A lack of respect for God and disregard of His authority is the underlying cause of every departure from truth and every division in the body of Christ. Even though the Old Testament has many examples of those who acted without divine authority and were punished by God for such action, and though the New Testament warns repeatedly of this danger and the subsequent penalty, still in each generation there are many who profess to believe in Christ, and serve Him, who act without divine authority. These lessons are set forth with the hope they can help others have greater respect for God and His word, to have a fuller realization of the need of authority from God in our service to Him, and to learn how to apply the lessons of authority to other problems and situations that shall arise in this generation and generations to come.