True Authority Must Be Received

I want to make a very clear distinction here. There is true and lawful authority, and then there is false and unlawful authority. Lawful authority must always be received.

If authority naturally flows from the one with the most power, then the question needs to be answered: "Who has the most power?" The answer to this question is fairly obvious to any Bible-believing Christian. God has the most power. Not only does he have the most power, He has all power. Naturally, as a result of not lacking power in anything, He holds all true/lawful authority.

Authority naturally flows down from God. God gave man authority over the earth and the beasts of the field. God gave authority to parents over their children. God gave husbands authority over their wives. God gave authority to pastors over their flocks. God gave authority to Jesus over everything.

Authority that is received from power apart from God is not true authority. Authority that is received from man is not lawful authority if that authority did not originate with God. True authority cannot be gained by terroristic tactics. You cannot frighten someone enough to steal or usurp authority over them.

True/lawful authority can always be traced back to God as it's source. True/lawful authority is backed by God's power, not by the power of man.