Living in a Foreign World 3

 We answer to the Highest Authority.

Did you know that as children of God, we are instructed to follow our earthly leaders? We are. Look here.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

I have even heard non-believers quote this scripture. “See. Even your Bible tells you that you have to obey us and do what the government tells you.” They are not wrong. Well, not really.

Does this mean that we have to follow an evil leader? Do we have to follow a government that is trying to remove God from society? Trying to oppress anything “Christian?” The Bible emphasizes the importance of respecting those in authority. Since it does, how can we find the balance between obeying God and respecting earthly authority? This is what we are going to talk about today.

First, let us put Romans 13:1 into context. It is ALWAYS important to look at the context. Especially when it is someone who is not a child of God quoting it to you.

“ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Yes, it absolutely says this. However, keep reading.

“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

So God is serious about us following earthly authority. Right? Keep reading.

“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,”

Wait what?

“for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”

God is not talking about evil rulers, but good God-fearing leaders. Keep going

“Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Romans 13:1-7

What does God’s Word actually say? Obey earthly authorities IF they are God-fearing, Bible-believing, Holy authorities. Not evil, anti-God ones. Read this. {Holding up the Bible} You can clearly see the difference.

If this meant what some want you to believe then why would God bring the Jews out of Egypt? Think about that. God appointed Pharaoh. Yes, He did. Why did He not just order the Jews to obey Him? Why would God appoint him if He knew he would be evil?

“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.”

No. He did not tell the Jews that they had to obey Pharaoh. You know the story, plagues, death, and destruction. The exodus of the Jews is something we are still celebrating today. What about this example in The Word?

Daniel 3. This story tells the tale of three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refuse to bow down to an idol, even though the king has commanded them to do so. Their loyalty to God takes precedence over their fear of the king.

“And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace." Dan 3:4-6

The Bible tells us that King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was nearly 90 feet tall and about 9 feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. He ordered it into law so that everyone needed to worship it.

Well, three God-fearing men said no. God alone is who we bow before and God alone is who we worship. Because of this, they were thrown into the fiery furnace that was so hot, that the furnace overheated, and the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Yet?

“He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking amid the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.” Daniel 3:25-26

How about this story in the New Testament?

Acts 4:19-20 This is a powerful scene where Peter and John are brought before the authorities for preaching about Jesus. The authorities command them to stop speaking about Jesus.

"But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'" Acts 4:19-20

How can we discern when God calls us to take a stand, even if it's unpopular? There are many other stories in the Bible of people answering to God more than man. Think about prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah, or the early Christians who faced persecution. What can we learn from their examples?

The short answer as to how we know is right here. The Bible. If, whatever it is, that someone is telling you, is NOT in here, then it is a lie. What an earthly authority tells you, even if they make it a law, goes against this. {Holding up the Bible} Then you need to read this, pray, and follow this. It is getting even more difficult to follow earthly authority because we are in a downward spiral where sin is celebrated and we are being forced to at the least remain silent or face consequences. I say that is the worst thing we, as children of God can do. We HAVE to follow our Father, His Word, and realize, we are no longer a part of this world.

Remember what Jesus told us?

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Matthew 5:10-11

If we were blindly following the world then the world would love us and we would not be persecuted or reviled. We should never fear this.

“The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” Proverbs 29:25

And here?

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

Remember, it is the fear of God that is the beginning of all wisdom, not the fear of man. The wisdom of this world is complete nonsense and foolishness to God. We are His children now.

“And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:17

We are His and there is nothing that can change that.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake, we are being killed all day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

We are no longer citizens of this world. We are citizens of Heaven and God is our Father and He is it we are to answer to. Yes, obey the speed limit. Yes, pay your taxes. Yes. Follow the laws. However, when the time comes, and it will, when you have to choose who you will serve and who you will answer to, may I suggest you follow God.

Have you gotten your Passport? Are you a citizen of Heaven and are you a child of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!