Under Cover Workbook

I've really been trying to get closer to the Lord for the past couple of years and have dealt with a lot of issues in my life that I needed to confess and repent for (fear of failure, fear of man, self rejection, and so much more). I already knew that we were not to "touch God's anointed," but this book brought it to a deeper level and gave me more insight. Since "a curse causelss doesn't come" (Prov. 26:2), I asked God to show me anything in my life that was holding me back from getting blessed in a couple of areas in my life. Wow! This book showed me how subtle rebellion can be and I was so convicted. Thank God we have a God of mercy and grace who forgives us when we confess. If you are trying to surrender your life to God and walk the walk, I would recommend this book highly.

I'm not surprised this book is controversial----in our modern society, obedience, and submission to authority, is nearly always so. In this day & age, it is *SO* much more popular, to just go your own way... In short, to "be your own god." Though they rarely use such terminology, those who refuse to obey & submit to authority, are simply trying to make themselves equal with God----which is *EXACTLY* what lucifer (ie, satan) tried to do, and he was thrown out of heaven as quick as lightening. I've seen a number of these comments, which reflect an ignorance of Bevere's book. For example, *NOWHERE* does Bevere tell us to obey man, over God. (contrary to what some say here) As nearly as I can tell, this book is very accurate Biblically, and I would encourage anyone who reads it, to look up every scripture, if they don't know them. This book is not *FUN*, anymore than the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin is, but, I do believe it is accurate, and shows the *TRUTH.* If you're looking for TRUTH, read it. If you have issues, or questions (afterwards) about abusive authority, I *HIGHLY* recommend Bevere's DVD/book on Unfair Treatment. Again, *NOT* fun, but, completely accurate with God's Word. Just remember, God's not interested in our comfort, as much as He is our *CHARACTER*.

When I picked up this book to read for the first time a number of years ago, I'd wish I'd picked it up and read it sooner. Why? Because I just went through a season where God was dealing with me in the area of submission and obedience. I remembered clearly at that time that I had wished that I had read it sooner and may have saved me some pain, but having just read it again and thinking through the past, it may have been good to read it sooner, but the dealings of God would have been just as difficult because of the deception I was in at that time. I can safely say that there would be a big group of people who would not like this book and what it says. It goes against human nature. However, because I had gone thorugh processes that Bevere went through as he related in the book, I know what it talks about is true. One of the basis that Bevere begins iwth is that it is difficult for someone with a democratic mindset to understand this. The Kingdom of God is not a democracy but a theocracy. Take for instance the USA's democracy. Out of the 55 founding fathers of America, 52 were active members of the church. The country was founded based on Biblical principles - respect for one another, submission to one another, obedience to God and His Word, etc. Take the Biblical values and principles away and what democracy can produce is anarchy. The basic unit of the church is the family, and families are not democratic in nature. All you need is a family with 3 children, and leave all the decision to a vote and soon we will have mayhem! Just as the American democracy was founded to break from the tyranny of the British, this book is a hard pill to swallow because of the harsh rulers that we face today, and those we are not in agreement with. However, this does not change the word of God. Bevere shows that God knows what He is doing, and is not caught by surprise when evil rulers come into power. The question is what will we do? God will judge authorities on how they ruled, and us on how we submitted. This book is written for the perspective of what a person under authority should be and do, but does not address at great lengths what the person in authority should do, and that can be found in many leadership book. However, if you are in authority reading this book and thinking how you can mistreat people because of your authority... you may be the next Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod Agrippa I, Hitler, and many other evil rulers. At the end of the day, there are no simple answers to many complex problems we face today, but submission to authority is the start of one of the answers. This book, as with all other books, are not complete in tackling every situation on the face of the earth, but it does bring across Biblical principles that we can live by.

When I picked up this book to read for the first time a number of years ago, I'd wish I'd picked it up and read it sooner. Why? Because I just went through a season where God was dealing with me in the area of submission and obedience. I remembered clearly at that time that I had wished that I had read it sooner and may have saved me some pain, but having just read it again and thinking through the past, it may have been good to read it sooner, but the dealings of God would have been just as difficult because of the deception I was in at that time. I can safely say that there would be a big group of people who would not like this book and what it says. It goes against human nature. However, because I had gone thorugh processes that Bevere went through as he related in the book, I know what it talks about is true. One of the basis that Bevere begins with is that it is difficult for someone with a democratic mindset to understand this. The Kingdom of God is not a democracy but a theocracy. Take for instance the USA's democracy. Out of the 55 founding fathers of America, 52 were active members of the church. The country was founded based on Biblical principles - respect for one another, submission to one another, obedience to God and His Word, etc. Take the Biblical values and principles away and what democracy can produce is anarchy. The basic unit of the church is the family, and families are not democratic in nature. All you need is a family with 3 children, and leave all the decision to a vote and soon we will have mayhem! Just as the American democracy was founded to break from the tyranny of the British, this book is a hard pill to swallow because of the harsh rulers that we face today, and those we are not in agreement with. However, this does not change the word of God. Bevere shows that God knows what He is doing, and is not caught by surprise when evil rulers come into power. The question is what will we do? God will judge authorities on how they ruled, and us on how we submitted. This book is written from the perspective of what a person under authority should be and do, but does not address at great lengths what the person in authority should do, and that can be found in many leadership book. However, if you are in authority reading this book and thinking how you can mistreat people because of your authority... you may be the next Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod Agrippa I, Hitler, and many other evil rulers. At the end of the day, there are no simple answers to many complex problems we face today, but submission to authority is the start of one of the answers. This book, as with all other books, is not complete in tackling every situation on the face of the earth, but it does bring across Biblical principles that we can live by.

John Bevere has done it again, writing yet another book that will bring you deeper into the mysteries of Christ. In this book, Bevere shows you the difference between submission and obedience. John shows us that you can submit to somebody, and not always obey them, and that you can obey somebody and never submit to them.Using many excellent personal examples of his own life and ministry (frequent readers/listeners of Bevere will be familiar with many of these examples), as well as corresponding biblical examples, Bevere teaches who we are to submit to - all genuine authority - and what we are to obey by submitting to authority - everything save for something that would be disobedience to Christ. This submission includes even ungodly men and women, be it a president, local government, or even your husband or parents. Bevere says "obedience deals with our responsive actions toward authority. Submission deals with our attitude toward authority" (p. 134)Hard to believe that we have to submit even to ungodly men and women, but as Bevere shows we don't have to obey them where they ask us to be disobedient to the Gospel. Bevere reminds us that we are to be obedient to decisions of authority that may not always appear to be wise, because they are authority- God's appointed authority of Romans 13 - but if it is an unwise decision we are to remember the heart of the King is in God's hands, and God will judge that ruler for his decisions based on the authority God gave him. If you disobey authority simply because you don't agree with how something should be done, you will be cursed, but should you obey them even if you disagree with them, you will be blessed.By submitting to authority and obeying it, you will go under God's presence. Because now you are under God's divine protection, and should this authority do something wrong to abuse his position of authority, he will have to answer to God for it, while you will be protected by God's grace.As hard as it might be to agree to the above- you probably already disagree with this book - buy this book, for it will carefully show you that the above is very biblical. An excellent book that will transform forever how you look at and deal with authority. It will probably not be one of John Bevere's most popular books, but surely will be remembered as one of his better ones.