We Need a King for Our Nation – Part 3

Good Day to each of you reading this column on a King for our nation. Part 2 can be found here.

As we begin part 3, I must apologize for not getting right to the lesson above in part 2, but I was led to speak on spiritual milk and spiritual food for the mind. I am sure some or many of you have read the “Chicken Soup Series” of books and I wanted to interject that the Bible speaks on feeding your mind also.

Here’s a question—Have your read your Bible daily? Do you begin reading in the daytime, mid-day or nightly or all three times of the day? I read a chapter each morning to get my day started and I am enlightened by each word that was written.

Turn with me to Romans 13:1-6 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Keep your finger in that spot and turn with me to Daniel 2:21 (NIV) He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

You may wish to disagree, but God is in control and it is He who will put governing authorities in every country and it is God who will remove them from that same authority.

As you are aware, rulers, kings, governors, judges and people in authority are all mentioned in the Bible with one thing in common. All people are subject to God.

Not a select few, not some, not a percentage but all people including Satan and his folks are all subject to God. As my father said, he created you and he can take you out because he is God.

Look at Romans 13:1 -2(NIV) Our Christian obligation is that each person is subjecting himself to the governing authorities. This verse gives us the reason why we have this obligation: God hath established the authorities and if any of us resist governmental authority resist God’s ordinance and bring judgment upon himself.

Romans 13:3-7 (NIV) Paul is talking about authorities who are doing their duty. When authorities are unfair, honorable people are afraid. When authorities are fair, people are doing what is honorable and correct. As Christians, our conscience lets us know that we must obey God’s ordinances which includes submission to the authorities, paying our taxes and showing respect and honor to those entitled. These are obligations of believers to rulers. (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary).

Turn to 1 Peter 2: 13-14 (NIV) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

I have read thru these verses and the verses above and the question that has risen is Do we obey God rather than men? Look at Acts 5:29 (KJV) Then Peter, and the other Apostles answered, and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Take the time to read the whole chapter of Acts 5 to get the rest of the story—The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says Peter replied that such an injunction from the Sanhedrin really confronted them with the choice of obeying men or obeying God. The apostles knew their priorities and they also know that it is inevitable for conflicts to occur between authorities and a Christian. Use John 15:18 as a reference verse. We will all encounter situations where it is impossible to obey both God and man—Choose, obey and trust God with the following verse in mind

Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the son of man’s sake. (Luke 6:22) KJV

In conclusion, I stand by the word of God that we are to submit to the Governing authorities and do those things that God has directed us to do in the verses above. We are to pay our taxes and show respect and honor to those entitled. These are obligations of believers to rulers. We will all encounter situations where it is impossible to obey both God and man—Choose, obey and trust God and his word because with God, nothing is impossible.

Our next lesson will feature 1 Timothy 2:1-2 on the subject above.

I hope that each of you reading this lesson has been challenged and will share your thoughts.

Thank you for taking time to read this lesson and May God Bless You richly.

Jeff