God’s Control of Human Government

Transcript

GRM 711
11/12/2000
God's Control of Human Government
Romans 13:1 and Selected Verses
Gil Rugh

We've been studying the book of Acts on Sunday morning but we're going to take a break this morning. It gives me an opportunity to address some matters related to what's going on in our country these days. I thought it was a good time for a reminder for us. I want to talk to you a little bit about the sovereignty of God and the purpose and plan of God in human government. We had an election, I guess you could say that has taken place. It some ways it seems like that it's underway. There's much discussion going on about how it's being handled, the votes and so on. I have to say I couldn't help but be amazed again as I've reflected on what's taking place at the sovereignty of God. Here we have a country, a hundred million people voting, and we still don't know who the President is. Realize that very quickly things can grind to a halt. Listen to some who talk about the dangers to the democratic process and how fragile it can be in certain circumstances and situations. Listen to some commentator’s remark about their concerns about what could happen to a country like ours if things were not resolved properly. Depends upon certain people in certain situations being willing to make certain decisions and unwillingness creates a kind of conflict that becomes very difficult and could become very dangerous. Yet in it all I'm reminded that God is sovereign, He is in control, and everything is happening according to His will and His plan. I was thinking of Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is from the Lord." We could just alter that with a rue paraphrase and say that the ballot is cast into the box but the decision is from the Lord. I think it's important for us as God's people to have the proper attitude and outlook on what is taking place in these days.

I want to direct your attention to Romans 13 although what I'm really going to do is just read with you a number of verses that remind us of how God works in the world or perhaps more clearly and that it is God who is working in the world in all the details, in all the little things and in all the big things. We are going to be particularly focusing on matters relating to government, to leaders and those matters.

We're in Romans 13. Let me just refer you without turning there to Philippians 3:20, where we are told that our citizenship is in heaven. It's from heaven that we eagerly await the coming of our Savior who will take us to be with Himself and He will transform these mortal bodies into conformity with His resurrected body of glory. As a reminder that our prime and ultimate citizenship is not in this world and on this earth. The book of Hebrews chapter 11 has what we call the list of the heroes of the faith from past generations, and we are reminded that they lived as strangers and pilgrims in this world. They were looking for a better country, a better city, the maker and founder of which is God Himself. In fact, if you go on in Philippians 4 and the end of chapter 3 into chapter 4 and about verse 6 you read that we are to be anxious for nothing. Because our citizenship is in heaven, we are looking for the coming of the Lord and the cares and concerns of this life do not press in upon us in such a way as the cause of anxiety, fears, undue concerns. That does not mean we do not have responsibilities, obligations, privileges that come from being earthly citizens as well. I do not believe that Philippians 3:20 gives us the right to withdraw from this world. There are certain rights we have. We can exercise them or not exercise them. There are certain obligations placed upon us as citizens of this country which are not up for choice, such as paying taxes. I cannot withdraw from certain responsibilities saying I'm a citizen of heaven. I do have responsibilities in this world but in it all I remember that my ultimate citizenship, my ultimate responsibilities are focused toward where I belong and that is in heaven.

What Paul is doing in Romans 13 if we could use it as a springboard is addressing the issue of the responsibility of believers to human government and human government of all kinds and of all levels. I want to look at some of what he says here and then look at some of what the Old Testament says in reinforcing what Paul has summarized.

Look at verse 1 of Romans 13, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities." This first statement gives the responsibility of every single individual. Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. There are no exceptions here. We cannot claim an exception because we are citizens of heaven. We cannot claim that we obey none but God. It may sound spiritual, but it is unbiblical. My responsibility is to be subject to the governing authorities. My relationship to governing authorities is covered in that expression "in subjection." I live under the authority of the governing officials. Be in subjection. I want to say something here. I take this has to do with my actions of course. I have to obey the governing authorities. But I think if we understand it in a biblical context, it also has to include my attitude, my demeanor, the way I talk.

Let me use an example. I'll use Marilyn as an example. She's my wife and the Bible says that she is to be submissive to me. But if she was walking around the church always complaining about me, always pointing out what she thought I did wrong, always expressing how she didn't like being in subjection to me, you would say she has a problem with subjection. Now if she said, oh no, I do everything he says. You would say, yes, but you are doing it with an unbiblical attitude and an unbiblical spirit. Now we know that God is concerned with the condition of our heart and the attitude of our heart as well as the formal actions that go with it. Now I say that because it is important for us as Christians living in this country under the governing authorities of this country to be careful that we're manifesting our subjection not just in rote formal obedience, but in the way we conduct ourselves with our speech and our attitude and our demeanor that we are willingly subject to the governing authorities. We count it a privilege. This will come out as we move through some of these praises and sections. A privilege to be subject to the governing authorities. We are glad that they are there and in place. When he says be in subjection to the governing authorities that refers to the existing government. The way it is phrased here under the direction of the Spirit, it is inclusive enough to include whatever the government is. He doesn't say be subject to Roman authorities, not be subject to the governing authorities. That means in this country I am subject to the governing authorities, not just the highest going to our President or in their situation the king, but to all the governing authorities down through the different echelons of government and administration. We are to be subject and there's no concept here of some kind of ideal government. Well, if you live in the democracy, you should be subject to governing authorities. Paul is writing this really living under ultimately a dictatorship or a republic in some ways, but it had come to where the Caesars exercise an undue authority and influence. Some of these men held their office, not by the will of the senate or the will of the people but because they had murdered the previous emperor and you usurp the role by power of might and military. There's no issue developed. Well, we won't submit to this emperor because you know he's the son of the man who killed the rightful emperor and we are out of the right line. No, the governing authorities are the governing authorities as far as we are concerned. We live under the authorities that are in place.

"For," here's the reason. I don't know what if in our democracy there's some shenanigans in the election? The votes are whatever. Well, whoever is in and the law decides is in will have our submission. "For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God." The point here is all human authority comes from God. Listen to Psalm 62:11, "Once God has spoken, twice I have heard this that power belongs to God." Power belongs to God. There is no authority except from God. He is the source of all power and authority. Jesus recognized this in His earthly ministry.

Back up to John's Gospel chapter 19. Jesus is standing before Pilate. He's on trial for his life. Pilate is the Roman official who has the legal right in this situation to condemn Him or to free Him. You note in this context Jesus deals with Pilate with respect, recognizing his position, recognizing the role he plays. Pilate asks a question in verse 9 and Jesus gave Him no answer. "Pilate therefore said to Him," in verse 10, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You? Jesus answered, 'You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason, he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin.'" Pilate had delegated authority ultimately from God and Jesus acknowledged you are in position because God has given you the position. God has given you the authority. But those who had delivered Christ over to Pilate had no such authority. They are functioning improperly and illegally. So they have the greater sin. But Jesus doesn't say Pilate will be without sin if he does not function properly but the one who has the greater sin are those who have turned them over to Pilate and are trying to use his official position for their sinful purposes. The point we want to know is Jesus said all authority comes from God and here is Pilate a relatively minor Roman official if you will compare to the emperor and Jesus said your authority doesn't come from the emperor it comes from God.

Back in Romans 13:1,"There is no authority except from God," now note this, "and those which exist are established by God." Those authorities which exist are established by God. In other words, there is no discussion, no debate on how Pilate got into office. Did he buy his way in? Did he cheat his way in? Did he usurp a position that should have belonged to someone else? All of that is irrelevant. Those who are in authority are there because God has established them. Now let me note. This does not mean that we as believers do not have a right in our country with our democracy to assert ourselves, to exercise our rights and so on. We have to say well, I'm a Christian. I don't do anything because I accept whatever comes. I do accept whatever comes is from God, but I also have certain prerogatives as a citizen. Paul exercised those. Certain times he claimed his Roman citizenship. He said that gave him certain rights that he could demand to have exercised. He was within the bounds of what Roman law provided for him; and he functioned in obedience to the authorities. You find him dealing with respect when dealing with Roman officials at different levels even though he exercised the rights of citizenship. We don't deal with kinds of government whether you live in a democracy whether you live in a dictatorship, whatever kind of government is in existence, those which exit are established by God. He has sovereignly ordained to have these officials with this governmental structure functioning in this country at this time for His purposes.

I want to look at some Old Testament passages with you, starting with the book of Daniel. Probably some of the most familiar passages. We've been to these on different occasions. The book of Daniel chapter 2, here God is revealing to Daniel first the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had and then the interpretation of the dream and as God has revealed to Daniel in a vision the dream the Nebuchadnezzar had verse 19 of Daniel 2, Daniel blessed the God of heaven and then Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding." You note he changes the times and epochs, verse 21. He removes kings and establishes kings. You understand as Daniel says this and records it, he is one who has been taken captive with the defeat of Judah by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, uprooted from his homeland, his family and deported to a strange country far away to the city of Babylon to live under the authority of a pagan king. But you don't find Daniel saying, you have no rights over me. My allegiance is only to the king of Israel. No, Daniel recognizes the hand of God in it all and has full confidence. He removes kings, He establishes kings. Daniel in his conversation with Nebuchadnezzar evidence full confidence that Nebuchadnezzar ruled, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel, all because the hand of God had determined it.

Look in verse 37 of chapter 2. Now Daniel confronts Nebuchadnezzar to give him the dream and its interpretation. Verse 37, "You, O king, are the king of kings." Now note this, "to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory." You are the king of kings, but you know who is the ultimate sovereign? The One who has given you the kingdom, who has given you the power. The God of heaven has given you the kingdom and so on. "And wherever the sons of men dwell or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into you hand and has caused you to rule over them all." Amazing. Here we don't have a young man torn from his family as his own country had been devastated as the Babylonians conquered them uprooted and carted away to a strange land and a strange city to serve the biding of a pagan king, no moping, no complaining, no questioning. God did it. God put you on the throne, Nebuchadnezzar. It's His doing.

Look down in chapter 4 of Daniel. Now God is about to remove sovereign power from Nebuchadnezzar, and you realize God has absolute control. Spoken word everything changes. Spoken word and the whole country can be thrown into confusion. Nebuchadnezzar rules as the most powerful king of kings, the head of gold in the image that he saw in his dream. Now verse 17 of chapter 4, "The sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy ones." In other words, angelic beings that serve in the presence of God have been sent by God to implement the command of God. "In order that the living my know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men." Have that marked in your Bible. It's a verse of great comfort. The Most High is ruler of the realm of mankind. We are anticipating a coming kingdom when Jesus Christ shall rule on the earth. It's an aspect of what is known as a mediatorial kingdom, that part of God's kingdom that is mediated through a ruler. But you understand there is the universal kingdom of God. God rules over the realm of mankind completely always, and He is the ruler. He was when Babylon ruled the world. He is today. He bestows it on whom He wishes, and He sets over it the lowliest of men. In other words, it doesn't always go to the person who has earned it, to the person who deserves it, to the person who is most qualified. But even when a person who seems not to be qualified, to be not prepared, to not to be capable our confidence is not to be shaken. You know who has put that person on the throne, put that person in that position, the One who rules in the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.

I say that because it's important for our attitude and our willing subjection. Again, I'm not saying in our democracy we should not exercise the rights we have in voting, to live within the laws of our land and so on. What I'm saying is respect is given, honor is given, submission is given not because the ruler is respectable. You realize when Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 13 verse 1 and following that they were to submit to the governing authorities, and they were placed there by God. The ultimate authority that day would ultimately order the execution of the apostle Paul. That these Roman emperors were utterly despicable men in their moral character. One has said that 14 of the first 15 Roman emperors were open practicing homosexuals, openly defiantly rebelling against God. What's Paul write? What's Peter write? Honor the king. Submit to them, pray for them. We find nothing but respect in their attitude toward them. It doesn't mean that I would have not liked to see someone else have a position. But it does mean that once that person is in the position, I recognize them as there by God's hand.

In verse 25 just to the end of the verse for time. What's going to happen is Nebuchadnezzar is going to crazy. Now I should read verse 25. You see what happens to the king of gold, the king of kings when God speaks the word. The decree of God, the decree of the Most High, verse 24 calls it, "that you be driven away from mankind, your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; until seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows on it who He wishes." It's repeated down in verse 32, "Until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes."

This is remarkable. You know what happened in ancient times when a king like Nebuchadnezzar shows a sign of weakness? There was always a powerful man ready to step in do him in and take control. Do you know what's going to happen to Nebuchadnezzar? He's going to go crazy, run around on his hands and knees, stuffing his face with grass for seven years. When the seven years are over you know what's going to happen? He's going to assume the throne again. Remarkable. Who would think that any hope of him getting control again would be done but no. Why? God determines.

I want to be careful that I recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind. I wouldn't want to be running around in my backyard eating grass trying to learn a lesson I could have learned from just reading the Scripture. But you see the sovereignty of God. He puts up. He takes down. It's all in his power and in his plan.

Turn back to II Chronicles chapter 20. There are many, many verses, but I want to look at this verse and then a series that relates to some nations and then move us to a conclusion. II Chronicles chapter 25 here we're dealing with Amaziah who's king of Judah, and there's going to be a battle take place between the representative of Joash the king of Israel and Amaziah king of Judah. Amaziah is given some advice and it's good advice but he won't take it. Look at verse 20, "But Amaziah would not listen," now note this, "for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom. You see the hand of God in control. Hear good advice. Wise counsel is given to this king, but he refuses to accept it. Why? Because the sovereign hand of God is at work and it's His determination that Amaziah will suffer defeat. Again, God in control. Did He cause Amaziah to sin? No, but he uses even this rebellious king and then his rejection of the wise counsel because God has a plan and is working in the affairs of men.

Look in the book of Isaiah chapter 10. Just an example of different nations. We've been talking about Babylon and there's other passages about Babylon and God's control there in the prophets there as well. But look at Isaiah 10. We'll look at the Assyrians. In verse 5 of Isaiah 10 we read, "Woe to Assyria." Now note this. "The rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation, I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets." You see God is sovereign. The Assyrians came as a mighty force and became the most powerful people in the world. They dominated the world, the Assyrian empire. You know what God says? I send them. I enable them to have victory, to take spoil, to trample people in the streets and the Assyrians were an awfully cruel people. What happened when a city offered any residence to them, when they did conquer that city, they impaled the people on stakes. Just put a pointed stake in the ground and impaled the people on it. At times there were thousands of people impaled on stakes in given regions. The purpose of the Assyrians was to spread terror before them, that any city would think before they offered even a token resistance, because the consequences would be horrible. But you know God was sovereignly in control. He was using even the wickedness of the Assyrians to accomplish His purposes. They ruled the world when God wanted them to rule the world. Now God is saying He’s going to judge the Assyrians because they did not recognize Him or acknowledge Him. He says in verse 12, "So it will be when that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, the pomp of his haughtiness, for he has said the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this for I have understanding, I have removed the boundaries of the people, I have plundered and so on." God says you're about to find out how much power you really have because now I'm going to take it away from you. What do we see a mighty empire that seems to denominate the world and what's God say, "I brought you up. Now I'm going to take you down." Who is in control? The Assyrians. No, our God is in control.

Look over to Isaiah 43. We can't miss this. Verse 13, just as an example. Isaiah 43:13, "'Even from eternity I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?'" God is declaring He is absolutely sovereign and in the context God declares that He is the creator and as the creator of all things, He is the sovereign and ruler of all things.

Come down now to the end of chapter 44. Look at verse 24, "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the one who formed you from the womb, 'I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself, spreading out the earth all alone.'" You see I'm the sovereign Creator. I've brought everything into existence. You know what the implication of that is? He rules over it all.

We've noted before. Why do people have such animosity to the concept of God being the creator of all things. Because if He is the creator of all things, He is the sovereign of all things and fallen man and his rebellious sinful heart is unwilling to bow before God, so He rejects Him as the creator as well as the sovereign. "Causing the omens of boasters to fail, making fools out of diviners." We've had some of this in the prognosis of our elections. "Causing wise men to draw back and turning their knowledge into foolishness. Confirming the word of his servant, performing the purpose of his messengers."

Down to verse 28, "It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.'" You know what? We are 300 years away from Cyrus coming on the scene. Cyrus won't even be born for 300 years and now God says Cyrus, My shepherd, he will perform all My desires. But Cyrus is not a believer. My shepherd is a term used of kings in the Old Testament. Because they were responsible and the oversight of the people, the sheep. Cyrus will be God's king, not because he believes in God. Cyrus as far as we know from secular history lived and died as a committed pagan. Look down into chapter 45, "Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut; I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, Israel My chosen one, I have called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor." Note this, "though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, there is no other; besides Me there is no God. I will gird you though you have not known Me." He does this so that they might know that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord. There's no one else.

You see the sovereignty of God. Hundreds of years in advance declaring he will be the king, he will do this; I will empower him to be victorious and accomplish this. God is sovereign and mighty.

There are other passages. Jeremiah 51:11, verses 28 to 37 talk about the Medes and God's work with them. I do want to note something. You see God's sovereign hand but there's also a work of God going on in the world at the same time and I think we may be experiencing it in our country now. We are experiencing it in the world as well where nations ripen for judgment. What God does in ways known only to Him, for reasons known to Him, He works and moves in different places among different nations, but as the sin in a nation builds, it's viewed as a ripening of that nation for judgment and then God intervenes. As we've seen in some of references we've read. Often the fact that this nation seems to be prospering while its wickedness grows tends to mask the fact that they are really ripening for judgment.

Look back at Genesis 15. I think we see something of this happening in our country as we have become more overt in our sin. We've never been a Christian country, but we have been a country that has recognizes certain moral values and standards and things which we would call Judeo-Christian ethics, a nation that has acknowledged a God, has lived with certain standards of right and wrong. But as we have progressed down to our day, we have become more and more blatant and open in the practice of our sin, more defiant and bolder in openly displaying our sin. Really this organization that was highlighted in the newspaper yesterday. In the context of a sexual course, they are teaching to junior-highers, seventh and eighth graders. In this class their teaching, they are teaching no boundaries of right and wrong. But sex as you decide to have it is not related to aids, it's not related to gender, not related to marriage and they are teaching this to junior- highers. They get a whole section of the paper, the weekend edition, to highlight this course and the city is not out there picketing and the people are not appalled. We would teach this to junior-highers. You see we've become more open, more blatant, more flagrant, which may be an indication that we are moving toward the judgment of God.

In Genesis 15 God is talking with Abraham, Abram as he's known at this point, and about the covenant He's going to establish with him about the descendants he'll have. They'll go down into Egypt for 400 years. In Egypt they'll go from a family of 70 people to a nation of about two million over a 400 year period. But there's another reason they have to go down to Egypt. Down in verse 16, Genesis 15:16, "Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." There you have that biblical principle. It was not yet time for God to judge the Amorites. They were a people who were filled with iniquity, but the iniquity was not yet full whereas we'll see in other passages, not yet right, so it was not yet time. They were a sinful people, but God was giving them more time. But if they did not repent and turn to Him, all that was happening is they were ripening in their situation.

Remember Jonah the prophet? God sent Jonah to Ninevah. Why? The iniquity of this city has come up before Me. Now I'm ready to deal with it. Same kind of idea. They've always been sinful people, but their sin is built to a point now it comes before the throne of God for judgment and Jonah will go and preach and the city will repent in sackcloth and ashes and God will give them another 150 years.

Turn over to the New Testament to the book of Revelation chapter 14. It's not only nations that are ripening for judgment, but the world as a whole is ripening for judgment. This is the principle set down in Romans 1 you remember. But because sinful of man God has turned them over to their vile passions. Three times in Romans 1 God turned them over. God turned them over. God turned them over. So, as God turns them over to the control and pursuit of sinful passions and desires, they become more sinful. Only God can tell when the harvest is ripe and ready. So it's like your children. You know, you buy grapes at the store but they’re not ripe yet and your child insists, "Now I won't know their ripe. No, they will be good, Mom. I'll like it." So, you give them one. That's sour. Spit it out. See I told you it wasn't ripe. You knew. They didn't. Sometimes we look at the world and say boy, it's ripe. In fact, it's overripe. But in God's time, it's exactly on schedule. Exactly. Every nation is exactly on His schedule. The world as a whole comprised of all the nations, exactly on the harvest schedule.

We come to Revelation 14. We are in the 70th week of Daniel, the last seven years before Christ returns to mete out final judgment in preparation for His kingdom. Revelation 14:18, "Another angel, came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. And another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar." You see these are angels, messengers of the Lord that come. Remember in Daniel the heavenly watchers, the holy ones sent from heaven to bring judgment on Nebuchadnezzar. So here they are sent from heaven to bring judgment on the earth. "Another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; he called out with loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, 'Put in your sharp sickle, gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.' And the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. The wine press was trodden outside the city, blood came out from wine press up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles." Events related to Armageddon and the climactic battle of the ages. But you see the earth becomes ripe. Because there is this tragedy taking place. As those who are part of this country, it does lay upon us. We see the open, flagrant rebellion and rejection of God, His standards, the open defiance of God and the willing display of sin and sinful behavior and the encouraging of sinful behavior and the rejection of righteousness of rightness in conduct, of the standards of morality that would be expected even of unregenerate people. We have become more bold, more flagrant, more open and we pride ourselves. It's our freedom. It's our right. But we as believers ought to understand that it is a ripening for judgment and we do address the issues of sin. The only hope is as Jonah called Ninevah, repent, turn from your sin, cast yourself on the mercy of God.

I mentioned Revelation 17. You might turn there and verse 17. Here we are in that seven-year period and here you see rulers and leaders under the control of God. The final form of western world government will be an alliance of ten kings or nations. But note what verse 17 of Revelation 17 says, "God has put it in their hearts [these ten kings' hearts] to execute his purpose by having a common purpose, by giving their kingdom to the Beast until all the words of God should be fulfilled." You see His control in politics and all right down until the end.

Come back to Romans 13 as we wrap this up. Note verse 2, "Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; they will oppose or receive condemnation upon themselves." You note you cannot reject God's authority and not be rejecting God. You cannot rebel against authority God has established and not be rebelling against God. That's what verse 2 says. Keep in mind a man like Nero is on the throne. Despicable. He was a despicable person. Even his own people couldn't stomach him anymore. Paul is saying he's there by the appointment of God and if you resist his authority, you've resisted God. That doesn't mean if God says we cannot worship Him, then we have to obey God rather than man. We need to be very careful. We live in the bounds.

I was reading an article. It goes back to 111 AD, so just after the New Testament was complete. It's a letter written by Pliny the Younger. There was Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger to Tragen, the Roman Emperor, and he didn't quite know what to do with Christians. He was having them executed because they won't worship the gods of Rome. He's writing and asking for clarification from the Roman emperor Tragen should he make distinctions between age, very young people, very old people, between men and women. He says right now if they are not Roman citizens, I sentence them to execution after giving them three tries if they won't worship our gods. Romans, I put in the Roman system. Turn them over to Roman courts. But you know what he gives testimony about the Romans? About these Christians? He says the amazing thing is they are the most wonderful citizens. They support the government, they pay their taxes, they take care of their families, they help the poor. The only thing they won't do is worship our god and he's somewhat confused. It seems strange we take our best citizens and execute them.

I think there is a testimony that is to be true of believers at all times and that is our testimony ought to be strong and clear. The best citizens in the city of Lincoln ought to be believers. They oughtn't to be the ones running around running down officials and governing authorities, bad mouthing them. It doesn't mean we agree with everything. The same as the political process moves to the top to our presidency. You can appreciate Christians because they support you no matter what your political position. They may not have voted for you, but when you are in the office, you have their full support. They speak well of you. Their attitude and demeanor shows that they support and respect you. That's the testimony we are to have. Why? They are there by God's appointment. I didn't vote for them. It wasn't my choice, but God overruled my vote. If I don't support him, my problem is not with this official. My problem is with God. You understand I'm not voting and God's not waiting for my vote to make His decision. God even controls the votes. It's a good thing to keep in mind. I'm not filled with anxiety over all that's going on in the process. I cast my vote with my right, my prerogative as a citizen, but the lot's cast in the lap. The determination is in the hand of God.

What about shenanigans? Nobody pulls the wool over God's eyes. He uses the sinful intentions of man to accomplish His purposes. What happened in Old Testament times? Somebody snuck in and murdered the king. Oh, God's plan is gone to pot. Now we have to come up with Plan B. No. God's plan included that so that this vile person would now be on the throne for the accomplishing of God's purposes. Amazing.

So, I can take Philippians 4 which says be anxious for nothing. Do I have an interest in the process? Yes. Am I all worked up about it? People are going to hell every day and I should be worried about the count of the ballots? We have the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ that can transform lives and Christians can sit around and not know what to talk about when it comes to talk about sharing the Gospel or what's in the Word but mention politics and the room comes alive. Well, we need to fill our hearts and minds with something else than we've been doing. What really matters in light of eternity?

You know we think back. Name me four of the most significant Assyrian emperors. All right. Name me four of the best Babylonian kings. It really doesn't matter, does it? I mean Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. Wonderful. But today who cares. The only significant thing is if you go over there and visit the ruins and you can't do that today very well today either. Put it in the perspective of eternity, what God is doing, and His purposes are being worked and being accomplished.

"Rulers are a cause for not of fear for good behavior but for evil." He writes this with a Nero on the throne. Overall, they bring order to our society. What our concern is and some have expressed this, our society without following proper . . . some procedure no matter who becomes President, we would not want to turn this country into chaos. There has to come a time when we will respect the process even if it's a man that we have not chosen. There has to be resolution. Look at Russia. A mighty empire now. What? You wouldn't go there and drive down the street. A policemen might stop you, drag you out of your car, take all your possessions and you have no recourse. What happened? The government has collapsed.

When I was in communist China a number of years ago, I wasn't afraid to walk the streets there at night. They said don't worry. Nothing will happen and it didn't. I was thankful for the order that there was even though there are negative sides. We have government by sinful people and that was true in Rome.

We have two reasons to obey as Christians: Numb er 1, we are afraid of punishment. You don't pay your taxes; you go to jail. That's a motivation. Number 2, as Christians we have conscience before God. I recognize even if I think I can get away with it my rebellion, my disrespect, to this appointed official is a rebellion and disrespect of my God and that bothers my conscience. So, he says there's two reasons and that includes paying taxes. Verse 6 that's why you pay taxes. You know why? God has appointed authorities and He's appointed that we support those authorities, so we grumble and complain about taxes. We have in our country a right to vote on certain taxes and so on. That's fine. But you understand decisions are made, we do it. We pay it and we do it without grumbling.

We of all people ought to be glad to pay our taxes because all the tax money goes for good things? Do you think when Nero but on a public empire-wide marriage ceremony with a young man that he had castrated that Paul was glad his taxes were going for that. He says that's repulsive. He said you shouldn't talk about that in a public . . . We have Christians running around acting like terrible things are being done with our taxes. I haven't seen anything on that level that's been done with my taxes yet. I'm not saying it hasn't been done in the background. Maybe it has. I don't know. But Nero wasn't ashamed to do it. Repulsive to all his people. But we should be glad to pay taxes, why? No matter what he does he is a man that God has appointed, he's in the position God has given him and part of our responsibility and thus our privilege is to pay the taxes that support him and with that attitude we have a freedom. I don't want people who get voted . . . I don't want a Democratic get voted and say oh boy, I wouldn't want to hear from Gil Rugh. He's only for Republicans. Or a Republican to say I wouldn't . . . No, why? Do you know who Paul voted for or who would of or whether he thought this empire, or this official was qualified? No. Because God's put them in and we have respect.

We pray for officials. We pray for what's going on. We pray for a time of peace that we might faithfully represent Christ. You know we get so concerned that someday that we might lose our freedoms that we don't take advantage of the freedoms we have today to do what God's called us to do. If I lose my freedoms in five years, that would be terrible. But how am I going to give an account to God that I didn't take advantage of the freedom while I had it. Life is going by, every day lost in my service for the Lord is a day not to be regathered. We ought not to be worried that tomorrow the world will collapse. It won't. God is in control. I've read the last chapter. You have too. The day is far spent, the night is at hand. Therefore, we must be diligently about our Master's business. Let's pray.

Thank you, Lord, for Your grace. Thank you for Your patience and kindness and love. Thank you, Lord, that we serve You in this country with abundant opportunities. We do pray for the election that is underway, the decision that has yet to be made. Lord, it is good enough for us to know that it is in Your hands. We desire above all else, above our personal desires, above our personal interests, the man of Your appointment and Your choosing will be selected as the President of this country and every other official according to Your will for us in these days. May we honor You by our words and our conduct. We pray in Christ's name, amen.