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Thank you Arnold's the Lord gives good gifts to the church and we are glad that the Lord has given the Arnold's to this church. Thank you. I Couldn't help but just quick go to Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength a Very present help in trouble.
That was the psalm that Martin Luther used to write that hymn and literally God is our refuge and strength abundantly available for help in Tight places and we praise God for who he is. Thank you. We normally don't do this.
But that this week in the next two weeks if you're between kindergarten and sixth grade and you want to sing in the outreach Christmas Concert with the children's choir you can be dismissed and go upstairs.
I think lots of people I heard trample upstairs, but if there's anyone else Who wants to go up and sing you can be dismissed now to go upstairs? It wasn't a dramatic change, but I had a change in my life a couple weeks ago.
On November 5th my life changed. You say in what way did it change? On November 5th, I decided to give up talk radio. I thought I already struggle in my life with submitting to authority and obeying authority and not maligning Authority and speaking evil of them.
So why every time I get in my car and I'm at home working out or other times I turn on the radio and listen to other people continually malign and speak poorly of the leadership that we have. Somehow wishing the new leadership to do poorly.
So the next group of sinful people will come in and next four years, etc Etc, etc and I thought I've got a lot more free time on my hand now that I don't have to listen to the barrage of 96 .9 and all the other stations that are out there depending on your point of view.
What do we do with all this free time we have now? That's a good question. Why don't you turn your Bibles to first Timothy chapter 2 and let's see what Christians are supposed to do for their leaders.
We're in Matthew chapter 6 the Lord's Prayer, but I've taken this little deviation. Two weeks ago to look at Romans chapter 13 as we're supposed to submit to the government in all things. Last week Titus chapter 3 as we are again to submit to the government even if it's in a place like Crete where there's all kinds of liars and and gluttons and Lazy people around and today we finish our miniseries on how are we to think about government?
What's a Christian way to think about glorifying God as we relate to the government the current government the new government and today? We'll look at the final issue and that is what are Christians supposed to do in a proactive way?
There are several things that we're not supposed to do, but today we're going to answer the question What should we do for our government and the response that Paul is going to give? Timothy and then all to all of us as well is that we are to pray for our church leaders.
Know that we are to pray for our government leaders. I could ask you the question. How's your prayer life? And I could also ask you now specifically how often do you pray for those above you in government?
Is it something that you say it takes a prominent place in my life? It's part of my prayer life. I regularly pray for those who are in leadership. If I could summarize first Timothy, it's a book. It's a pastoral epistle.
That's Paul telling Timothy. Here's what we do in the local church, and if you go to chapter 3 we can see this very clear purpose statement. Some New Testament epistles don't tell us this clearly. What the book is about we have to search a little bit, but this book very clearly very simply very easily states The chapter 3 verse 14 this is why this book was written so everything else in the book needs to be tucked underneath this purpose statement.
Chapter 3 verse 14. I am writing these things to you. So Paul is writing to Timothy very obviously. I know congregation noon. You know this. Hoping to come to you before long. But in case I am delayed I write so that there's the purpose statement right there in order that so that this is a purpose statement so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the Household of God and he elaborates which is the church of the Living God the pillar and support of truth.
By the way, this is a kind of Letter written so we know how to act in church and the church is unified by this common confession in verse 16. Great is the mystery of godliness he was revealed in the flesh was vindicated in the spirit seen by angels.
Proclaimed among the nations believed on in the world taken up in glory. How does the local church? Operate. Answer first Timothy second Timothy and finally what? Titus. And so chapter 1 if we go back to chapter 1 Paul is trying to deal with some false teachers.
With how to deal with the law correctly. And he says that he is very thankful that he is a servant of the Living God because he's such a sinner. He deals with some false teachers. And now we move to chapter 2 verse 1 and if your Bible has a little liner note mine says a call to prayer.
So this is certainly individual prayer, but he's mainly concerned about corporate prayer. And so let's look at this question how Christians are to pray for their leaders and frankly if we don't pray for our leaders who else will if Christians don't pray for their leaders.
Do we expect the Hindus to pray for the leaders. The Hindus don't pray to a real God and that God that they pray to Is a figment of their imagination which cannot help the leaders. If we're expecting some other religion to pray for the leaders.
These other religions outside of Christ Jesus as the our only Lord and Savior aren't real religions. They're demon based religions. They're demons cloaking the minds of these poor people who have their minds blinded by Satan their wills captive to do Satan's will and they pray to a false God and if we are expecting other people to pray for our leaders these Other people who aren't Christians don't pray to a real God therefore can't answer prayers correct.
We are the ones who must pray for our leaders, and this is one of those passages when you first read it. You kind of miss things unless you just slow down. So we're going to take the slowdown method and just work our way through first.
Timothy chapter 2 verse 1 to 7. Christians praying for their leaders. Chapter 2 verse 1 it says first of all then I Urge that in treaties prayers petitions and Thanksgiving be made. Thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men for kings for all who are in authority in order that we may lead a Tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
He says first of all this is what I want you to do. It's a first importance. It's not do this at the beginning. Ron Farrar was not sinning when he started off the service today with announcements. He's not saying this is the order of chronology.
He's saying this is a very important subject. It should be of primary concern of primary importance. This is very important and Paul comes alongside of Timothy. You can just imagine that relationship that the two had and he says I want to put my arm around you.
Like the Spirit of God the paraclete, and I'm gonna paraclete you. I urge you come alongside of you and say this is very important Timothy. It's not something you can just shrug off. I urge you. And I'm gonna urge you to pray for the government by the way.
This is all under the auspices of worship. Some people think that the local church is only on this earth to evangelize. I Believe in evangelism, but I believe this local church is on this earth to glorify the Lord.
Through sometimes public worship of hearing the word preached. Sometimes public worship through prayers and sometimes going out and scattering and evangelizing. That's what we're after the glorification of the Lord and here four kinds of prayers are given for these government authorities.
And it's hard to figure out what these four different words mean. Here's what we do know. They're all plural. Did you notice that at s on the end of every one of those and Smarter people than us have not been able to figure out all the nuances that always makes me feel good.
When other people smarter than I am can't quite figure out all the details John Calvin said I admit That I do not completely understand the difference between these words. Then after mentioning one attempt to do so Calvin then said but I myself do not go in for subtle distinctions of that kind.
So I don't know what John was trying to do there. But there are some things that we can know when we pray for the government. Look at these four Types of prayers that we as a church should be praying for our for our government leaders.
The first one is supplications are Entreating in the new American Standard update in treaties. Here's what this word means. Someone has a need and we are praying to our God to fill that need. There literally is something lacking in their lives and since it's lacking we ask God to grant what is lacking.
They are it's from a root word that means to be deprived. There's something that they don't have and that they need and if you're thinking about government leaders, and you say God I'm gonna pray to you.
I know it's important and there's not gonna be anybody else who's going to pray. It's only the Christians who can really pray to you this God. I want you to give the government leaders what they're lacking and if you had to ask the question, what are they lacking?
What answer would you give? Well, lots of things could be lacking but there's something at the top of the priority poll, isn't it? Isn't there? God that you would grant them what? Saving faith. Don't you want all those who are in government and all those people that you know?
And those who lead us to be Christians that God would grant them saving faith. They're lacking that they can't come up with their own salvation. They can't save themselves. They can't somehow as a sinful person bring any merit to God.
God alone must save. People are passive in redemption. They receive salvation. God grants it as a free gift. It's by his mercy by his love by his sons. Sacrificial substitutionary death and we need to say God they're lacking that grant that and we would all believe at this church that we should pray God give salvation to our President elect our senators elect our congressmen elect, etc.
Those who are outside of Christ God grant saving faith. Certainly, they need wisdom. Don't they if we wanted to pray God, they're lacking wisdom. Certainly if James says to Christians if any of you and James chapter 1 verse 5 lacks Wisdom then let him ask of this generous gracious God who loves to give wisdom as long as we don't ask in doubts.
So let's say God it's important for a ruler to have wisdom. Solomon had one request for something and he asked for Wisdom. God grant them wisdom grant them. Good minds grant them good counsel and the list goes on and on and I'll talk more about that in a minute.
The second type of word for prayer. When it comes to a worship service in a local church There's an important thing to do and that's to pray for kings and those in authority. Not just with requests and supplications and entreaties, but also number two with prayers.
This is just a general word. That means to fall down on your face and you pray to God. It's used only of God. You don't pray to your wife to your husband to the government leaders to some other kind of shrine or anything else this word prayers is only and always directed towards an Object and that is praying to God and God alone.
General types of prayers. Number three the third kind of prayer is an intercession are as we would call it in the new American Standard a petition. If you wanted to go into the king's presence in the old days.
You would have to have some kind of paperwork. You'd have to have some kind of Petition so that you could get in front of him. And then you would ask this king a question and you would ask him I have a need and so this has the idea that you're going into the king's presence and now before the king maybe with head Bowed maybe on your face God.
I have this need for someone else. I'm Reverently asking you to do X Y Z so see there's some overlap here, and this has the idea this this word I'm pleading on behalf of not myself, but on someone else.
So it's not we could give a petition to God to help us. But this word is the petition for God to help someone else the leaders. Then the fourth word the fourth plural prayer kind of word I urge that Thanksgiving's don't forget that s there Thanksgiving's be made on behalf of all men.
God, thank you for the mercies. You've given us and the gracious. You've given us. But also, thank you that you've given grace to other people and certainly there are some leaders who are saved etc. I'm thankful Lord that you've given us this leader for this particular time.
And then all of a sudden this thing starts to explode. I want these kind of prayers to be made on behalf of all men by the way that's going to take a long time. If you get the yellow pages in Worcester and start praying for all men.
It's going to take you quite a long time. I think those worship services back in the New Testament days were very long. Weren't they no wonder people would fall out of windows die and then have to be.
Pray for every single person. Is that what he's saying when you see the word all it can be all inclusive all Relative in other words it could be all kinds of all sorts of all manner of our each and every all all all.
Which one is it is? Paul saying to Timothy pray for every person at Ephesus. By the way, there's this underlying theme at Ephesus, and here's the underlying theme. Don't pray for those in government. You're going to pray if you're in Jerusalem when there's people like Nero around when there's people like some of the Herod's around.
You're going to actually pray for those kind of people. Don't you dare number one. They're vile number two. They're foolish and number three. They're not Jewish. They're Gentiles. You're gonna pray for the Gentiles.
And there's this atmosphere around the church at Ephesus and Paul saying that's the wrong atmosphere. Why would he have to say to Timothy here's what I'm urging you to do because there's this underlying theme don't pray for those godless heathen Gentiles.
And so he says I want you to pray with all the different prayer words. With all the different kinds of supplication to pray on behalf of all men. Who are the all men verse 2 it tells us? It's not each and every person who is on the planet.
But it says this in verse 2 for kings. Oh those kind of men pray for all men all sorts of men like kings and all who are in authority. In order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
You can't say that he's saying every single person because a the Greek word would allow it. But certainly the context in verse 2 restricts it pray for everyone who pray for government leaders. When you assemble for worship make sure you pray for those above you.
Why. Isn't the person next door who's unsaved aren't they made in the likeness image into image of God. Yes, but people over you influence more. Your neighbor is a person before God. The king our president is a person before God.
But the king our president can influence how many people? Many. So you want to pray for those kind of people who can? Influence and who affect many. Anybody who's an elevated rank you pray for why it's almost self-serving, but it's it's it's a spiritual self-serving if you will.
What's the purpose in order that we the church may lead a tranquil and quiet life? God help our leaders so that there's not as much persecution on earth. There's not as many wars on earth that the Christian Church is given an environment to obey.
That's what he's talking about free from civil strife free from some kind of Unordered society that all our time is spent on everything else and we have no time to function as a corporate church. And it's difficult to evangelize.
We would like to have a quiet life. External disturbances are kept at a low. We would like a peaceable life. Internal disturbances are kept low. It's good to have religious freedom. It's good to have religious Freedom to preach the gospel and then he says what in all godliness and dignity that we might Work our salvation out before God and before other people you see why why would this be told to us?
Let me give you three reasons. Why should you pray on behalf of all men? That is a government leaders number one. Why should you why should we the church pray for all men that is government leaders? Number one because salvation was intended for all kinds of people including Government leaders.
Salvation is for all rank and station and race nationality including government leaders. It's not like this Jewish thought where they can't be saved. They're the Gentiles. They're the pagans. But salvation was intended for all these kind of people.
Take a look at first Timothy chapter 2 verse 3 and 4. This is all kind of introduction and now we're getting to this part where I say it to myself. When I'm preaching there's a couple points of the message where I think okay I can't wait to get to that part.
Not that I can't wait to get that part to see what I say. But I can't wait to get to this part so you can understand the text. I'm telling you when we read this passage chapter 2 verses 1 and 7 we read through it all the time.
We just throw the verses out, and we don't really know what they mean. When you find out what it means. Oh, you're gonna believe you're gonna be blessed. He says in verse 3 Why do we pray for all kinds of men like Kings?
Salvation is intended for all and it's pleasing to God. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior that's the highest motive. We have isn't it to please our great creator and Savior God and This kind of Savior Paul says He desires our who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now if you're not careful you may come up with this kind of thought. This verse means that God wants each and every person to come to salvation. That God wants by his intention and his by his designed to have Judas come to saving faith in the future to have the Antichrist come to saving faith.
Certainly we believe that God is not a God who is Taking pleasure in the death of the wicked, but does this text say that he desires each and every person to be saved. Each and every person that has ever been born that's God's desire and he's desiring that but you know.
You have to take the next step and the list goes on. What is he actually saying in this text? When Paul said When Jesus said to Paul through Ananias you will be this Witness to all men and then Jesus said to the Gentiles.
What is happening here? We better be careful when we see all men not to make it run too far. Let's look at it again. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men. By the way, who are the all men were to pray for just earlier in verse 2.
We're to pray for all sorts and kinds of men including government because believe it or not God desires certain kind of Kings and those in authority to be saved. Would you believe that? You believe that there's some people who were in authority that God would actually save and that's exactly what's happening here all men.
The Greek word can be all All kinds of all manner of and here it means God is desiring for these kind of men the government authorities to be saved. What does he mean by saved to be saved and come to the knowledge the saving knowledge?
Not just intellectual not just emotional but here with a Joyful recognition one man said that Jesus is God and they come to the knowledge of the truth Truth by the way in the pastoral epistles 14 times and it's always a technical term the message of the gospel God desires all these kinds of men in government to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Why do we pray for government leaders number one because God saves those kind of government leaders and number two found in verse five. Because there's only one God and mediator for those kind of government leaders and everyone else.
Now watch this. How many people have ever quoted this verse to someone? First Timothy chapter 2 verse 5. There's only one mediator between man and God the man Christ Jesus. It just flows doesn't it from our lips.
What does it mean by the way? Why is it here? Why is this verse here? Prayers to be made on behalf of all men that is kings and those in authority Church pray for those leaders because you wouldn't have an ample opportunity to preach the gospel have a quiet and tranquil life.
You pray for them. Nobody else is gonna pray for them. You pray God saves those kind of people and also now found in verse 5. Why pray for all kinds of people including Kings because there's one God and one mediator for all these kinds of people.
Including Kings. All right, let's look at it for there's one God verse 5 and one mediator also between God and men the man Christ Jesus. All right. Let's just think about this a little bit. Let's just say There's 50 gods in the universe just for argument.
And let's say those 50 gods are very kind to one another and they just divvy up all mankind kind of randomly. You know, let's count off numbers one two, three, four five when you get to 50 then you start up again with number one and so they divide them all up and they're just kind of friendly gods and and they Divide them up or maybe on the other hand.
They're rebellious towards one another and they fight and scrap and toil and there's warfare between them fighting for the people of the universe either one if there are 49 other gods than the one God that we serve.
Maybe those 49 other gods will save some of these Kings. Maybe some of these other gods who we know aren't gods. But for the sake of argument There are 49 other gods who are contending for people and God number one has these kind of Kings.
God number two has these kind Of people. God number three has these kind God number four has slaves. God number five has Gentiles, but the thing is there's there's only how many gods. There's only one God.
There's only one way of salvation. Acts chapter 4 verse 12 makes it very Clear there's not many gods. There's one God is Monotheistic. I mean we believe in the monotheistic God one God. There's not many gods.
So what is he saying? There's only one God that can save these kind of people. So who do you think you should pray to? Maybe some of the K through 6th grade kids should be in here because they would know the answer with all of us, right?
It's simple. It's math. You're saying pastor. Tell me something deep I'm going to and What if there's one God but three mediators? Maybe this mediator here will take care of these people this mediator to take care of these people and this mediator take care of these People so we've got Jesus.
He's a good mediator of the Virgin Mary. She's a good mediator and Muhammad he's a good mediator. And so who are you gonna pray to? Well, maybe some of these other leaders might be prayed to through Mary to get to God because God can't ever Say no to to Mary because who can say no to his mother, etc.
The list goes on and on there's only one prophet between you know, one God and that's his is Muhammad, but what if there's only one mediator? There's only one mediator between God and the human race and by the way, do you see the text?
One mediator between God and man. The Jew Christ Jesus. Of the slave Christ Jesus. The Gentile Christ Jesus the Jews are running around saying nobody else is gonna get saved. Here's this environment around Ephesus.
Don't pray for the Gentiles why would Paul say there's one person to stand between God the Holy God and sinful men and that is the Jew Christ Jesus, why would he say that? He wouldn't say it. Did he say it?
What does he say instead? Why do we play pray for all kinds of men because there's one mediator the Man Christ Jesus and by the way, it's not even the man in Greek. It's a man and if you've got the man, it's a particular person.
If you've got a man it describes that person's essence. We need to have a man to stand before us and God and since there's only one God and one Mediator we don't go to any other mediators when we have to pray to God to save our leaders and to give our leaders Wisdom.
There's not the slave Christ Jesus the Jew Christ Jesus the King Christ Jesus the Caesar Christ Jesus. Only one mediator the man Christ Jesus. This passage is important to us in these times. We believe in the exclusivity of Christ Jesus for salvation.
Yes. Only people through Christ Jesus will be saved. There's another view that's out there and it's called inclusivism and that basically means that Jesus is the Savior. But he saves different people different ways.
We don't believe that. We don't believe that a Hindu gets saved through Jesus from his let me rephrase that We don't believe that a Hindu gets saved because of Hinduism, but even though Jesus is there working through Hinduism.
But what is in our society today the prevalent view in this postmodern world is pluralism. You have exclusivism. Jesus is the only way there's one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus. We don't believe in inclusivism where it's Jesus, but he saves through these other religions and we don't believe in pluralism.
Jews get saved through the Jewish system. Hindus through the Hindu system. Muslims through the Muslim system. There is one mediator and if you believe the Bible you have to believe there's only one Mediator and if you want someone to be saved you have to pray through that one.
What that one who mediator? There's not one God for this group and another God for this group and one mediator for this nation another mediator through that nation. So he says pray through this one mediator this one Messiah who has the quality of being human so he can stand in our stead of course.
He's God because that's been said before in first Timothy chapter 1 and chapter 6. He is God, but he's also man. He must be mad man. Jesus is the only intermediator between God and man. Why should we pray for people like kings?
Well number one because salvation is intended for those kind of people. Number two. There's only one God and one mediator. Not many and number three found in verse 6. Why pray on behalf of your leaders?
Because there's one ransom for all kinds of people including the leaders. Chapter 2 verses 6 of 1st Timothy. This is a God who gave himself. Isn't that interesting. It's not an accident. It's not plan B.
He didn't get caught up in his his kind of Messiah complex. He gave himself as a ransom for what? Each and every person who was ever born that word could mean that but that word can't mean that in this context.
Pray for all kinds of people like Kings. God is a savior of all kinds of people like Kings. Jesus is a ransom for all kinds of people like Kings. This is right out of Mark chapter 10 verse 45. Jesus Christ did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.
It's exactly right. Jesus the man. Born to die. Deliberately gives himself over as a ransom. How do you get somebody out of slavery. You pay a price? That price is called a ransom and so Jesus, how does he get us out of the slave pit of sin?
He pays a price and that price is what? Himself at Calvary. He is the exchange price. You have some hijackers on an airplane. We demand this ransom for these people. And it's usually millions of dollars here.
It's not a price of money. It's Jesus life himself a substitute ransom on behalf of all. If I could give you the Greek words, it's basically like a substitute for all on behalf of all all kinds of people.
Including Kings. And if you were sitting there thinking you know what how can we pray for Nero? Who by the way according to tradition kills Paul. Who kills Peter. Who kills Christians as he lights Rome on fire?
Blames the Christians then sows the Christians inside animal skins. Puts tar all over the Christians and impales them on a stick and lights them for his parties. He's unsavable. We ought not to pray for him but here the text says we are to pray for these kind of Kings because God saves people who were Kings and He's a ransom for those kind of Kings as well.
Can you imagine? How are we to pray for Herod who basically what did he do to his mother? It was almost like a David in and Uriah kind of set up go to the front lines and You know defend me and and he gets killed same thing he sets it up in such a way that the that the Mother is going to have to go do something dangerous, and she makes it out alive and so He kills her and frames it as suicide.
Or how about one of his wives? He went out and was playing some games one night and came home late, and she didn't like that. And so he kicked her to death. We're to pray for this kind of person absolutely Jesus the voluntary ransom the ransom that God the Father honored and accepted by raising Jesus from the dead.
Why do we pray for people like this because we're told to and they need to be saved. Listen to one of the prayers found in early Christian worship first. Clement. Thou master has given the power of sovereignty to them talking about leaders through thy excellent and inexpressible might.
That we may know the glory and honor given to them by thee and be subject to them in Resisting in nothing resisting thy will and listen what he says here. It is and to them the government leaders Lord grant health peace Conquered firmness that they may administer the government which thou has given them without offense.
For thou heavenly master king of eternity has given to the sons of men glory and honor and power over the things which are on earth. Do thou O Lord direct their counsels according to that which is good and pleasing before thee.
Polycarp says pray for the Emperors and then look what Paul says in verse 7 as we wrap this section up and for this I was Appointed a preacher and an apostle. Why does he say the next parenthetical statement?
I'm telling the truth. I'm not lying. Well, duh. Now that would be irreverent if I said that what do you mean? He's writing scripture and he says I'm not lying. I'm telling you the truth. What does he try to say here?
Why is he saying that at all? Well, you keep reading you find out I'm telling the truth. I'm not lying as a teacher of the Gentiles. Not Jews, but Gentiles. I've been called to this office. I've been appointed.
I haven't pushed myself to the beginning to the front of the line. I've been called to go preach to Gentiles. And so when we pray for people we pray for Gentiles and we pray for the most wicked Gentiles who have the most power and the most might and we pray that God would save them because it's pleasing in God's sight and God often saves those in in government and we need to pray that way.
To that and we pray Tertullian said we offer prayer for the safety of our princes to the eternal the true the Living God. We pray for life prolonged for security to the Empire for protection to the Imperial House for brave armies a faithful Senate a Virtuous people the world at rest whatever as man or Caesar an emperor would wish.
How different is that from those on radio? I don't listen to that station anymore. But those on that station, let's let's let's we can't wait for the downfall of this next president. So the next guy can come in or gal and just in a few short weeks on a Sunday night We're gonna have a special prayer meeting here at the church.
And this is exactly what we're gonna do an extended time of prayer for our government. Sometimes God saves those in government. How about Philippians 422. All the Saints greet you especially those of Caesars household.
Wow. How about Romans 16 23. Gaius host to me and to the whole church greet you. Erastus the city treasurer greet you. We pray for all those kind of people because God's a savior of all those kinds of people and Jesus gave his ransom for all Those kind of people and if you want to pray things like God, I pray that you would save the president-elect.
I pray that you would save him from the nonsense of aborting babies and all these kind of things. We want you to pray for that, but we need to be praying for our leaders. I. For your senators for your mayor.
You say yeah, but What if they tell me to disobey the Bible? Can't go along with that. Can we and the time we have left? Let me give you some quick biblical illustrations on what a Christian should do if The government tells you to disobey them.
Let's quickly go to Daniel chapter 1. Daniel chapter 1. The Bible teaches us in 1st Timothy that were to pray for our leaders and now I want to answer the final question. That's in our minds. What happens with the government who makes us disobey?
How do we respond? Romans chapter 13 says we're sub to submit. Even though when we disobey we dare have that we are to have a submissive attitude. But what are some examples or biblical illustrations that show us what we're supposed to do and in every one of these.
Here's what you won't find. You won't find kicking. You won't find spitting. You won't find protesting. You won't find blood-curdling screams with Veins popping out. You won't find people flopping on the ground to be arrested.
You won't find any kind of civil disobedience that we often think of you're going to find. Directly disobeying the temporal king to directly obey the real king. But I want to show you these illustrations to give you hope and it just you let you watch as God is the one who's working behind these weak people to obey both men and women.
Are there times when a Christian should disobey government? Yes. Daniel chapter 1 verse 2 and the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Jehoiakim Judah Daniel 1 to into his hand along with some of the vessels of the house of God.
He brought them to the land of Shinar to the house of his God. And he brought the vessels into the treasury of his God. Then the king ordered Ashpen as the chief of the officials to bring some of the sons of Israel including some of the royal family.
And of the nobles and so here Nebuchadnezzar a Nabu has protected my inheritance is his name is very smart. How do you conquer the world? You don't have enough armies to go conquer every one so you can kind of recruit from within and you get the best and the brightest and the and the youngest and then you Infiltrate their minds you brainwash them and bring them along and then you can put them over some of those places instead of dividing out your army get loyalty from the inside out and.
That says that in verse 4 youths in whom there was no defect who were good-looking showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom endowed with Understanding discerning knowledge and who had the ability for serving in the king's court.
And ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans by the way so far so good. Is it okay to be brainwashed with language and literature? Did these young men say I'm not gonna do it anymore.
I have to obey God instead of obeying you. What did they do? They went along because there's no disobedience to God yet. They're doing what they're supposed to do and they studied math and language astronomy, etc.
Probably the Akkadian language verse 5 the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice. Food and from the wine which he drank and appointed they should be educated three years. The end of which there to enter the king's personal service now.
Among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah. Now look what's gonna happen then the commander the officials assigned new names to them. How do you brainwash people. Teach them different language teach them different culture.
Give them all the best of these things and give them new names because those old names with God in them aren't going to do. It's like the girl I met in Los Angeles. She was from Scotland. Her name was Sharon.
She met this false cult leader named John Rogers aka Jesus and Jesus. This guy gave her a new name your new names not sharing anymore. It's. It's worse here though these are the new names and They didn't fight it because it's not against God's law to have a king give you a new name Daniel his name means God has judged or God is my judge.
He is given a new name by the king. Belshazzar. Lady protect the king. That's your new name. Some say it's made Bell protect his life. So now he has a new name of a Sun God Earth God fire God. His name used to be God is judged.
You can look at the end of Daniel's name EL for Elohim. Look at the end of some of these other men's names when they end in a H. That's Yahweh is in their name. Change his name to Lady protect the king.
Hananiah, which means how way has been gracious gets changed to Shadrach. I'm fearful of a god. I'm fearful of a coup the moon God three. Michiel Who is what God is. Who is like God. Michael means that no comments.
Michiel who is like God gets changed to Meshach and Meshach is I'm humble and despised before my God. Small G or it could mean who is a coup and Then Azariah. Yahweh has helped me get sick gets changed to a bend to go Servant of Nebo the false God.
These men did not put their foot down. They didn't say I have to obey God instead of My king. They said all right I will obey but when push came to shove look when they said I have to obey God instead.
And did it with respect they did it with a submissive heart even though they disobeyed the king on earth. Verse 8. But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank.
So he sought permission by flopping on the ground and resisting arrest. From the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Daniel said I know Mosaic law in Exodus chapter 34 verse 15.
I'm not to eat things sacrificed to other idols and have other idols be prayed over and food. I'm not to do that. And so I will stand before the king and I will take my punishment by the way you think yeah.
It's not too big a deal. Look what happened to teenagers in Jeremiah 39. Just listen then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah the king of Babylon also Slew all the nobles of Judah.
He then blinded Zedekiah his eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon. May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab whom the God of Babylon Roasted in the fire. This could have costed everything, but Daniel said I'm not going to defile myself.
Change my language. Good to go change my name. Good to go. Neither of those contradict the Bible. But when the Bible is contradicted, and I have to disobey God I will do what? Disobey the King on earth.
I Mean come on. Mom and dad are never gonna know. Just one little one kind of situational ethics. Reminds me of East Stanley Jones who said if you don't make up your mind your unmade mind will unmake you.
Daniel here purposed in his heart the Hebrew word is to read be resolved. I'm not gonna do it. No matter what friends. Abortion is a heinous crime. But the government is not making us commit abortion.
The government is letting people kill their own children. The day that the government comes to us as individual Christians in a church and says the fourth kid you have you must abort. Then what do we do?
Then we disobey, but we can't say I'm not sending in my tax money for this abortion mill through Planned Parenthood. Etc etc. Because that's all sinful our job is obey God. Pay the government and what the government does with that money and enables these ladies to do in Planned Parenthood.
He will surely take care of that won't he? The government is not asking Christians to kill babies. Let me give you another illustration number two we've got to speed this up, so let's go to Exodus chapter 1.
We just looked at some young men now. Let's look at a couple young ladies who would not Disobey God the Father and instead disobeyed the government. I think this will be the last one. We'll look up today.
Exodus chapter 1. I was going to take you to Daniel chapter 3 about Prayer and those kind of things but We'll do that another time. Exodus chapter 1 here we see Israel underneath a Pharaoh. Remember Pharaoh is not a name.
It's a title. Verse 8 now a new king arose over Egypt. Exodus 1 8 who did not know Joseph. He said to his people behold the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal Wisely with them as they multiply in the event of war and also join themselves to those who hate us and fight against us and depart from the land.
These people are a threat so now let's think shrewdly. Here's what we're gonna do verse 11. So the appointed taskmasters over them and to have to afflict them with hard labor, and they built for Pharaoh's storage cities.
Python and Ramses we're gonna wear them out sticks whips we're gonna. Just grind them to the ground. And look at how God is protecting the Jews verse 12, but the more they afflicted them The more they multiplied and the more they spread out so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.
Now what are we gonna? Do. And the Egyptians compelled the sons verse 13 of Israel to labor rigorously and they made their lives Bitter with hard labor and mortar bricks and all kinds of labor in the field all their labors.
Which they rigorously imposed on them. Would it be fair to say that the? Egyptians made it a hard life for the Jews. I mean the text just says it over and over and over again oppressive. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives.
One of whose name was beauty Shipra. The other who was named? Splendor Pua can you imagine beauty and splendor. Beauty and splendor come on over here got a special task for you after all I'm in charge the king of Egypt.
It says When you're helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon their footstool bestowal. If it's a son, you shall put him to death, but it's a daughter and she shall live. We can't work these people to death.
So we might as well cut them off of the past and kill the men. They won't fight us in war because they won't be alive verse 17, but the midwives what? Could a Jew kill a baby. You might look at all the different kinds of even birth control that are around the Jewish time period and the Jews were the only ones who said if the sperm and the egg have been Fertilized we can't do anything else.
That's a baby. So these Jewish wives, what did they do? They didn't fear the king. They didn't fear the Pharaoh. They feared God and if you fear God, you'll do whatever you need to do to stand before him.
And they did not do as the king of Egypt had what with full power commanded them, but they let the boys live. This is walking by faith not sight. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them.
Why have you done this thing and let the boys live? Beauty and splendor said to Pharaoh. Hard to get there on time. We get a house call and by the time we get there. The babies are already out. Midwives said to Pharaoh because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women.
Oh that one hurt, but I don't have time. They aren't by the way because of the endowment of God as God's supernaturally working in his people and who could who could take all this rigorous? Punishment in the fields and all that but God is this great God who keeps his promise to the Jews.
They're not as the Egyptian women for their vigorous and they give birth before the midwife can get to them. I Don't think it's a lie. I just think they didn't show up. They were delayed. I'm gonna stay here at home and so-and-so is gonna have a baby.
I'm gonna stay put because if I go I'm gonna deliver that baby and I'm just not gonna go do what you command me to do is be a midwife for the Jews and kill the boy. Answer verse 20 response from God. So God was good to the midwives and the people multiplied and became very mighty.
And it came about because the midwives feared God that he established households for them. By the way, can I just tell you something great about our wonderful God. What made a person a midwife back in those days who became midwives?
Young girls who wanted to be a midwife and aspire to nurse and to help. Oh, maybe there were some of those but who was the one who became a midwife? Those that couldn't have children. They love children.
They want to be around children. You became a midwife because you were barren but you love children you want to help and here most likely I can't prove it. But certainly what I can prove here are these Midwives and God has blessed them.
Their reward is fertility. What would a Jewish woman want more than anything? Second to salvation before Yahweh to have children. Have families. God rewarded them for that. He said you can disobey the government when they tell you to sin and it's a sin to kill a little baby boy.
And so God bless them by the way. There's another blessing that just shows me the tenderness and kindness and awesomeness of our God. What was this Pharaoh's name. Pharaoh's not a name. What was his name?
What was the Pharaoh's name before him? What was the Pharaoh's name after him? Tell me all the Pharaoh's names. Tell me the two midwives names. Forever and for always. Beauty and splendor. What a great little blessing.
God just blessed them. Reminds me of Proverbs chapter 10 verse 7 the memory of the righteous is blessed. You can read on Pharaoh wasn't too happy then Pharaoh commanded all his people saying every son who is born you are cast in the Nile every daughter is to be kept alive.
Just like with Peter and the Apostles who said we must obey God rather than men. When it comes to disobeying the government we do it with a submissive heart and we do it because we fear God. More than we fear them.
What were what was the message today from me from the text? The first message is we are to pray for our leaders because they need to be saved. They need to be granted wisdom. They can't save themselves.
They have no wisdom from God. We pray for them and if we ever get pushed to the point where they tell us if you preach against sodomy. You're gonna go to jail. If you say something about abortion from the pulpit you go to jail.
If you do X Y Z you go to jail. Then what do we do? We preach the message from God and we go to jail. I'm wondering by the way after I'm thrown in jail and then Steve and then Dave and then per deep.
Who are gonna be the next who will stand up and say I fear God and if they kill me or throw me in jail I Don't know what they can do to me, but I will purpose in my heart like Daniel. I am resolved to teach the truth.
I don't know. I think Some of us could be get thrown in jail for preaching against homosexuality. Problem is when we preach against homosexuality, we better preach that there's redemption found for all kinds of sins including those.
We don't want to be like those picketers down with this sin down with that sin. We address sin is sin and then we proclaim the riches of Christ Jesus for forgiveness. Let's ask the Lord to help us pray for our leaders this week and then also Stand firm when we need to bow with me, please Lord what a joy it is to look at your word.
These things we could not figure out or come up with on our own, but you and your wisdom and kind grace Have revealed your mind to us. We might not know exactly what you think Lord on every subject in the universe.
But we know what you believe about this and what you think so Lord help us as a church. To be better in our prayers towards you. We know we can't earn your favor as we pray for the leaders. But since you favored us since you've given us your spirit we want to obey we want to pray for our leaders.
We would love to see president-elect Barack Obama bow his knee to Christ Jesus. We would love to see the new cabinet whether it's Senator Hillary Clinton or whether it is Senator Chuck Yeager. Chuck Yeager.
Uh, I don't know. I forget the names from Nebraska. Lord, whoever it is. We would we would want them to be saved. How could we know the horrors of hell and somehow wish people to go there and Lord? We'd also ask that the way the government unfolds in the next four years.
It would be easy for Christians to assemble easy for Christians to preach the truth. That you would give us a tranquil and quiet life that we might go about the business of Gospel preaching and Lord if it gets difficult and the persecution arises.
I pray that you'd grant a strength and Resolve and the next generation of men to fill the shoes of those who will disobey the king in order to obey the king of Kings and Lord of Lords and I pray Lord that you would help the the men and the women who are gathered in the new cabinet.
That you would somehow override them from issues like Abortion and some of those things that we just our heart breaks. But Lord, we would acknowledge that you've given us this new cabinet and this new president.
We thank you for him. We thank you. We don't live under anarchy and we want to make sure we give thanksgivings for all men and petitions and Lord. We would ask that as a church that you would help us I don't think I do it enough and I think our church doesn't do it enough Lord.
Would you forgive us for not praying for our leaders like we ought to and would you enable us to obey through your spirits power? In Jesus name. Amen.