The Election Count – Part 4
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:
I know non-Pentecostal, non-charismatic churches typically teach that God has stepped back in the Church Age and doesn’t interfere with the lives and things of men, but that is not completely true.
What has happened is that the Jews have been blinded in part, and the gospel has been given to the Gentiles. So there are no apostolic signs, because signs are for Jews. I believe that is true. But there is no Scripture that I am aware of that indicates that God has completely decided to no longer intervene in earthly things. God has always been God. He hasn’t stepped down or resigned. He has always taken care of His people. And He has always been ruler in the kingdoms of men. He’s always set kings up and put them down. Does Satan have power to do this too? Absolutely. Because God has set him up and given him that power too. God has given Satan his seat and His authority. And all those under him. The principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of the this world.
Daniel 7:9-10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
God is of course over Satan and his kingdoms, there is no power but of God, and where Satan’s will does not align with God’s, I believe He performs His will over Satan’s, bringing down those that Satan desires to set up and setting up those that He Himself chooses. But mostly, the mystery of iniquity doth already work and so their wills are well aligned, both heading towards the coming of the great and dreadful day.
Do we see God work very often and very clearly today? No. But that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t work at all in the Earth. That doesn’t mean He doesn’t do miracles and wonderful works to protect and provide for those that fear Him. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t arrange meetings and open doors for Soul Winners. God is a God that hidest himself. You’ll never find him unless you seek for Him. No, He’s not our magic genie, but that doesn’t mean that He has stepped back and refused to help the righteous or to recompense the wicked, or refused to intervene in the Earth at all.
And this is one way that He does guide and intervene in the Earth regularly. He sets up and authorizes our powers. He gives them their authority. There is no man that has authority over you that God did not give authority to. There is no man that can make a rule over you to whom God did not give power to make that rule.
So, whether Biden or Trump or Hogan, or any other man (or woman), honour them, fear them, obey them. Pay them their dues. To resist them is to resist the ordinance of God. To fight against them is to fight against God!
And we aren’t just talking about our President. But our governors, and judges, and police officers and FBI agents. These are the ordinances of God set up to govern, to reward the righteous and to punish evil doers! Are some, even many corrupt? News for you.. they are all corrupt. All flesh has corrupted his way on the earth. But they are the ones God has set up over us.
To resist them is to resist the ordinance of God. To fight against them is to fight against God! How about that Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter? Would you like to be found to fight against God? Would you like to fight that fight?
Luke 20:22-26 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. 26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
Caesar was no Jew. He was no son of David. He was not rightful ruler to the Jews. He was a conqueror. He was an oppressor. He took power by force. The Jews had sincere arguments about whether they should submit to him and pay tribute to him.
What was Jesus’ (a Jew) position? Submit! And this should be ours too.
Give to man what you owe him. Money, honor, obedience, fear.
This is NT doctrine!
1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers [judges, police officers, FBI Agents, SWAT teams, the national guard, the military], and for the praise of them that do well. [maybe not to praise us, but FOR our praise!] 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
We are free in Christ, we have liberty Spiritually. But as long as we are in the flesh, we are under fleshly ordinances, man’s government. And the will of God is to submit ourselves to fleshly ordinances. Apparently, this silences foolish mockers. Why? Because they expect Christians to fight against rules and rulers they don’t like. They expect Christians to complain about our ungodly authorities. They expect Christians to protest. They expect Christians to sue them at the law. They expect Christians to defy the unconstitutional orders of a governor. They expect Christians to fight back! They expect Christians to fight oppression and injustice! … Because those are the things that they do… and they think we are no different than them! Because they think there is no truth in us. They think we are just as rebellious as the are. They think there is no truth and no righteousness in Christianity above the world’s righteousness. And indeed, Christians, and supposed “Christians” are some of the biggest fighters. We think its our duty to stand up for what is right with righteous anger!!!
But when we don’t fight, but rather just be subject, submitting to those that God has set over us, we put the ignorance of those foolish men to silence! Not with a railing accusation, but with well doing. By not resisting evil.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Fighting against governments is what the wicked do!
2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
This is why they riot. They despise government. This is why they have “civil disobedience”, because they despise government. This is why they fight to defund the police, because they despise government. This is why they become activists and run for office, because they despise government. They want to be above it, or change it, or just speak evil of it.
This is what ungodly sinners do. You know what they’ve done to Donald Trump. What they’ve said about him, what they’ve said TO him. How they’ve harassed him and accused him and resisted him and mocked him. You know what they did to Barack Obama. Same things. You know what they do to their rulers that they don’t like, on both sides of the aisle. (Mayors, Governors, Congressmen). But we are not like them spiritually. So we shouldn’t be like them carnally!
Are some of our rulers corrupt, and unjust?! Absolutely! But God put them there over us, and we must needs be subject. Maybe they will be good to us. Maybe they will be evil to us. Maybe the Lord put them there to be evil to us just so that we can be praised and rewarded for well doing in the face of persecutions.
1 Peter 2:19-20 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
The Lord gave them their power over us, and we should be afraid to speak evil of them! We should be afraid to resist them. We should be afraid to lift up a sword against them.
David dealt with a horribly evil king set over him. When David was good, King Saul was wicked to him. But even when as Saul was hunting David to take away his life, and God delivered Saul into David’s hand in the cave, he didn’t fight, he humbled himself, and he said to Saul,
1 Samuel 24:10,12 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. … 12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
And again when Saul pursued to take away his life, and God delivered him into David’s hand, and again some bade David to kill Saul:
1 Samuel 26:10-11 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: …
It would be so easy to fight against our ordinances.. For David it would have been one of the easiest things he’d ever done.
1 Samuel 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee…
Sometimes the law is slacked. Sometimes justice does not go forth. When that is the case, the Lord is the avenger.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. …
The Lord punishes the corrupt judges of the land. The Lord avenges the poor and the oppressed.
Vengeance is His. Will you rob God?
If you believe there is injustice against you and you’ve been hurt, or defrauded, and you desire to be avenged, don’t avenge yourself. If I may be so bold to suggest: don’t even go to the law to be avenged. Call on the Lord! He is the Avenger!
And if you have oppressed your Christian brother (stolen, defrauded, slandered, reviled), you better get it right, and get it right quick!!
1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such,
Luke 18:7-8 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. …
The triumphing of the wicked is short. Be patient. Wait on the Lord. Let Him be your vengeance.
Dude, just wait a few minutes, maybe a few hours.
But our job as Christians is not to fight against the ordinances. Our job if not to avenge ourselves of injustice and fight against oppression. His job is to see and judge and avenge us. Our job is to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, enduring grief with conscience toward God, and as much as lieth in us, live peaceably with all men. Even to the froward.
1 Peter 2:18-19 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
It seems so unfair. It seems so impossible. But this is the will of God for us in this world. “Submit to every ordinance of man” and “avenge not yourselves”.
Obey the authorities. Even the froward. Cast your care upon Him, for He careth for you. Present your cause to Him, let Him judge your cause. Trust Him. Let HIM be your sword and shield, and your avenger.
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”
If you’ve been wronged, suffer it. If you’ve been cheated, allow it! Turn the other cheek. If a man sue you a the law and take away your coat, Let him have your cloke also. Hard stuff, but it’s the truth! Van.
1 Corinthians 6:6-8 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Apple Watch. Very hard… but I think this is what God expects. Not because He wants you to suffer… but because He wants you to be rewarded when He comes to judge, and innocent when He comes to avenge! God is not mocked! You won’t lose! The Judge is going to make it right!
You’ll be thanked, rewarded for suffering wrongfully, for His sake. Allowing persecution, not resisting evil, for conscience toward Him… You’ll conquer!
As much as you can, obey their power over you and submit peaceably.
Dec 6 2020
The Election Count – Part 4
Downloadable Word document:
The Election Count – Part 4
The Election Count – Part 4
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:
I know non-Pentecostal, non-charismatic churches typically teach that God has stepped back in the Church Age and doesn’t interfere with the lives and things of men, but that is not completely true.
What has happened is that the Jews have been blinded in part, and the gospel has been given to the Gentiles. So there are no apostolic signs, because signs are for Jews. I believe that is true. But there is no Scripture that I am aware of that indicates that God has completely decided to no longer intervene in earthly things. God has always been God. He hasn’t stepped down or resigned. He has always taken care of His people. And He has always been ruler in the kingdoms of men. He’s always set kings up and put them down. Does Satan have power to do this too? Absolutely. Because God has set him up and given him that power too. God has given Satan his seat and His authority. And all those under him. The principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of the this world.
Daniel 7:9-10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
God is of course over Satan and his kingdoms, there is no power but of God, and where Satan’s will does not align with God’s, I believe He performs His will over Satan’s, bringing down those that Satan desires to set up and setting up those that He Himself chooses. But mostly, the mystery of iniquity doth already work and so their wills are well aligned, both heading towards the coming of the great and dreadful day.
Do we see God work very often and very clearly today? No. But that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t work at all in the Earth. That doesn’t mean He doesn’t do miracles and wonderful works to protect and provide for those that fear Him. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t arrange meetings and open doors for Soul Winners. God is a God that hidest himself. You’ll never find him unless you seek for Him. No, He’s not our magic genie, but that doesn’t mean that He has stepped back and refused to help the righteous or to recompense the wicked, or refused to intervene in the Earth at all.
And this is one way that He does guide and intervene in the Earth regularly. He sets up and authorizes our powers. He gives them their authority. There is no man that has authority over you that God did not give authority to. There is no man that can make a rule over you to whom God did not give power to make that rule.
So, whether Biden or Trump or Hogan, or any other man (or woman), honour them, fear them, obey them. Pay them their dues. To resist them is to resist the ordinance of God. To fight against them is to fight against God!
And we aren’t just talking about our President. But our governors, and judges, and police officers and FBI agents. These are the ordinances of God set up to govern, to reward the righteous and to punish evil doers! Are some, even many corrupt? News for you.. they are all corrupt. All flesh has corrupted his way on the earth. But they are the ones God has set up over us.
To resist them is to resist the ordinance of God. To fight against them is to fight against God! How about that Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter? Would you like to be found to fight against God? Would you like to fight that fight?
Luke 20:22-26 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. 26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
Caesar was no Jew. He was no son of David. He was not rightful ruler to the Jews. He was a conqueror. He was an oppressor. He took power by force. The Jews had sincere arguments about whether they should submit to him and pay tribute to him.
What was Jesus’ (a Jew) position? Submit! And this should be ours too.
Give to man what you owe him. Money, honor, obedience, fear.
This is NT doctrine!
1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers [judges, police officers, FBI Agents, SWAT teams, the national guard, the military], and for the praise of them that do well. [maybe not to praise us, but FOR our praise!] 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
We are free in Christ, we have liberty Spiritually. But as long as we are in the flesh, we are under fleshly ordinances, man’s government. And the will of God is to submit ourselves to fleshly ordinances. Apparently, this silences foolish mockers. Why? Because they expect Christians to fight against rules and rulers they don’t like. They expect Christians to complain about our ungodly authorities. They expect Christians to protest. They expect Christians to sue them at the law. They expect Christians to defy the unconstitutional orders of a governor. They expect Christians to fight back! They expect Christians to fight oppression and injustice! … Because those are the things that they do… and they think we are no different than them! Because they think there is no truth in us. They think we are just as rebellious as the are. They think there is no truth and no righteousness in Christianity above the world’s righteousness. And indeed, Christians, and supposed “Christians” are some of the biggest fighters. We think its our duty to stand up for what is right with righteous anger!!!
But when we don’t fight, but rather just be subject, submitting to those that God has set over us, we put the ignorance of those foolish men to silence! Not with a railing accusation, but with well doing. By not resisting evil.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Fighting against governments is what the wicked do!
2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
This is why they riot. They despise government. This is why they have “civil disobedience”, because they despise government. This is why they fight to defund the police, because they despise government. This is why they become activists and run for office, because they despise government. They want to be above it, or change it, or just speak evil of it.
This is what ungodly sinners do. You know what they’ve done to Donald Trump. What they’ve said about him, what they’ve said TO him. How they’ve harassed him and accused him and resisted him and mocked him. You know what they did to Barack Obama. Same things. You know what they do to their rulers that they don’t like, on both sides of the aisle. (Mayors, Governors, Congressmen). But we are not like them spiritually. So we shouldn’t be like them carnally!
Are some of our rulers corrupt, and unjust?! Absolutely! But God put them there over us, and we must needs be subject. Maybe they will be good to us. Maybe they will be evil to us. Maybe the Lord put them there to be evil to us just so that we can be praised and rewarded for well doing in the face of persecutions.
1 Peter 2:19-20 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
The Lord gave them their power over us, and we should be afraid to speak evil of them! We should be afraid to resist them. We should be afraid to lift up a sword against them.
David dealt with a horribly evil king set over him. When David was good, King Saul was wicked to him. But even when as Saul was hunting David to take away his life, and God delivered Saul into David’s hand in the cave, he didn’t fight, he humbled himself, and he said to Saul,
1 Samuel 24:10,12 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. … 12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
And again when Saul pursued to take away his life, and God delivered him into David’s hand, and again some bade David to kill Saul:
1 Samuel 26:10-11 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: …
It would be so easy to fight against our ordinances.. For David it would have been one of the easiest things he’d ever done.
1 Samuel 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee…
Sometimes the law is slacked. Sometimes justice does not go forth. When that is the case, the Lord is the avenger.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. …
The Lord punishes the corrupt judges of the land. The Lord avenges the poor and the oppressed.
Vengeance is His. Will you rob God?
If you believe there is injustice against you and you’ve been hurt, or defrauded, and you desire to be avenged, don’t avenge yourself. If I may be so bold to suggest: don’t even go to the law to be avenged. Call on the Lord! He is the Avenger!
And if you have oppressed your Christian brother (stolen, defrauded, slandered, reviled), you better get it right, and get it right quick!!
1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such,
Luke 18:7-8 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. …
The triumphing of the wicked is short. Be patient. Wait on the Lord. Let Him be your vengeance.
Dude, just wait a few minutes, maybe a few hours.
But our job as Christians is not to fight against the ordinances. Our job if not to avenge ourselves of injustice and fight against oppression. His job is to see and judge and avenge us. Our job is to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, enduring grief with conscience toward God, and as much as lieth in us, live peaceably with all men. Even to the froward.
1 Peter 2:18-19 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
It seems so unfair. It seems so impossible. But this is the will of God for us in this world. “Submit to every ordinance of man” and “avenge not yourselves”.
Obey the authorities. Even the froward. Cast your care upon Him, for He careth for you. Present your cause to Him, let Him judge your cause. Trust Him. Let HIM be your sword and shield, and your avenger.
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”
If you’ve been wronged, suffer it. If you’ve been cheated, allow it! Turn the other cheek. If a man sue you a the law and take away your coat, Let him have your cloke also. Hard stuff, but it’s the truth! Van.
1 Corinthians 6:6-8 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Apple Watch. Very hard… but I think this is what God expects. Not because He wants you to suffer… but because He wants you to be rewarded when He comes to judge, and innocent when He comes to avenge! God is not mocked! You won’t lose! The Judge is going to make it right!
You’ll be thanked, rewarded for suffering wrongfully, for His sake. Allowing persecution, not resisting evil, for conscience toward Him… You’ll conquer!
As much as you can, obey their power over you and submit peaceably.
By Pastor • Christian Life • 0