We should not cross the line of our authority beyond the Office & Anointing.

Miriam, Aaron and King Saul illustrate a dangerous trap into which leaders can fall. Leaders cannot try to exercise authority beyond their office and anointing. Both women and men must be aware that crossing the line without God's given authority is arrogance and pride which can destroy.

In who appears to be a racist motive, Miriam wrongfully challenged Moses' authority. "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married ... " (Numbers 12:1).

The Lord immediately called Miriam and Aaron to account. "And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow ... " (Numbers 12:10).

And Moses cried out to the Lord, "O God, please heal her!"

The Lord replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disguise for 7 days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back. So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move till she was brought back" (Numbers 12:13-15).

Every leader, man and woman needs to respect the limits of their ministry. They should not intrude presumptuously into areas for which they do not have responsibility. Miriam made her mistakes as just as other great leaders. She was severely disciplined.

Joyce Meyer: "Don't have an opinion where you don't have a responsibility."

King Saul did not wait for Samuel and cross his line of authority to offer and burnt offering. Because of that, his kingdom could not endure. David was chosen to replace Saul (1 Samuel 13:9-14).

King Uzziah went beyond his authority to burn incense and the Lord inflicted him with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:18-20)."

Once, there was a senior pastor from Crown of Glory Church, Singapore who led pastors and a few of his Church’s leaders to come and disrupt our peaceful meeting. His team displayed aggression and he wanted to lay his hands forcefully on our leaders, where he has no spiritual authority to do so, hence crossing the line of his authority.

We cannot cross the line of our authority charging into our neighbour’s home and want to minister to our neighbour’s children where we have no spiritual authority to do so.

Like Saul, Uzziah and Miriam, it is a very dangerous to cross the line of our authority beyond the office and anointing. We cannot disregard the spiritual authority God has given to each of the spiritual leaders entrusted to take care of His house, where the person He has called for the specific ministry has a responsibility and accountability to God.

Ecclesiastes 11:5, "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."

Since we could not understand the work of God, we should not be critical of the ministries & calling of others as the Bible teaches us not to judge as per James 4:12, "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbor?"

We should heed the wisdom of Bill Johnson when he wrote:- "In spiritual warfare, the safest place in this war is obedience. In the center of His will, we face the situations where we are equipped to win. Outside of the center is where many Christians fall, facing undue pressures that are self-inflicted. His will is the only safe place to be."

Hence, we should devote to what the Lord has called each one of us to do and walk in His will and not to cross the line of our authority & calling in doing something which we are not called to do.