DAY 4 — “Authority vs. Arrogance: Just Because God Can Rebuke Doesn’t Mean We Should”

So, in our daily walk, even so far this week, we hear or have heard that Jesus rebuked storms, spirits, sickness, and sometimes even people 

And we assume that we can do exactly the same thing, the same way, at any time, in any tone, and in any circumstance. 

But Scripture gives us a powerful caution that stops us in our tracks: just because God can rebuke doesn’t mean we should.

One of the clearest warnings in all of Scripture comes from Jude 1:9 (KJV), and we read that on Day 1: “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

Today, we delve a little deeper into that scripture.

Michael — an archangel — refused to rebuke Satan directly. He did not step into an authority that did not belong to him. He did not let his position make him prideful. He didn’t say, “I’m powerful, so I’ll handle this myself.” Instead, he said, “The Lord rebuke thee.” Not I rebuke thee. That’s an eye-opener there for me.

Michael the archangel was not weak. In truth and in fact, he was wise.

This same principle appears in Zechariah 3:2 (KJV). Again, we spoke to this in Day 1: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee…”

So we examine this a little more. 

Here, God Himself speaks the rebuke. Not the priest. Not Joshua. Not the people. It was God.

The rebuke belongs to the One who sees all, knows all, and judges righteously.

These verses remind us that spiritual authority is not loudness, boldness, or confidence. It is alignment. Alignment with God’s heart. Alignment with God’s timing. Alignment with God’s assignment.

The danger comes when believers start to operate as though rebuking is their personal right — as though spiritual authority is something we use whenever we’re frustrated, offended, or impatient. 

Some believers even rebuke people instead of addressing the behaviour. Have you done that or experienced that? I recently identified the difference and have been calling it out, and I have tried not to do that myself. When we know better, we do better, correct?

Some people rebuke from pride and call it power. Some rebuke from irritation and call it discernment. But saints of God, a rebuke delivered from the flesh is not a rebuke — it’s arrogance dressed as spirituality.

Jesus rebuked with perfect knowledge. We do not have that. Jesus saw the heart. We see the surface. Jesus discerned the motive. We guess based on behaviour. Jesus operated in divine authority. We operate under delegated authority — and only as the Spirit leads.

That’s why the Bible warns us in James 3:1 (KJV): “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

In other words, don’t rush into positions of authority. Don’t be quick to assume the right to correct. Don’t step into roles God has not assigned.

Scripture also tells us in 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV): “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

This is why rebuke is dangerous when handled carelessly. We do not know someone’s heart. We do not know their internal battles. We do not know their level of spiritual maturity or their emotional state. And when we use authority without understanding, we risk discarding people God is still shaping.

Sometimes, believers talk as though spiritual authority is something we take for ourselves. But authority in the Kingdom is never taken — it is entrusted. And God entrusts authority to the humble, not the proud. To the submitted, not the self-appointed. To those who walk in love, not those who walk in ego. 

The moment authority becomes a tool to elevate ourselves, it stops being authority and becomes arrogance. And very often, people hear the difference, and that’s why when some people talk to us, whether they are right or wrong, it goes through one ear and comes out through the other.

As we study this, we begin to recognise that correction is not our first responsibility — humility is. Discernment is. Meekness is. 

And sometimes the most spiritual thing we can say is exactly what Michael said: “The Lord rebuke thee.” Meaning — I know my place. I know my limits. I know this battle belongs to God, not me. Hallelujah. Take over, Jesus. And we submit to God’s authority.

Family, spiritual authority is never about control. It is never about dominance. It is never about proving we are right. It is always about representing Christ well. 

And if representing Christ requires us to step back instead of stepping forward, then stepping back is obedience, not weakness. I got that. Did you?

As we grow in maturity, we learn that real authority looks like humility, restraint, patience, sensitivity, wisdom, and love. 

And when we walk in that kind of authority, our lives reflect the character of Christ — not the impulse of the flesh. Glory to God.