The Higher Powers

Romans 13:1
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.

Until now we've been taught that these higher powers are our ministry leadership, those who hold leadership positions within religious structures, organisations and ministries. If God doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, and he has nothing to do with man-made organisations or ministries, then these higher powers mentioned in Romans can't be the leadership of any ministry or church. Is someone who joins a ministry, takes their classes, gives their money to them, attends all their events, applies for a job in a leadership position, attends interviews, and gets promoted into a position of responsibility someone we must be subject to? Is going through all this required in order to become one of the higher powers referred to in Romans? If God does not dwell in temples made with hands, this just can't be.

Back in Acts 15, when those men from Judea turned up in Antioch and taught the believers they had to be circumcised, were they these higher powers? They obviously had no doubts in their own minds that they were.

Acts 15:1,2
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Paul and Barnabas were the higher powers, we know that, but what is remarkable to note is that those men from Judea did not recognise them as the higher powers and certainly did not submit themselves to them. Those men were part of a ministry which was attempting to take control of God's people by teaching them that the church of God was to submit themselves to their structure of leadership. They expected Paul and Barnabas who were the higher powers to submit themselves to them. There was a broken cistern under construction in Jerusalem which had begun to cut off the fountain of living waters.

If we are to separate truth from error here so we can protect our home churches, we really must be clear on exactly who these higher powers are.

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [exousia]. For there is no power [exousia] but of God: the powers [exousia] that be are ordained [tassō] of God.

There are a number of Greek words translated power in the new testament, and we need to understand a few of them. The Greek word dunamis is translated as power, as well as a few other ways, and it can be tracked and marked in your bible using any good concordance or bible software programme that includes a concordance. It is a good idea to mark all these words in your bible so you can recognise them when you're reading and teaching.

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power [dunamis], after that the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Dunamis is inherent, potential power. Our English words dynamo and dynamic come directly from dunamis. A dynamo converts potential power into kinetic energy which can be used. When you are born again, spiritual power is there within you. It is potential, latent, inherent dunamis power that comes with the gift of holy spirit.

Our next word is the Greek word energeō, from which our English words energy and energise come. We are born again with potential dunamis power, and we can energise that power. Every time we speak in tongues we energise the dunamis power that comes with the gift of holy spirit.

Our next word is the Greek word exousia, from which we derive our English word exercise. This is the word used in Romans. We exercise the dunamis power within us by energising it.

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [exousia]. For there is no power [exousia] but of God: the powers [exousia] that be are ordained [tassō] of God.

The last word we will consider is the Greek word kratos, which means power with an impact. Kratos is the effect power has on something, the effect produced. When we energise the gift of holy spirit, we exercise our authority to use the potential dunamis power within us and the effect produced is the kratos, the impact of the energising of that dunamis power.

Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened [krataioō] with might [dunamis] by his Spirit in the inner man;

How are we strengthened with might? By energising the spirit. When we energise the gift of holy spirit, the dunamis power within us, the impact, the kratos is that we are strengthened in the inner man. If you want to walk by the spirit, read the following verses carefully.

Ephesians 1:17-19
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power [dunamis] to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energeia] of his mighty power [kratos],

The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, could be understood as spiritual wisdom and revelation knowledge. This refers to the revelation manifestations. When we walk by the spirit, the eyes of our understanding are enlightened, and when our eyes are open we understand the riches of the glory of the inheritance which is awaiting us at the return. When we walk by the spirit and exercise the gift of holy spirit, we understand the exceeding greatness of that dunamis power because we believe by energising the gift of holy spirit which brings a kratos impact into the world.

So, who then are the higher powers of Romans?

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [exousia]. For there is no power [exousia] but of God: the powers [exousia] that be are ordained [tassō] of God.

Whoever they are, they are ordained of God. As we already know, tassō means to arrange, to appoint, to determine. God arranges, appoints and determines who these higher powers are, and we who make up God's church are to subject ourselves to them. Power is the Greek word exousia, exercised power, and it's obviously referring to the manifestation of energised spiritual power. God arranges, appoints and determines that certain individuals within his church are given spiritual power which they have the authority to exercise within the church and to whom we are to subject ourselves.

So who are these men and women? Leadership in a temple made with hands? A board of directors promoted into positions of responsibility in made-made churches and religious ministries? A structure of leadership that reports up through a chain of command to some dude heading up some patriarchal cult? No, a thousand times no. Don't think ministry constructed by men, think family - think self governing, self supporting and self propagating home churches.

Now stop and think for a minute. Are these higher powers referring to men and women who simply manifest the gift of holy spirit? No, that can't be because we all have the gift of holy spirit and we can all operate all nine manifestations. So these higher powers are not referring to men and women who are simply born again and manifest the gift of holy spirit because we can all do that.

Are these higher powers our home church leaders? I don't see God dishing out any special spiritual powers to home church leaders anywhere in the bible. We know it's a spiritual power given by God, and that it isn't the gift of holy spirit because we all have that, so what other spiritual power does God give? Let's not guess anymore, because the word tells us.

Ephesians 4:8,11,12
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Here in Ephesians, who the gift ministries are given to and their purpose is clearly explained in language anyone can understand. These gift ministries are arranged, appointed and determined by God, and these are the higher exousia spiritual powers to which we, the church are to subject ourselves. There is nothing difficult about understanding the bible once we scrub the broken cistern horseshit from our heads.

The gift ministries are given to men and women within the church. God determines who gets them and where they are placed in the church. This giving and this determining is absolutely not done through counsels of men. These gifts are in addition to the gift of holy spirit, they are special gifts given to the church, and they are spiritual gifts. Their purpose is explained in verse 12.

Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting [katartizō - mending] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

These gift ministries are for the mending, the repairing of the saints, the work of the ministry, which is the worldwide network of self governing, self supporting and self propagating home churches, and it is for the edifying, the building up of the body of Christ. We all have Christ in us and together as the church of God we make up the body of Christ. To help us, God gives special spiritual gift ministries and it is them to whom we subject ourselves.

Back in Acts 15 then, who were the higher powers? Paul and Barnabas or those men from Judaea?

Acts 15:1,2
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Let me give you a clue.

Acts 13:1,2
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

God determined by his own counsel and will to give gift ministries to Paul and Barnabas. We know Barnabas was a prophet and a teacher, and we know Paul was also an apostle. God gave Paul the gift ministry of an apostle and placed him in a position within the church to which everyone was to subject themselves. It is these gift ministries which are the higher powers of Romans. They are higher spiritual powers because they are given in addition to the gift of holy spirit. Everyone in the church of God has the gift of holy spirit, but there are a few with gift ministries given by God and they are these higher powers.

So why then did those men who came down from Judea not subject themselves to Paul? Why did they expect him to subject himself to them? I'll tell you why, it was because they had been promoted within a man-made ministry which was under construction in Jerusalem. Those dudes from Judea were the forerunners of our modern day reverends which hold command in temples made with hands and who expect and demand that everyone submit themselves to them. Not me, not any more, they can fuck off. Christ is my head, not a bunch of religious wankers with impressive educations and fancy nametags. The gift ministries are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and I don't see reverends promoted by men listed among them.

The higher powers, the higher exercised powers we are to subject ourselves to are not reverends or leadership structures in temples made with hands, they are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers energising their gift ministries within the home churches where God places them. In this light, let's now read Romans 13 and see if it makes sense.

Romans 13:1
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.

The gift ministries are given by God as gifts to the church. They are for the repairing and mending of the saints. They are also given for the work of the ministry, which is the work being done at the home church level. They are also for the building up, the edifying of the body of Christ, which is the worldwide network of believers who walk by the spirit with Christ as their head. We are to be subject to the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers energising in our home churches, which is where God wants them and where he places them. Doesn't that just make perfect sense?

Think about it. If you were God, where would you want the gift ministries operating and energising? At some headquarters of a temple made with hands thousands of miles away, locked away from the world? Or would you want your best men and women out there in the home churches, on the front lines, looking after God's kids and leading the charge against the spiritual darkness of the world? There is no question in my mind where God wants his apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers energised. Even a cursory reading of the book of Acts will clearly show you that the gift ministries energised at the home church level. What else does Romans tell us?

Romans 13:2
Whosoever therefore resisteth [opposes] the power [exousia], resisteth the ordinance [diatagē- arrangement] of God: and they that resist [oppose] shall receive to themselves damnation [condemnation].

Can you see how simple this is to understand once you remove temples made with hands and all their religious horseshit from the equation? The higher powers are right there with you in your home churches. How do you know who they are? By reading their nametag? By checking to see how many stupid bible classes they've taken? What a load of fucking shite that is. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are easily recognisable to anyone with ears to hear and eyes to see. If you're off the word and someone gets in your face, taps the pages of the bible and shows you where you're missing the mark, chances are you're being confronted by a prophet. Oppose them at your peril, because God places them in the body where it pleases him and we are to subject ourselves to them. If God has given him a green light to confront you, you'd better shut up and listen because he is loving you big enough to try to mend you.

Romans 13:3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power [exousia]? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Now stop for a moment and think. It says rulers here, right? So who are these rulers? Your home church leader? Your branch leader? Your country coordinator? Some board of Directors? Not on your life. These rulers are the higher powers, the gift ministries which God gave to men for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ. Our home church leaders therefore are not the higher powers. Even home church leaders are to subject themselves to the gift ministries. How do you like that for new light?

Are you tired of being lectured to by some arrogant prick home church patriarch in a temple made with hands who thinks he knows everything, demands you submit to him and quotes Romans 13 at you? Tell him to fuck off. The higher powers are the energised gift ministries operating in the home churches. They are the ones God put there to look after the disciples. The disciples are only responsible for themselves and those God has given them to undershepherd. This is a family thing, not a ministry thing, understand?

Romans 13:4-6
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

The gift ministries are only terrible to those who walk away from the word. It is the devil spirit realm their wrath is directed towards. And just look at who we are to pay tribute to. Temples made with hands use these verses to teach you to send all your money to them. That's not surprising because the love of money is the root of all evil. God's money is to be kept and used at the home church level and the gift ministries are to be supported from that money. If the gift ministries need money to move the word, the money held by the home church leaders is to be used to support them as they do God's work. That's another principle you can see throughout the book of Acts and Paul's epistles. The home churches financially supported the gift ministries. You home church leaders are responsible to walk by the spirit and support the gift ministries who are doing God's work. You don't send all God's money to them, you support them from God's money as God works within you to will and to do of his good pleasure. This is not difficult to understand, but to see it you will have to walk by the spirit with Christ as your head and not by the direction and counsel of men.

Knowing where the gift ministries are being energised isn't difficult. Apostles bring new light to their generation, so isn't it obvious that I'm an apostle? God is teaching me and I'm teaching you. It isn't something I brag about and I certainly don't have any nametags with Apostle George scrawled on them. If I did, I'd burn them. I don't ask to be called the Apostle George and I never will. It isn't a position I applied for, it isn't something I asked God for, and it certainly isn't anything I ever expected to be given. Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I might preach among the gentiles the clearly searchable riches of the truth that God does not dwell in temples made with hands. I understand only too well what Paul meant when he first spoke similar words.

You know, I've never once thought that I was gift ministry material. To me, the gift ministries were all those educated, intelligent, sociable, motivated, committed, disciplined, well dressed men in top leadership positions in temples made with hands that strutted around with fancy nametags. I wasn't as clever and smart as them and I knew I could never aspire to be anything like them. I kept my head in the word, studied the word, listened to thousands of teachings, and did a little research. I kept myself in the word on a daily basis. I may not have been as intelligent and educated as the rest of them, but I was faithful.

Then one day I was kicked out of the Way International. I guess I didn't measure up to the expectations of men who walked by their senses. Nothing new there. I never amounted to much in the world's eyes. It was around that time I returned to the Highlands of Scotland. I still studied the word every day, still listened to teachings, still studied my bible, and still taught the word when I had opportunity.

Then one day God told me he wanted to give me something. This would have been in the late 90s I guess. He didn't tell me what it was, just that he had something to give me. However, there was a catch. It was waiting for me at the summit of Ben Armine and I had to climb up there to get it. Ben Armine? That meant walking from Sciberscross in Strath Brora, roughly a 23 mile hike through the remote moors and hills of Sutherland. There was a land rover track to Ben Armine lodge, but it was rough going from there to the summit.

Inside I was more than a little intimidated with this and it took me a few weeks to steel my mind to get into training. There was something for me at the summit of Ben Armine and I wanted to know what it was. When I started training, it took me three months to prepare before I felt ready for the hike. One morning I set off very early and I did reach the summit of Ben Armine. I have no photographs from the day, only the memory that while I was walking back down from the summit I knew I had something I didn't have when I went up there. I didn't know what it was, but I knew I had something.

That walk back to the car will remain one of the most arduous walks of my entire life. I went through the Parachute Regiment training and passed P Company at Aldershot, but I tell you, nothing they put me through was as difficult as the last five miles of that walk back to the car. Father kept telling me that if I just kept going, I'd make it back to the car, and similarly, no matter what came up in my life, if I just kept going I'd always get there, the car would always be there.

Well, I did reach the car, and I can't describe what it was like to set my heavy bergen down and take my boots off. As I drove home, I asked God what he'd given me, but he didn't tell me. All I knew was that I was heading home with something I didn't have when I got up that morning. Since that day I often scratched my head and asked God repeatedly to tell me what it was he'd given me. I pestered him for years, but he never told me. I had no idea what it was he'd given me and he never told me.

It's only in the last couple of years that I've realised what it was God gave me that day up on the summit of Ben Armine. He gave me the gift ministry of an apostle. As I look back through the long years since Ben Armine, I can see clearly now how relevant it was what God taught me that day. I'll tell you something else about a gift ministry, it really isn't something you want. A gift ministry isn't an invitation to some kind of amazing life for special people at the headquarters of temples made with hands, it's an invitation to face up to the full force of evil and hatred the world has and put your life in harm's way for God's kids. Think I'm joking? I now understand in part where Paul was coming from when he wrote these words.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews [Judeans] five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

So why did God give such a gift to me? Well, it wasn't for my benefit, I can assure you. It wasn't a special little gift or favour to me because I was so wonderful. It wasn't because I was the best, or the most intelligent, or the most disciplined, or the most educated, or the most sociable, or the most personable person on earth, God knows I'm none of those things. Do you know why he gave me the gift ministry of an apostle? It was for you. He knew I would go to the gates of hell to finally dig out the truth that God does not dwell in temples made with hands, and he knew I would be faithful to teach it. The question therefore, isn't about me, it's about you. Never mind me, what are you going to do with the word now that you have it?

Chapter 66 - How to do Biblical Research