(#438) Romans 13 - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?(#438) Romans 13 – October 28, 2018 -TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES a Christian Church Rory Clark Pastor-Teacher
Good Morning!
Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church that makes a difference. My name is Pastor Rory Clark. At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective.
Satan, the enemy of God, is the ruler of this world, planet earth. The Lord placed this evil authority in his position of authority. John Chapter 12, Verse 31 says…
JOHN 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world (as manifest by Christ’s death on a Cross)…now (as a result of the Lord’s strategic win at the Cross) the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out (he will be dethroned at a future time).
As believers in Christ, we are not subjects of Satan and his evil authority…our authority is the Sovereign God of the Universe…the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Philippians, Chapter 3, Verses 17 to 21, the apostle Paul says…
PHILIPPIANS 3:17 Brethren (believers in Christ)…join in following my example (by loving the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word)…and observe those who walk (with a lifestyle) according to the pattern you have (seen) in us.
PHILIPPIANS 3:18 For many (people) walk in lifestyle, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping (the way is broad that leads to destruction), that many are enemies of the Cross of Christ (they are unbelievers)…
PHILIPPIANS 3:19 …and their end is destruction (in the Lake of Fire)…their god is their appetite (the appetite of emotions)…and their glory is in their shame (they are proud of the things they should be ashamed of)…who set their minds on earthly things (as a lifestyle).
Unbelievers don’t think about eternity.
PHILIPPIANS 3:20 For (believers in Christ) our citizenship is in heaven (where our Authority lives…our citizenship is not on earth)…from which heaven also we eagerly wait for (the return of) a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…
PHILIPPIANS 3:21 …who (when He returns at the Rapture of the Church) will transform the body of our humble state (our current physical bodies) into conformity with the (resurrection) body of His glory…by the exertion of the (divine) power (omnipotence) that the Lord has…even the power to subject all things to Himself.
Like Abraham, a believer in Christ and the father of The Jewish Race, Church Age believers patiently wait for the construction of our real home… as illuminated in Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 10…
HEBREWS 11:10 …for Abraham was looking for the city which has foundations…whose architect and builder is God the Father (a reference to the heavenly and eternal Jerusalem).
Welcome to a place where believers in Christ can learn the importance of respecting authority, especially our One true authority, the Lord Jesus Christ.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
In a few words, He wants us to deal with evil authority just as He did…respectfully. In today’s lesson, we’ll get some insight into authority, especially the handling of evil authority.
In Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 31, Paul reminds us that people who follow the right authority can do anything…
ROMANS 8:31b If God is for us believers in Christ, and He is, who is going to be successful against us?
Using the power of our God, we can do that which seems impossible. Here’s Toby Mac with his song BEYOND ME, reminding us that God can do amazing things!
MUSIC AND REFLECTION Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
BEYOND ME Toby Mac
OPENING PRAYER Let us pray...
We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…
Father, thank you for those you place in authority…we know that You put them up front, at the point…we know that You want us to respect them…and even when they are evil, and when it looks like they can do anything they please, we know they serve at Your pleasure…and that You will not let evil prevail against Your believers…
In a world that disrespects authority, give us, Your believers in Christ the power to stand up for authority…and remind us to bring Your power to bear on human events through prayer…
…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
We are studying the first passage of Romans Chapter 13…Verses 1 to 7…
ROMANS 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the authorities in power. Why? Forthere is no authority in power except ones that were put in power by God… and those authorities that exist…those authorities in power…are established by God.
ROMANS 13:2 Therefore whoever rebels against authority has rebelled against the ordinance of God…and they who have opposed the ordinance of God (are rebelling against God as well…and) they will receive (both divine and civil) condemnation upon themselves.
ROMANS 13:3 For rulers (in authority) are not a cause of fear for those who have good behavior (those who obey)…but rulers are a cause of fear for those who indulge in evil (those who disobey). Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the authority…
ROMANS 13:4 …for the authority is a minister of God (a diakonos…a deacon)…given as a grace gift to you for your own good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid… for the authority does not bear the sword (firearms and capital punishment) for nothing…for the authority is a minister of God…an avenger…who brings wrath (punishment for wrongdoing) on the one who practices evil.
ROMANS 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection to authority…not only because of (the) wrath (wielded by those in authority), but also for your conscience’ sake (which is always imploring you to obey God).
ROMANS 13:6 For because of authority you also pay taxes…for rulers in authority are servants of God…devoting themselves to this very service (full time)…the service called ministering.
ROMANS 13:7 Render to all authorities what is due them…tax to whom tax is due…custom to whom custom is due…respect to whom respect is due…honor to whom honor is due.
In our first two lessons on Romans, Chapter 13…I asked two thought provoking questions…“Remember when we used to respect authority?” … and … “Do We Have to Respect Authority When Authority is Evil?” The answer to both questions is YES. In every age, there are those who think respecting authority is a great idea…and those who don’t want to respect authority…just know that God expects us to respect authority, even when it is evil.
Why? It is because there is no authority in place except the authority that is put in position by God, evil or not! The greatest human ruler must humbly confess that he is where he is by virtue of God’s Sovereign appointment.
Some rulers and some governments are good…some are bad. Some reward the right and punish the wrong. Others do the reverse. Most rulers and governments do a little of both.
Therefore, God’s request for subjection to the governing authorities requires discernment. When the demands of the governing authorities require us to disobey the Lord Jesus Christ, we are free not to obey the demands. Instead we will think as Peter thought in Acts, Chapter 5, Verse 29…
ACTS 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
We honor God above the state. This requires us, as believers in Christ, to KNOW God’s thoughts through the study of His Word. First Peter, Chapter 2, Verses 13 to 20…
FIRST PETER 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution (the authority God institutes among men) whether to a king as the one in authority (like the President)…
FIRST PETER 2:14 …or to governors as sent by the king, both for the punishment of evildoers and for praise to those who do the right things.
Why do we respect authority? For the Lord’s sake! When we respect authority, we respect the Lord. We respect those things in line with the Word of God.
FIRST PETER 2:15 For such is the will of God…that by doing right (through excellent conduct) you believers in Christ may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
FIRST PETER 2:16 Act as free men act…and do not use your freedom as a veil over your evil deeds…but use your freedom as if you are bondslaves of God the Father.
In other words, we are not to use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. We are at our best as Christians when we live as doulos…bondslaves…in twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week service to our God.
FIRST PETER 2:17 Honor all people (for their uniqueness)…love the brotherhood (other believers in Christ)…respect God (with awe and reverence)…honor the king (respect authority).
FIRST PETER 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect…not only to those masters who are good and gentle…but also to those masters who are unreasonable (literally those authorities who are not straight…curved).
As believers in Christ we are to be especially grateful when we have to endure undeserved punishment…because how we handle evil authority demonstrates our respect for our genuine authority…the Lord Jesus Christ.
FIRST PETER 2:19 For respecting authority finds favor with God the Father…if for the sake of conscience toward God the Father a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
FIRST PETER 2:20 For what credit is there if you endure with patience when you sin and are harshly treated (you deserve the harsh treatment)? But if when you do what is right…and you suffer for it…and you patiently endure it…THIS finds favor with God.
When you break the law…and when authority harshly treats you when you sin…there is no credit for you with God…but when you suffer unjustly… and you just take it with a smile…God appreciates you for it. After all, it’s what He would do…it’s what He did at the Cross.
When we get back from the break, we’ll take the offering, and then we’ll learn more about how the Lord handles evil authority.
BREAK Five Minutes
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
When you hear the word “philanthropy” what comes to mind? For many people what comes to mind is a wealthy philanthropist practicing philanthropy, which is thought of as giving money to charitable causes.
Philanthropy actually comes from two Greek words…philos…brotherly love (as in Philadelphia)…and anthropos…man (as in anthropology). “Philanthropy” is an expression of your love for mankind. Money is not inferred in the word at all. All of us are philanthropists. The offering is your chance to engage in “philanthropy.” It’s your chance to give your treasure as an expression of your love for all mankind.
When you give to Barah Ministries we direct your generosity to the benefit of people all over the world…people we don’t even know or see…courtesy of the internet…people who need to hear the gospel message and who need to learn the Word of God. God rewards our small expressions of kindness done with our giving. Be generous in your “philanthropy!”
Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with this week’s offering message.
THE OFFERING Deacon Denny Goodall
OFFERING VERSE
COLOSSIANS 3:22 Slaves…in all things obey those who are your masters (authorities) on earth…not with external service…as those who merely please men…but with sincerity of heart…respecting the Lord.
OFFERING FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE Dave McClure, Instrumental
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
Welcome back!
The great thing about having the Lord Jesus Christ as our ultimate authority is that His divine strength is perfect when our human strength is gone. Let’s listen to MercyMe’s recommendations for the times when we run out of power, in their song EVEN IF.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
EVEN IF MercyMe
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - How Does the Lord Want Us to Handle Evil Authority?
We continue our study of Romans, Chapter 13 at Verse 1….
ROMANS 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the authorities in power. Why? Forthere is no authority in power except ones that were put in power by God… and those authorities that exist…those authorities in power…are established by God.
This part of Paul’s letter to the first century Romans, in fact most of his letter to the Romans, is addressed to believers in Christ. The authorities being described in this chapter are the authorities in government. But the sentiment being expressed applies equally to all authorities because all authority is put in place by God.
By the way, if you’re wondering if the authorities in power at the time Christ was on the earth were evil, they were. The Lord Jesus Christ lived in the time of Pontius Pilate, one of the most evil rulers ever. Paul lived in the time of Nero (known as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) who ruled the Senate and the People of Rome from AD 54 to AD 68. This guy made Hitler look like a choirboy. How evil was he? He killed his own mother!
God is saying that the authorities He puts in power deserve your respect and your obedience, whether they are good or evil. God allows both good authorities and evil authorities…He puts them in place to serve His purpose.
There has never been a time in the history of mankind when disrespect for authority is so high. Second Timothy, Chapter 4, Verses 3 and 4…
SECOND TIMOTHY 4:3 For the time will come when people will not seek out sound doctrine…instead, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will seek out for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires…
SECOND TIMOTHY 4:4 …teachers who will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn their ears to myths.
There are always false teachers…students get dumb when they seek out false teachers. The sin of turning to false teachers must not be taken lightly! First John, Chapter 3, Verse 4 tells us what happens…
FIRST JOHN 3:4 Everyone who practices sin (everyone who breaks the law) also PRACTICES lawlessness (law breaking)…and sin is lawlessness.
Lawlessness is the spirit of refusing control…and this rebellion came in long before the Mosaic Law…it existed even in the angelic state in eternity past…it started with Satan’s sin which caused the fall of all angelic creatures…Isaiah, Chapter 14, Verses 13 and 14…
ISAIAH 14:13 “But you (Satan) said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the third heaven… I will raise my throne above the stars of God (the angels in the second heaven)…and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (the first heaven).
ISAIAH 14:14 “‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (I will take over the function of God)…I will make myself like the Most High.’”
Lawlessness is the mentality of the unbeliever…and it is at the root of all sin.
A soul rejecting God’s authority
Any doctrine held in a soul that flies in the face of obedience to God
The New Age Movement
The “Universe”
Wives rejecting their husband’s authority
Children (especially teen-agers) rejecting a parent’s authority
Citizen’s rejecting the government’s authority
An unwilling to punish crimes
A distortion of the justice system and legal procedures (plea bargains replacing justice)
Political correctness (a prison)
Governments rejecting God’s authority with gay marriage, lotteries, casinos, the alternative minimum tax, tax on social security
A republic becoming a democracy of fascism (fleeing to socialism)
The rejection of authority on two poles…lasciviousness and legalism
The Lord did not reject authority. Pontius Pilate was the worst Roman Governor, yet Jesus respected his authority. How does the Lord want us to handle evil authority? John, Chapter 19, Verses 1 to 11…
JOHN 19:1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him.
Pilate has Jesus whipped. He hoped the crowd would be satisfied with a little blood. He was scourged with a rubber whip with metal on the ends. When this didn’t work. Pilate sought to humiliate Jesus.
JOHN 19:2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him…
JOHN 19:3 …and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they gave Him slaps in the face.
This didn’t satisfy the crowd. Unbelievers are never satisfied.
JOHN 19:4 Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.”
JOHN 19:5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
In other words, “Is this enough?” It wasn’t.
JOHN 19:6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying,“Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”
The more Pilate tries to wash his hands of the situation, the deeper hole he digs.
JOHN 19:7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law (concerning blasphemy), and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
If the Lord was lying, He deserved to die. He wasn’t lying. Pilate’s wife had warned him not to get mixed up with Jesus…she had a dream.
JOHN 19:8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid…
JOHN 19:9 …and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
The Lord’s silence fulfilled Scripture…Isaiah, Chapter 53, Verse 7…
JOHN 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
JOHN 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above...for this reason he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin.”
The Lord Jesus Christ handled evil authority with grace. He expects us to do the same.
GOD WANTS YOU… …to Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life
The closing moments of this study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU.
What is going to happen to you when you close your eyes in this life? How can you get to heaven?
Many people believe that religious rituals are their ticket into heaven. They embrace religious beliefs that tell them how to live a spiritual life. The religion claims there is a God, or there are many gods…but the religion does not tell you how to have a personal relationship with Him. God is portrayed as if He is an evil authority holding our sins against us and expecting us to change our conduct. In spite of following all the religious rituals, the religion does not guarantee that following those rituals will get you into heaven.
In John, Chapter 4, Verses 13 and 14, the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to a woman at a well…a Samaritan woman whom the Jews of the day wanted nothing to do with…after a brief conversation, the Lord Jesus Christ, a Jew, says to her…
JOHN 4:13 “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again…”
JOHN 4:14 “…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst…but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
It is the Lord’s will for you to come to heaven to live with Him when you close your eyes in this life. Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9…
SECOND PETER 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of, but instead He is patient toward you unbelievers, not wishing for any of you to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all of you to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).
First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4…
FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ)…
FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4 …who desires all men to be saved and who desires for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The truth of how to get to heaven is as simple as a nine-word request…Luke, Chapter 23, Verses 42 and 43…
LUKE 23:42 A thief being crucified next to Jesus was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
LUKE 23:43 And Jesus said to the thief, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Or if you prefer…it’s a five word conversation with God the Father… “Father…I believe in Christ.” Simply believe…and that is the moment of eternal life for you. Place your confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish your salvation for you.
Once the Lord saves you, no matter how hard you try, you cannot lose it…John, Chapter 10, Verse 28 says…
JOHN 10:28 “…and I (the Lord Jesus Christ) give eternal life to believers in Christ, and they will never perish…and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
On the other hand, if you reject the relationship offer of this God who does not want you to perish, He will honor your rejection…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 49 and 50…
MATTHEW 13:49 So it will be at the end of the age…the elect angels will come forth and take out the wicked (unbelievers) from among the righteous (believers in Christ)...
MATTHEW 13:50 …and will throw them into the furnace of fire…in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There’s no time to waste...believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…and then you can learn about what you did! What you did is take advantage of a God who loves you unconditionally. Here is June Murphy with our closing song…a song she wrote and produced…speaking from God’s perspective…it’s called WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU.
CLOSING SONG WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU June Murphy
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
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