,or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” 1 Peter 2:13-14

God establishes authority over us to teach us how to respond to Him. How we respond to our authority many times is how we will respond to God.


2. Have a clear conscience in relation to your authority.
We can't expect to successfully appeal to them if we have issues unresolved-- if you have stolen, are lazy-- and not productive, your appeal will fall on deaf ears. If you are disruptive, antagonistic, uncooperative, foul-mouthed, a gossip, flirtatious or seductive, and you want to appeal to them on a spiritual level, it will not happen.

3. Develop Convictions and Determine Where the Line is you will not cross.

Daniel “purposed in his heart” – 1:8, meaning he decided beforehand. A conviction is a scriptural principle I choose to follow whatever the cost. We will all have convictions.


Your convictions will sooner or later be tested
Your convictions will always be rewarded. 1:17; 3:28;6:26




4. Offer Creative Alternatives



5. Give God time to work


6. Suffer for not doing wrong.


Daniel’s friends conviction of worship was tested – Dan. 3:1-6, 12-18, they stood up for their convictions and were tossed in the fiery furnace.


Daniel’s conviction of prayer was tested – Dan. 6:4-15, Daniel stood on his conviction to pray to his God, and was thrown in the lion's den.



(I am indebted to IBYC and the Basic Seminar for some of the thoughts of this message)