WEBVTT

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 I've heard of your Bibles through Romans 13.

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 I'm going to apologize right now because I have some sinus stuff going on.

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! It's really messed my throat up.

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 So the college students who heard me on Thursday night, they're probably like,

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 Oh no, listening to this for another hour.

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 So I apologize, but I trust that God will work despite of my voice.

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 But just join me in prayer real fast.

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 Father, I'm just thankful to be with your people this morning.

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 Thank you for your word and how it ministers to our souls.

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 Show us how important it is that we learn how to relate to our authorities in a manner that glorifies you.

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 And Lord, this is written for our good and you have great purpose and reason, Lord.

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 So help me just be able to communicate what's true.

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 And Lord, what's not really my own opinion, Lord, but just to focus on what your word says.

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 And for you to receive the glory this morning.

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 In Christ's name, amen.

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 Well, we're in Romans 13 now.

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 And for those of you who have been following along in Romans, these latter chapters of Romans are focused mainly toward the practical outworking of the gospel in our lives.

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 He spent a huge number of chapters covering biblical doctrine on salvation, the gospel, the sinfulness of man, the grace of God, justification by faith in Christ.

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 And now, like in response to that, how does that look like in our lives?

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 And so that's kind of where we're going today.

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 It's where we were last week.

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 We talked about letting love be genuine and the outworking of love in our lives to others.

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 And now we come to the topic of government.

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 But before we get going, I just want to say that my goal this morning is not to give a situational ethics course on government.

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 Like if this happens, how do we respond in any little small particular way?

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 But more or less just about the overall biblical teaching about what government is.

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 We do have like more specifics about that in ethics and how we respond when government does this or government does that.

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 Those kind of ideas, but really not the goal this morning.

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 And also to remember that like government is going to be a gift to us.

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 It is a gift from the Lord.

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 We're going to look at that this morning.

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 But I only have two questions this morning to kind of split this text up, verses 1 through 7.

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 But underneath those, we have some sub points, if you want to call them that, as answering those questions.

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 But just getting into it, the first question is, what is the divine purpose of government?

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 What is the divine purpose of government?

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 And we see this in verses 1 through 4.

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 Let every person be subject to governing authorities.

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 For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

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

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 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

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 When you have no fear of the one who is in authority, then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.

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 For he is God's servant for your good.

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 But if you do wrong, be afraid.

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 For he does not bear the sword in vain.

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 For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

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 So, verses 1 through 4 kind of give us a place to kind of say this is what God's divine purpose for government is.

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 So, the little sub points under this.

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 The first one, the sub point under this is government is by divine decree.

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 And we see this in verse 1.

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 No authority except from God.

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 And those that exist have been instituted by God.

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 So, all human governments, regardless of their form, have been ordained by God.

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 And he's ordained them ultimately for the good of all societies.

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 And to protect them, to serve their good.

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 And, but they're all, regardless of what government in history, ones today, ones that will be eventually.

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 We need to understand that like all of them, regardless of how evil they may be,

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 are still under the sovereign control of God.

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 Still under the providence of God.

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 And he uses them for his own means.

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 Even, it's kind of the mystery of how God's sovereignty works.

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 He even allows the actions of evil men to play right into his plan every time.

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 And learning that whatever we intend for evil, God intends for good.

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 And there's nothing that we can do.

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 The cross being the ultimate example of that.

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 When evil men crucified the Son of God, it actually played into God's plan in destroying evil.

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 And so like God has a plan A, there's no plan B.

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 He's working it all out.

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 And he uses governments to achieve that.

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 And turning the book of Daniel real fast.

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 I'm just going to show you two passages in Daniel.

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 But Daniel was an amazing book to go to in relation to how we should live in government.

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 And he himself saw many kingdoms come and go.

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 Many empires rise and fall in his own life.

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 And even foresaw the future.

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 But Daniel chapter 2, go there first.

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 Daniel chapter 2 verse 20.

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 So we're going to learn here that God sovereignly works in and through both good and evil governments to accomplish his purposes.

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 Things don't just happen.

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 So Daniel 2 verse 20.

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 Daniel answered and said,

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 Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.

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 He changes times and seasons.

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 He removes kings and setups kings.

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 He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

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 He reveals the deep and hidden things.

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 He knows what is in the darkness and the light that dwells with him.

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 So, one example.

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 We'll flip over just two chapters to Daniel 4 real fast.

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 And this is a confession of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

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 And who himself was a very powerful ruler over men.

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 And he had great wealth and great power.

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 And God ended up humbling him through a series of events.

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 And to kind of show him that he really didn't have any power in and of himself.

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 That it was all granted by God.

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 And so Nebuchadnezzar, in verse 34, if you go to verse 34, says,

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 At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven.

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 And my reason returned to me.

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 And I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever.

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 For his dominion is an everlasting dominion.

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 And his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

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 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing.

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 And he does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.

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 And no one can stay his hand or say to him,

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 What have you done?

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 And that's a picture of, like, unrivaled sovereignty.

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 God himself, you know, we talk about the kingdom of God.

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 And we tend to think as Westerners, as Americans, that democracy is the best form of government on the planet.

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 That can be argued in a lot of ways.

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 I would say that it's probably one of the best in the broken, sinful world we live in.

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 But the majority can be wrong, as we've learned throughout history and other things.

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 But the kingdom of God, not our democracy, is a monarchy.

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 But not even just a monarchy, but an absolute monarchy, where he rules over all things.

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 And we would have reason to fear if he was an unjust and harsh and not a good God.

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 But he's perfect in all his ways.

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 So regardless of those who are in governing positions today and in the past,

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 God has used them for his own purposes to play right into what his ultimate plan is.

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 Both good and evil governments.

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 And there's a verse in Proverbs 21 that you can just write down if you don't want to turn there.

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 Proverbs 21, verse 1.

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 It says,

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 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord.

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 And he turns it wherever he will.

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 This idea that God even can control the kings of the earth to accomplish what he wants.

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 So, but here's what we see in Scripture.

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 God can grant good authorities as a blessing to people.

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 But he also can grant and allow evil wars to be over people as a means of judgment.

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 And an example of this is when both Israel and Judah, the northern, southern kingdoms that were split,

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 were in rebellion against God and had a lot of sinful things going on.

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 And God constantly kept calling them back to repentance.

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 It's like, repent, come back, do not do this, or I'll have to judge you.

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 And they continued to resist God.

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 And so eventually God sent prophets to them.

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 One of them he sent was Amos.

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 Turn to Amos chapter 2.

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 I only have a few places for you to look this morning.

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 But look at Amos chapter 2.

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 But God called out Israel and Judah for a lot of things.

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 Social injustice, corruption like in the judicial system kind of thing,

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 gluttonous living, and religious hypocrisy.

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 It sounds a lot like where our country could be going in a lot of ways.

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 And in a lot of ways it's already arrived.

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 So this is what happened.

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 God sent Amos to the northern kingdom of Israel to call them back

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 and basically to say God's done with you guys.

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 Like he's had it.

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 Like you guys have been in rebellion for far too long

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 and you've ignored all his calls to repent.

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 And this is what he says.

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 Look at verse 4, chapter 2.

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 Thus says the Lord,

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 For three transgressions of Judah and for four,

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 I will not revoke the punishment

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 because they have rejected the law of the Lord

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 and have not kept the statues,

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 but their lives have led them astray,

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 those after which their fathers walked.

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 So I will send fire upon Judah

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 and devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.

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 And this is God saying,

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 my response to this is going to be judgment, discipline.

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 And flip over to chapter 3 real fast in Amos.

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 I'll read just one verse out of this.

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 But we have to understand that this is the same God who's alive and at work today.

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 The God of the Old Testament was not a different God than we have today.

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 And when some calamity happens,

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 regardless of whatever it is,

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 when some tragedy happens in the government or in a nation,

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 it's not just randomly happening.

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 God is at work.

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 He is the one who's allowing things to happen

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 and bringing them about himself as a means to call people to repentance,

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 to show them that their life is fleeting

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 and they need to repent and believe the gospel,

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 which was Jesus' response to what people asked him in the gospels.

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 So look at verse,

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 sorry, look at verse 6,

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 I believe.

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 Yeah, verse 6.

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 It says,

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 Is a trumpet blown in a city and the people were not afraid?

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 Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it?

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 You know,

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 and so we see that God even judges nations

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 by allowing them to be ruled over wicked men.

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 And in this case, it was Assyria.

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 God had like protected Israel from Assyria

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 and like said, you know,

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 come back to me, repent.

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 And they refused.

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 It was like blatantly refused them,

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 but acted like they still belonged to them,

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 like gave God a lot of lip service,

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 but their hearts were far from him.

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 So what he did to judge them and to discipline them

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 was to remove his hand of protection

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 and to allow Assyria to pretty much destroy

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 the northern kingdom of Israel.

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 And so that's just an example,

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 a example of how God uses even evil men

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 to accomplish his purpose.

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 And so that's sub-point number one

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 is that government is under divine decree.

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 So the second sub-point

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 is that government is a restraint

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 on the depravity of man

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 or the sinfulness of man.

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 Government is a divine restraint

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 on the depravity of man.

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 I'm going to go back to Romans 13 again.

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 Back to Romans 13,

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 look at verse 2.

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 It says,

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 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities

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 resists what God has appointed,

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 and those who resist will incur judgment.

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 For the rulers are not a terror to good conduct,

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 but to bad.

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 Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

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 And then jump over to verse 4,

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 the second part of verse 4.

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 But if you do wrong,

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 be afraid,

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 for he does not bear the sword in vain,

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 for he is a servant of God,

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 an avenger,

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 who carries out God's wrath

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 on the wrongdoer.

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 So we've got to understand that,

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 you know,

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 if there's anything

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 that really is,

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 that we don't really need to prove

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 or really search for much evidence,

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 it's so funny that,

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 like when you're sharing the gospel

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 with somebody,

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 that, like they often have a hard time

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 understanding this,

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 when there's so much evidence of this

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 surrounding us every day.

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 But we don't need a lot of evidence

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 to prove that

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 we live in like a very

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 corrupt world,

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 very fallen,

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 very broken,

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 very sinful world.

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 And

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 government is a divine restraint

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 against the sinfulness of man.

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 Martin Luther said,

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 government is a sign

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 of divine grace,

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 of the mercy of God,

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 who has no pleasure

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 in murdering,

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 killing,

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 and strangling.

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 If God left all things

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 to which they would,

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 as he has among other nations

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 without good government,

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 we should quickly dispatch

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 one another

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 out of this world.

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 And

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 remember that government

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 was not an institution

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 in the pre-fall

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 sinless world.

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 You know that?

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 Like you remember

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 the story.

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 There was no need for it.

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 If man

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 was inherently good,

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:04.759
 selfless,

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.320
 humble,

00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.480
 always seeking the good

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.480
 of his fellow man,

00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:08.840
 we wouldn't really

00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:10.140
 need much government

00:16:10.140 --> 00:16:10.600
 at all.

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.520
 But

00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:12.500
 this is not the case.

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.480
 Humans are not that way.

00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:14.600
 We're all the exact opposite.

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:15.540
 We're

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:17.220
 we have

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:18.400
 original sin,

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.660
 we are selfish,

00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.480
 and we always

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.720
 look out for number one.

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.840
 And

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.840
 that's not

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.120
 a

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.700
 good combination

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.480
 for people living

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:26.920
 in harmony

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:27.520
 with one another.

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.520
 So

00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:29.820
 government is

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.960
 a restraint

00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:31.780
 on the rebellion

00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:32.600
 of man.

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:33.720
 And

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.700
 without which

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.180
 we would have

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:35.840
 no peace,

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.600
 no stability,

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:38.320
 chaos,

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:38.900
 anarchy

00:16:38.900 --> 00:16:39.820
 would pretty much

00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.180
 rule.

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.540
 And we can see that

00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.540
 in different nations

00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:44.780
 throughout the world

00:16:44.780 --> 00:16:45.300
 where there's no

00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:46.400
 real stable government

00:16:46.400 --> 00:16:46.840
 and how people

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.600
 just kind of do

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.020
 whatever they want

00:16:49.020 --> 00:16:50.100
 and no one's

00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.940
 safe,

00:16:51.020 --> 00:16:51.840
 there's no peace

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.259
 and protection

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.320
 for people at all.

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.180
 And even

00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.180
 little moments,

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.920
 little windows,

00:16:58.280 --> 00:16:59.080
 places that we can

00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.560
 look in

00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.240
 in our own country

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.639
 when we see

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.660
 like a national,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.079
 like a disaster

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.480
 hit,

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.200
 like Katrina,

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.600
 and they would say

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.299
 that so many people

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.759
 were just running

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.460
 around rampant,

00:17:09.600 --> 00:17:10.460
 stealing things,

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.579
 shooting at

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.940
 helicopters flying by,

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.720
 where there's not

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.519
 like a lot of

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.779
 law enforcement.

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.840
 People left

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.519
 to their own

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.180
 devices will always

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.120
 go the other way.

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.380
 And chaos

00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.000
 and anarchy

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.580
 would be the result.

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.019
 And as someone

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.820
 who really loves

00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:31.320
 to study empires

00:17:31.320 --> 00:17:31.940
 of the past,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.580
 like I can tell you

00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:33.480
 like that's just true,

00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.980
 like it's the same

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.920
 story over and over.

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.640
 And so,

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.420
 you might not agree

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.000
 with this,

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:41.240
 it could be argued

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.560
 that an imperfect

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:45.299
 order is better

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.060
 than no order

00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:46.620
 at all

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.980
 in a lot of

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.560
 situations.

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.340
 But government

00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.019
 is a mercy

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.740
 from God

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.459
 to keep order

00:17:52.459 --> 00:17:53.119
 and to rule

00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:53.639
 over the

00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.500
 sinfulness of man.

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.099
 I have a,

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:57.959
 I started trying

00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:58.799
 to paraphrase this

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.459
 in my own words,

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.559
 but as when you're

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.099
 writing a paper,

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.839
 if you really can't

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.619
 do that that well,

00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:03.279
 you should just

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.480
 state what's there.

00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:05.159
 And this is just

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:07.000
 a quote by a guy

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.819
 named Robert Hadlin

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.419
 on government.

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:09.839
 He said,

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.559
 the institution

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.220
 of civil government

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.259
 is a dispensation

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.099
 of mercy.

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:15.819
 And it exists

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.980
 and its existence

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.240
 is so indispensable

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.579
 that the moment

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.659
 it sees under one

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.039
 form,

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.019
 it reestablishes

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.339
 itself in another.

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:24.899
 The world,

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.059
 ever since the fall,

00:18:26.939 --> 00:18:27.779
 when the dominion

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.579
 of one part

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.399
 of the human race

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.799
 was over another,

00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:32.119
 immediately introduced,

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.899
 that's in Genesis 3,

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.639
 if you want to know

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.299
 Genesis 3,

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.339
 16,

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.180
 has been in such

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.180
 a state of corruption

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.579
 and depravity

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.039
 that without

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.440
 the powerful obstacle

00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.259
 presented by government

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:45.139
 to the selfish passions

00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:45.759
 of men,

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.119
 it would be better

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.839
 to live among

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.960
 the beasts of the forest

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.059
 than in human society.

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.339
 So he's saying

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.619
 like in a pre-fall condition,

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.019
 without government,

00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.599
 we might as well

00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.279
 go out and live

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:55.799
 in the woods.

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.539
 Some of us

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.379
 would rather do that anyway.

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:59.519
 But it says,

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.539
 as soon as its restraints

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.319
 are removed,

00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:04.139
 man shows himself

00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:05.259
 in his real character

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.799
 when there was

00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.879
 no king in Israel

00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:09.039
 and every man did

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.160
 what was right

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.000
 in his own eyes.

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.740
 We see the last

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.339
 three chapters

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:14.000
 of the book of Judges

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.180
 which were

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.460
 the dreadful consequences

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.319
 when everyone just did

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:17.700
 what was right

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.460
 in their own eyes

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.119
 and there was no ruler

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.819
 over them.

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:21.879
 So,

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.220
 and as it says

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.799
 in our text,

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:25.259
 back in Romans,

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.000
 it says that they

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.900
 wield the power

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:27.619
 of the sword.

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.180
 What does that mean?

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.019
 It means they have

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.480
 weapons.

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.319
 It means that

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.339
 they have,

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.119
 if you take away

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.519
 the sword

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.180
 from the government,

00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.220
 they don't have

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.759
 any authority

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.339
 at all.

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.379
 They can't make you

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.700
 do anything.

00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.680
 They can't control

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.799
 sinful men

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.619
 or protect

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.599
 those who are

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.539
 law-abiding citizens

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.400
 without the sword.

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.059
 And so,

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.559
 going on,

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.140
 like,

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.500
 it says that the

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.299
 governing authorities

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.240
 are God's servants

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.740
 carrying out

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.460
 his judgment

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.119
 and his wrath

00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:56.879
 against the evil

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:58.519
 actions of man.

00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.059
 and if we look

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.740
 on and,

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.139
 no,

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.960
 don't turn here,

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.400
 but I was going

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.779
 to say,

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.839
 I'll read this to you

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:05.599
 from 1 Peter

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.019
 chapter 4,

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:07.859
 verse 15.

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.839
 Let no one

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.859
 suffer as a murderer

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:11.859


00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.319
 trouble with the government.

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.180
 Let it be for something

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.720
 righteous,

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.759
 not for doing evil,

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.420
 not for,

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.740
 like,

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.200
 attacking,

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.980
 trying to rebel

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.740
 against the government

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.700
 in some sinful way.

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.859
 He's like,

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.119
 don't be in trouble

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.639
 by that,

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:43.539
 but a major difference

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.279
 between Romans

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.319
 and 1 Peter

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.819
 is that when the book

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.900
 of Romans was written

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.299
 historically,

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.059
 the persecution

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.099
 from the empire

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.859
 had not really

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.680
 started yet,

00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.519
 officially,

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:57.019
 and it came

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.700
 probably the second time

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.619
 Paul came to Rome

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.839
 and,

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.500
 but around 1 Peter

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.639
 it was already happening,

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.440
 so Peter's like saying,

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.279
 in these cases,

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.660
 you know,

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.379
 do not suffer

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.279
 for doing evil,

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.759
 like,

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.740
 if you're going to suffer,

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.639
 suffer for the cause

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.099
 of Christ,

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.379
 in the name of Christ,

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:16.400
 for loving people

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.019
 and for laying down

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.879
 your life for people,

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.240
 like,

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.619
 suffer in that way,

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:20.700
 so,

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.139
 you know,

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.779
 we don't really,

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.879
 like I said,

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.580
 this isn't going to be

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.740
 a situational ethics

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.880
 mourning,

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:27.580
 but,

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.840
 but also,

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:30.040
 the power of the sword

00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:31.140
 refers to war,

00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.860
 the state has a right

00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.900
 to defend itself,

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.320
 but also refers to

00:21:36.320 --> 00:21:37.700
 the idea of capital punishment,

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.540
 which you can read about

00:21:38.540 --> 00:21:40.200
 in Genesis 9,

00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:41.200
 5 through 6,

00:21:41.280 --> 00:21:42.120
 if you want a basis

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:44.180
 for why God commands that,

00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:47.320
 and it's a large deterrent

00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.740
 for people to do evil,

00:21:48.800 --> 00:21:49.600
 it doesn't deter everybody,

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:50.720
 but it is a deterrent,

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.460
 and in the,

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.680
 the means of exercising

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.420
 that authority

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.480
 are important,

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.940
 and even though

00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.220
 sometimes innocent people

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.700
 suffer,

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:03.500
 and may be falsely accused,

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:05.960
 the overall institution

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.819
 is more important

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.180
 than,

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.880
 than doing away with it,

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.799
 and so we look at,

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.299
 that'll bring us

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.460
 to the next thing,

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.120
 which these kind of

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.900
 go hand in hand,

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.860
 but government resists

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.200
 to,

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:19.100
 to keep in check

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:20.440
 the sinful actions

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.960
 of man,

00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:23.000
 but also on the other hand,

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.140
 this is the last sub point

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.320
 under this question,

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:26.820
 government

00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:28.600
 is a divine means

00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:29.519
 to promote good,

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.279
 if you look at

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.019
 verses 3 and 4

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.900
 back in Romans 13,

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.580
 for the rulers

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.360
 are not a terror

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.140
 to good conduct,

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.980
 but to bad,

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.799
 would you have no fear

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.160
 of the one

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.940
 who is in authority,

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.900
 then do what is good,

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.740
 and you will receive

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.360
 his approval,

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.180
 for he is God's servant

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.539
 for your good,

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.799
 that's what he,

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.580
 what he says,

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:53.220
 so as a general rule,

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.000
 as a general rule,

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.080
 the peaceful,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.240
 law-abiding citizen

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:59.080
 should have no reason

00:22:59.080 --> 00:23:00.519
 to fear the government,

00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:03.500
 and it exists

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.180
 as the deterrent

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.600
 for evil

00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.259
 and the promotion

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.960
 of what is good,

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:06.799
 seeking,

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:08.299
 seeking the good of,

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.440
 and welfare

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.700
 of that nation

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.480
 is what a government

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.420
 exists for,

00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:14.220
 it doesn't always do that,

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.759
 but it does

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.759
 in a large way,

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.920
 and like we got

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.799
 to remember that

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.700
 no government system

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.339
 is going to be perfect

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.119
 because it's made up

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.539
 of sinful men,

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.559
 and just like the church

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.299
 is not perfect

00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.879
 because though we are

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.960
 born again,

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.720
 we still sin,

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.440
 we're made up of people

00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.099
 that have a lot

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.799
 of issues,

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.440
 and so,

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.019
 but we would have,

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.200
 I'll read you

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.019
 this little statement

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.700
 that I think sums up

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.440
 these two points

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:42.059
 in the old

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:43.259
 Westminster confession

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:45.059
 from the 1600s,

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.619
 God,

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.019
 the supreme

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.619
 Lord and King

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.480
 of all the world,

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:50.759
 has ordained

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.899
 civil magistrates

00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.839
 to be under him

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:54.119
 over the people

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.220
 for his own glory

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.259
 and the public good,

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.720
 and to this end

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.720
 he has armed them

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.859
 with the power

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.500
 of the sword

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.759
 for the defense

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.639
 and the encouragement

00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.819
 of them that are good

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:05.299
 and for the punishment

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.740
 of those who do evil.

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:07.980
 So,

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.720
 they're to uphold justice,

00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:12.480
 they're to seek

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.019
 the welfare

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.339
 of their nation,

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.079
 of their people,

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.720
 and if they

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.879
 abuse that authority,

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.859
 God is very clear

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.559
 that he will hold

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.079
 them accountable

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.559
 for that

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.339
 and that he will judge

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.879
 them if they abuse

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.639
 that authority,

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.460
 and that's why

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.000
 we see,

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:27.839
 like,

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.839
 why nations

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.460
 have destroyed

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.180
 other nations,

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.599
 you know,

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:31.879
 like,

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.500
 though God

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.480
 used Assyria

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:35.720
 to punish Israel

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.639
 and to punish Judah,

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:37.879
 like,

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.339
 eventually,

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.599
 I mean,

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.220
 it seems like,

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.339
 well,

00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.039
 God is on the side

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.740
 of the Assyrians,

00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.059
 right?

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.420
 No,

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.639
 because eventually

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.839
 God judged the Assyrians

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.779
 with the Babylonians

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.279
 and the Babylonians

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.940
 with the Persians

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.539
 and the Persians

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.099
 with the Greeks

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.559
 and so forth,

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:52.240
 so God always

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.200
 is going to punish

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.019
 the men in government

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.980
 who use their power

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.460
 for evil,

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.099
 always.

00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.279
 He's going to hold

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:58.779
 them accountable

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.339
 for that.

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:00.680
 So,

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.500
 this brings us

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:03.579
 to the second question,

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.920
 the other half

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.319
 of this,

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.859
 is,

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.139
 how can we glorify

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.700
 God

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.220
 in our government

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.700
 as believers?

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.819
 How can we glorify

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.259
 God

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.559
 in our government?

00:25:15.639 --> 00:25:16.279
 And this is verses

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.220
 5 through 7

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.639
 in Romans.

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.139
 Therefore,

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.799
 one must be

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.139
 in subjection,

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.740
 not only

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.779
 to avoid

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.579
 God's wrath,

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.159
 but also

00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:25.720
 for the sake

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.359
 of conscience.

00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.720
 For because of this,

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.299
 you also pay taxes,

00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:31.819
 for the authorities

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.460
 are ministers

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.180
 of God

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.079
 attending

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.539
 to this very thing.

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.319
 Pay to all

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.940
 what is owed

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.360
 to them,

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.740
 taxes to whom

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.660
 taxes are owed,

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.299
 revenue to whom

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.180
 revenue is owed,

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.120
 respect to whom

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.960
 respect is owed,

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.740
 and honor to him

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.660
 honor is owed.

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.220
 So,

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.420
 he tells us

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.420
 in this context

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.620
 how we should

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.400
 relate to the government,

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:53.960
 and this would have

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.860
 been a big question

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:56.259
 to the church

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.640
 in Rome.

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.100
 How do we,

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.240
 because they had

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.680
 like the Roman

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.160
 government

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.039
 in their faith.

00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.700
 They had the senate

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.360
 that was there,

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:04.059
 they had the

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.840
 Palatine Hill

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.460
 where the emperor

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.000
 lived,

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.019
 and all these things.

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.740
 They had to learn

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.380
 how do we,

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:11.279
 how do we actually

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.380
 act within this

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.019
 context

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.279
 in regard

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.039
 to our rulers,

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:15.720
 and so

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.240
 the practical

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.200
 outworking of it,

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.579
 and this is

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.600
 sub-point number one.

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.220
 Humbly submit

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.360
 to the government.

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.220
 Citizens

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.059
 that are

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.279
 under civil law

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.460
 are to be

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.000
 in submission

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.980
 to their authorities,

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.079
 even as

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.160
 believers.

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:33.880
 In the midst

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.980
 of a lot

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.319
 of people

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.539
 under governments

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.940
 who are

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:38.279
 slandering the

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.579
 government

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.940
 and like

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.539
 attacking the

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:39.920
 government,

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:40.960
 we're to place

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.680
 ourselves in

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.079
 humble submission

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.259
 to the government.

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.180
 And it's a

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.440
 military term

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.680
 there,

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.400
 subjection,

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.259
 to place

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.579
 yourself

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.259
 underneath the

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.960
 command of

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.079
 someone who

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.539
 has a higher

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.259
 rank than you

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.360
 and to do

00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:55.059
 what they say

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.079
 and to do it

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.480
 willingly.

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:56.960
 It kind of

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.860
 carries a picture

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.279
 of like a

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.679
 willingness,

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.019
 not being

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.639
 forced to.

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.799
 Because Paul

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.659
 also says

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:04.099
 in verse 5

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.359
 there,

00:27:04.459 --> 00:27:04.799
 do it for

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.179
 the sake

00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:05.779
 of conscience.

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.559
 So if you

00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.359
 are in direct

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.139
 rebellion against

00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.699
 the government,

00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:10.839
 your conscience

00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.459
 will condemn

00:27:11.459 --> 00:27:11.839
 you.

00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.899
 And it's

00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.419
 because

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.979
 it's clearly

00:27:15.979 --> 00:27:16.639
 a command of

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.019
 God that

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.419
 you're not

00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.240
 to do that.

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.479
 And so

00:27:19.479 --> 00:27:20.159
 I'll read you

00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:20.939
 from Titus

00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:22.459
 chapter 3,

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.439
 or Titus 3,

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.879
 chapter 3,

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:26.300
 says,

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:27.200
 remind them

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.740
 to be submissive

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.380
 to the rulers

00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.100
 and authorities,

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.580
 to be obedient,

00:27:31.800 --> 00:27:32.380
 to be ready

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.580
 for every good

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:33.880
 work,

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.700
 to speak evil

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.480
 of no one,

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.660
 to avoid

00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.260
 quarreling,

00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:38.000
 to be gentle,

00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:39.180
 and to show

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.080
 perfect courtesy

00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:41.000
 towards all

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.420
 people.

00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:42.840
 So,

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.280
 this is

00:27:44.280 --> 00:27:45.220
 not

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.360
 like debatable.

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:46.960
 Like God

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.300
 says,

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:49.160
 be humbly

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.840
 submitted to

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.480
 your authorities.

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:51.940
 So then the

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.480
 question will

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:52.940
 arise,

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.280
 is there ever

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.019
 a time that

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.940
 we don't

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.500
 obey the

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.000
 authorities?

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.420
 Like,

00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:58.940
 what if they're

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.519
 asking us to

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.019
 do something

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.460
 that's like

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.099
 really evil,

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.920
 really simple?

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:02.940
 What do we

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.200
 do?

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.279
 Well,

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.879
 that doesn't

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.160
 always play out

00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:08.680
 really pretty,

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.480
 but here's

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.839
 the deal.

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.339
 We obey

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.399
 the laws

00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.000
 and commandments

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.460
 of our

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:14.920
 authorities

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:16.779
 as long as

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.519
 they are not

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.180
 in direct

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.299
 opposition to

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.180
 God's commands

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.139
 and God's

00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:21.500
 laws.

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.119
 And we

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.819
 should refuse,

00:28:24.959 --> 00:28:25.299
 in fact,

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:25.919
 to submit

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.819
 to anything

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.199
 that would

00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:27.799
 cause us to

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.500
 sin against

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.599
 God and

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.039
 breaking His

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.459
 commandments.

00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:31.899
 I'll give you

00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.559
 three examples

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.039
 of this.

00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:34.500
 One was

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.839
 in Exodus,

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.539
 the Hebrew

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.379
 midwives who

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.099
 were told to

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.359
 make sure that

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.739
 the male

00:28:39.739 --> 00:28:41.239
 children were

00:28:41.239 --> 00:28:41.919
 killed.

00:28:43.459 --> 00:28:44.619
 It says this,

00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:45.699
 it says the

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.379
 midwives,

00:28:47.479 --> 00:28:47.739
 well,

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.099
 I mean,

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:48.639
 back up,

00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.539
 Pharaoh commanded

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.619
 them to do

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:50.859
 this.

00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.139
 So their

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.039
 governing authority

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.259
 commanded the

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.960
 midwives to

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.460
 like play

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.839
 into the

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.559
 scheme to

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.659
 kill all

00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:56.980
 the male

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.339
 children.

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.819
 It says,

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.159
 but the

00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.139
 midwives feared

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.500
 God and

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.279
 did not do

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.700
 as the

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.059
 king of

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.359
 Egypt

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.839
 commanded,

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:04.899
 but let

00:29:04.899 --> 00:29:05.279
 the male

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.159
 children live.

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.519
 That's

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.279
 Exodus 1,

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.259
 15-17.

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.379
 Another

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:12.759
 example is

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:15.019
 Shadrach,

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.519
 Meshach,

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.119
 Abednego,

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.139
 or you

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:17.420
 want their

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.119
 Hebrew names,

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.159
 which are

00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:19.700
 much cooler.

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.920
 Hananiah,

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.539
 Mishael,

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.400
 Azariah,

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.120
 who were

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:25.640
 exiles in

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.000
 Babylon,

00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:29.200
 and they

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.860
 convinced the

00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.240
 king,

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.779
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.580
 to build

00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:34.779
 this big

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.980
 statue of

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.480
 himself.

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.360
 His guys

00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:38.940
 convinced him

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.480
 to do that.

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.500
 And when the

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.200
 music sounded,

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.680
 you were to

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.700
 bow down and

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.880
 worship this

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:45.840
 statue of the

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.400
 king of

00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.360
 Babylon,

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:49.140
 of Nebuchadnezzar,

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.480
 and to

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.279
 give your

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.779
 worship and

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.279
 your homage

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.799
 to him.

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:53.740
 So,

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.640
 very symbolic,

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.039
 yes.

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.340
 A really

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:58.299
 hard place,

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.000
 but they

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.200
 refused to

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.819
 bow down

00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.340
 to that

00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:03.080
 image because

00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:03.600
 it was

00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:04.299
 idolatry.

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.740
 It was

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.620
 turning their

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.160
 back on the

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.440
 true and

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.019
 living God.

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.019
 That's found

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.759
 in Daniel 3,

00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.779
 15-18.

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.299
 Great story

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.600
 there.

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.600
 God ends

00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:13.120
 up delivering

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.559
 them,

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.779
 but they

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.340
 just openly

00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:17.940
 defied Nebuchadnezzar,

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.220
 but they

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.180
 did it in

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.460
 a very

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.140
 humble way.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.519
 They did

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.019
 it like,

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.400
 we love

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:22.580
 you,

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:22.799
 but we're

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.059
 not going

00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.220
 to do

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.740
 that kind

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.059
 of thing.

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.860
 And a guy

00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.240
 ended up

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.019
 delivering them

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.080
 from the

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:28.440
 hands of

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.059
 Nebuchadnezzar.

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.799
 But turn to

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.759
 Acts 5 real

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.200
 fast.

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.960
 Acts 5,

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.620
 verse 27.

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.840
 Acts 5,

00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.580
 verse 27.

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:38.960
 A third

00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:39.460
 example.

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.059
 Acts 5,

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.860
 verse 27.

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.719
 And this

00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.000
 is when

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.619
 Peter and

00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.199
 the apostles

00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:48.759
 were taken

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:50.099
 before the

00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:50.779
 Jewish council

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.559
 to be judged

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:53.079
 for preaching

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.619
 the gospel,

00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:54.579
 for telling

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.059
 people about

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.500
 Christ.

00:30:56.219 --> 00:30:57.039
 It says,

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.459
 when they

00:30:57.459 --> 00:30:58.000
 had brought

00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:00.519
 them,

00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.539
 they stood

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.039
 them before

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.639
 the council.

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.079
 The high

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.859
 priest questioned

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.099
 them,

00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:05.479
 saying,

00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:06.679
 we gave

00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:07.279
 you strict

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.359
 orders not

00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:09.039
 to continue

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.299
 teaching in

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.919
 this name,

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.079
 and yet

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.639
 you have

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:12.919
 filled

00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:13.399
 Jerusalem

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:13.819
 with your

00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.240
 teaching,

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.660
 intended to

00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.180
 bring this

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.880
 man's blood

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.720
 upon us.

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:18.720
 Okay,

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.180
 so we

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.539
 told you

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.140
 to shut

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.620
 your mouth,

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.380
 and you're

00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:22.839
 not shutting

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.279
 your mouth

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.920
 about Jesus.

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.259
 Their

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:25.859
 response,

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:26.660
 but Peter

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:26.859
 and the

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.359
 other apostles

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:27.859
 answered,

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:28.980
 we must

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.720
 obey God

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.400
 rather than

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:30.660
 men.

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:31.859
 So,

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.500
 ultimately,

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.440
 our ultimate

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.160
 citizenship

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:35.299
 and our

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.980
 ultimate kingdom

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.339
 is the

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.799
 kingdom of

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.120
 God.

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.880
 And as we

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.380
 read earlier,

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.319
 even he

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.000
 rules over

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.740
 the nations

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.799
 and governments

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.279
 of men,

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.039
 even he does.

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.039
 So,

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.599
 which one

00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:44.779
 are we

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.000
 going to

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.559
 submit to?

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.819
 Always the

00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.180
 law of

00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.440
 God,

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:47.799
 as long

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.019
 as it's

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.460
 not in

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.039
 contradiction

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:51.279
 to what

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:51.619
 the laws

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:51.899
 of man

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.220
 would say.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:52.559


00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.700
 that's the

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.059
 sub-point

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.519
 number one,

00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:55.859
 humbly

00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:57.019
 submit to

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.519
 the government.

00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.480
 And,

00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:00.839
 sub-point

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.460
 number two,

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.659
 back in our

00:32:02.659 --> 00:32:03.039
 text in

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.399
 Romans,

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.579
 pay taxes,

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.240
 right?

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:07.779
 For it

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.139
 says,

00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.839
 for because of

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.440
 this you pay

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.139
 taxes for the

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:11.720
 authorities or

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.259
 ministers of

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.500
 God,

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:13.019
 attending to

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:13.400
 this very

00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:13.720
 good.

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.579
 And it

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:14.900
 says to

00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.420
 give taxes

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.720
 to them,

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.220
 taxes to

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.460
 their own,

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:16.960
 honor to

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.440
 honor his

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:17.680
 own,

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.900
 so forth.

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.039
 And so,

00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.140
 we're

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.680
 commanded in

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.279
 scripture to

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.160
 pay taxes to

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:24.019
 our government.

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.160
 And God

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.539
 will hold

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.180
 them accountable

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.960
 again and

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.420
 judge them

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:29.740
 for how

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.299
 they're using

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:30.859
 that money.

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.640
 If they're

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.220
 doing it in

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.759
 a sinful,

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:33.980
 unlawful

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.299
 way,

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.019
 God will,

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.140
 what goes

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.640
 around comes

00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:37.019
 around.

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.940
 They'll get

00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:39.039
 what's coming

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.579
 to them if

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.019
 they're abusing

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.660
 that authority.

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.620
 And so,

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.380
 just because we

00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:43.140
 disagree with

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.920
 the way that

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.519
 some taxes are

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.279
 being spent or

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:46.580
 whatever,

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.860
 it doesn't give

00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.440
 us the right to

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.160
 refuse to pay

00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.700
 taxes.

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:52.720
 Consider the

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.460
 context in which

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:53.980
 Romans is

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.259
 written.

00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:55.500
 You know,

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.120
 the Christians

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:56.640
 there are

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.900
 taxing so

00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.960
 Caesar can

00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.300
 throw people in

00:33:00.300 --> 00:33:01.019
 the amphitheaters

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.580
 and watch them

00:33:01.580 --> 00:33:02.000
 die,

00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.720
 and paying

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.360
 taxes so

00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.080
 Caesar can go

00:33:05.080 --> 00:33:05.519
 and conquer

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.279
 more lands

00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:06.960
 for Rome.

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.440
 So,

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.559
 we see that.

00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:10.860
 Can you

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.299
 imagine what

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:11.420
 it would have

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:11.940
 been like living

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.279
 under the

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.039
 Assyrians or

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.720
 Babylonians?

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.600
 If we think

00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:15.079
 our government

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.620
 is bad,

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.019
 like,

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.019
 man,

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.860
 just go and

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.340
 read a little

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:18.519
 bit,

00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:19.100
 read a book.

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.259
 I'll recommend

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.840
 some good history

00:33:21.840 --> 00:33:22.460
 books for you.

00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:23.380
 But,

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.079
 like,

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.720
 paying taxes

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.640
 under those

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.160
 empires,

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.200
 far more

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.819
 terrifying.

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.180
 Far more

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.660
 terrifying.

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:30.980
 So,

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.279
 if you don't

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.759
 believe me,

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.380
 let's just ask

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.140
 Jesus himself,

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.540
 so,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.440
 those of you

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.380
 who have a

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:37.740
 skewed view

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.140
 of how to

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:38.660
 read scripture

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.080
 sometimes,

00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:39.680
 like,

00:33:40.040 --> 00:33:40.600
 Paul said

00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:40.900
 this,

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.280
 but Jesus

00:33:41.280 --> 00:33:41.980
 said this,

00:33:42.020 --> 00:33:42.480
 kind of thing,

00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.620
 they say the

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.160
 same things.

00:33:44.280 --> 00:33:44.620
 I'll read

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.520
 something right

00:33:45.520 --> 00:33:45.740
 out of the

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.040
 mouth of

00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:46.300
 Jesus.

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.820
 They ask

00:33:46.820 --> 00:33:47.020
 him,

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:47.980
 is it

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.640
 unlawful to

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.180
 pay taxes

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.680
 to Caesar?

00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:51.220
 And,

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.680
 he understands

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:52.960
 that they're

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.560
 trying to test

00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:53.820
 him and

00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.180
 cause them

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:54.740
 hypocrites.

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:55.920
 And then he

00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.160
 says,

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.660
 throw me a

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:56.980
 coin,

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.280
 so they

00:33:57.280 --> 00:33:57.560
 give him

00:33:57.560 --> 00:33:58.280
 a denarii,

00:33:58.340 --> 00:33:58.480
 and he

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.740
 says,

00:33:59.300 --> 00:33:59.759
 he says

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.180
 on there,

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:01.220
 like,

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.360
 whose likeness

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.139
 inscription is

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:03.459
 on this

00:34:03.459 --> 00:34:03.799
 coin,

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:04.719
 and they

00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:05.519
 say Caesar's,

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:05.799
 then he

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.179
 says,

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.419
 alright,

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.159
 then render

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.679
 to Caesar

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.159
 the things

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.420
 that are

00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:10.980
 Caesar's,

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:11.739
 and to

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.219
 God the

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.599
 things that

00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.139
 are God's.

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:13.980
 Pay your

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.460
 taxes to

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:14.719
 Caesar,

00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:15.299
 and what's

00:34:15.299 --> 00:34:15.599
 owed to

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:15.920
 God,

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.239
 give to

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.559
 God.

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:17.819
 And so

00:34:17.819 --> 00:34:18.579
 Jesus himself

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.119
 says to

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.239
 submit in

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:20.619
 the government

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.219
 that way.

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:21.639


00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.000
 sub-point

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.719
 number three

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:25.179
 is,

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.739
 use your

00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.519
 freedoms to

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.079
 do good.

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.420
 Use your

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.019
 freedoms to

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.480
 do good.

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:32.500
 we live

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:32.860
 in a

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.159
 nation

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.579
 where,

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.380
 unlike any

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:35.780
 other in

00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.019
 history,

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.440
 we have

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:36.940
 so many

00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.760
 rights that

00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:37.980
 have been

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.500
 granted to

00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.679
 us by

00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.199
 government

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.139
 and freedoms

00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.500
 that we

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.719
 can operate

00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.099
 within.

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.300
 So,

00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:45.440
 Christians should

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:45.840
 seek the

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.260
 good of

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:46.840
 their nation

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:48.280
 by operating

00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:48.800
 within their

00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.639
 legal boundaries

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.420
 as citizens

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.579
 granted to

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.099
 them by the

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.440
 government.

00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:53.599
 So,

00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.240
 we even see

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:54.659
 this by

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:54.940
 Paul.

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.599
 He exercised

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.260
 his rights

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:57.519
 in a context

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.039
 as a Roman

00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.719
 citizen in

00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:58.980
 many,

00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.860
 many different

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.180
 cases.

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.480
 He would

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:00.680
 say,

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:00.880
 hey,

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.960
 I'm a

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.099
 Roman

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.500
 citizen,

00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:02.940
 the law

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.460
 says this.

00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.019
 And they

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.200
 would be

00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:05.360
 like,

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:05.800
 you're right.

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.260
 And they

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.300
 would always

00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:07.740
 be used

00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.180
 for good.

00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:10.460
 And also,

00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.700
 to vote.

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.079
 Like,

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.360
 we've been

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.460
 given a

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:13.920
 chance to

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.420
 vote against

00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.039
 things that

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.260
 are evil

00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.340
 and vote

00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:17.940
 for things

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.200
 that are

00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:18.500
 good.

00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:19.599
 Sometimes

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:19.980
 there's,

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:21.440
 it's the

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:21.920
 less of two

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.400
 evils in

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.640
 some situations.

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.140
 And I leave

00:35:24.140 --> 00:35:24.460
 that up to

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.960
 your conscience

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.440
 whether you

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.519
 decide to

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:26.880
 vote on

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.260
 things like

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:27.820
 that or not.

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.920
 But,

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.140
 at the end

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:30.500
 of the day,

00:35:30.600 --> 00:35:31.080
 we have

00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:32.200
 the ability

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:32.519
 to have

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.440
 some influence

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.600
 on our

00:35:34.600 --> 00:35:34.960
 government.

00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:36.539
 And also

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.059
 the ability

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.460
 to speak

00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:37.980
 out against

00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:39.260
 things that

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:39.900
 are sinful

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.900
 and unrighteous.

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:42.300
 And,

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.280
 but,

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:43.960
 here's,

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.480
 I don't want

00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:44.800
 to give you

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.039
 a bad

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.420
 impression.

00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:46.720
 I think

00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:48.200
 the way

00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:48.380
 that we're

00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:48.580
 going to

00:35:48.580 --> 00:35:48.980
 change the

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.440
 nation as

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:49.800
 believers

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.320
 is not by

00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:50.600
 getting,

00:35:51.080 --> 00:35:51.559
 going and

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:51.860
 picketing,

00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.380
 you know,

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:52.760
 like,

00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:53.800
 no more,

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.360
 whatever,

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:56.280
 rah,

00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:56.519
 rah,

00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:56.900
 rah,

00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:56.960
 rah,

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.960
 I don't

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.400
 really think

00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.740
 that's going

00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:59.140
 to change

00:35:59.140 --> 00:35:59.559
 anything.

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.480
 But,

00:36:01.620 --> 00:36:02.940
 there's ways

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.260
 that we

00:36:03.260 --> 00:36:04.640
 can fight

00:36:04.640 --> 00:36:05.180
 for righteous

00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:05.700
 causes.

00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:07.200
 And we

00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.500
 have to

00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.099
 understand that

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.579
 even when we

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.039
 speak out

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.539
 against things,

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:09.920
 we have to

00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:10.620
 do it with

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.980
 humility and

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.400
 gentleness,

00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:12.880
 not,

00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.039
 you guys are

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.660
 evil and,

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.059
 you know,

00:36:15.120 --> 00:36:15.400
 whatever.

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.960
 It's not a

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.660
 picture of that.

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.180
 And an

00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:18.579
 example,

00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:19.820
 I don't have

00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.220
 time to get

00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:20.700
 into this,

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.480
 would be like

00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.800
 William

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.420
 Wilberforce

00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:23.700
 in the

00:36:23.700 --> 00:36:24.380
 19th century

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:25.079
 when he

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.260
 was a

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.900
 British MP

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.240
 in the

00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:27.579
 House of

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.280
 Commons and

00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:29.500
 God used

00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:31.059
 him at

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.700
 times almost

00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:32.460
 single-handedly

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.280
 over a huge

00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:34.180
 period of

00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:35.740
 time to

00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.380
 bring down

00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:36.820
 the slave

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.240
 trade in

00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:37.579
 the British

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.019
 Empire.

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.139
 And even

00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:39.579
 when he was

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.059
 in Parliament

00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:41.159
 arguing with

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.260
 the other

00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:42.940
 guys in there

00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:43.619
 about slavery,

00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.500
 he had like

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:46.420
 such a kind

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.119
 and humble

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.840
 spirit as he

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.139
 did it.

00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:48.500
 He never

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.220
 attacked them

00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:50.220
 personally.

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.780
 They attacked

00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:51.360
 him personally

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.539
 a lot.

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.280
 And it's

00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.860
 just amazing

00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:54.300
 to go back

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.800
 and read

00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.780
 how he

00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:56.240
 dealt with

00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:57.060
 those situations

00:36:57.060 --> 00:36:57.560
 in a way

00:36:57.560 --> 00:36:58.960
 that glorified

00:36:58.960 --> 00:36:59.480
 Christ.

00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:00.740
 And God

00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:01.440
 used him to

00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:03.800
 destroy slavery

00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.280
 in the British

00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:04.740
 Empire.

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.900
 Eventually that

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:06.460
 would spill

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:06.980
 over into

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.440
 America again

00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.019
 many years

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.340
 later.

00:37:09.540 --> 00:37:10.019
 An example

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:10.560
 of that today

00:37:10.560 --> 00:37:11.140
 is abortion.

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.260
 We've been

00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:12.660
 talking about

00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:13.120
 that a lot

00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:13.540
 at Christ's

00:37:13.540 --> 00:37:14.080
 Family to

00:37:14.080 --> 00:37:15.460
 stand up for

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.100
 the unborn.

00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:18.760
 So in all

00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:19.240
 these things,

00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.640
 we're to use

00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:20.200
 our freedoms

00:37:20.200 --> 00:37:21.040
 to do good,

00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:22.559
 but not

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.300
 boast about

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.800
 our freedoms

00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:24.199
 like we're

00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:24.820
 free and

00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:25.840
 we have a

00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:26.320
 right to be

00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:26.900
 a pain in

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.239
 the neck.

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:27.719
 No we're

00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:27.940
 not.

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.059
 We have

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:30.079
 freedom to

00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:31.380
 influence our

00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.400
 government and

00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.000
 our nation in

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.779
 a humble way.

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.599
 And to speak

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.739
 about those

00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:37.239
 things with

00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:38.779
 them, to go

00:37:38.779 --> 00:37:39.219
 to our

00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.000
 congressmen, to

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.539
 our senators,

00:37:41.259 --> 00:37:42.099
 whatever, and

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.679
 try to influence

00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.639
 them for good.

00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:46.000
 So another

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.519
 sub-point

00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.259
 underneath this

00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:48.739
 is to pray

00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:49.179
 for the

00:37:49.179 --> 00:37:49.559
 government.

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:51.679
 Pray for

00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:52.139
 the government.

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:53.960
 So instead

00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.759
 of slandering

00:37:54.759 --> 00:37:55.239
 and speaking

00:37:55.239 --> 00:37:56.000
 out against

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.099
 and hatred

00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.800
 towards our

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:59.500
 leaders, we're

00:37:59.500 --> 00:37:59.960
 to pray for

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.159
 them.

00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:00.579
 That's what

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.039
 the command

00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:01.440
 is.

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.759
 1 Timothy

00:38:02.759 --> 00:38:03.360
 chapter 2

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.000
 verse 1.

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.219
 First of

00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:05.759
 all, then I

00:38:05.759 --> 00:38:07.239
 urge you that

00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:08.079
 supplications

00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.840
 and prayers,

00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:10.320
 intercessions,

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.139
 and thanksgiving

00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:11.840
 be made for

00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.480
 all people.

00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.440
 So pray for

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:14.860
 these people.

00:38:15.259 --> 00:38:15.679
 It says for

00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:16.179
 kings,

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.199
 and all

00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:17.659
 those who

00:38:17.659 --> 00:38:17.820
 are in

00:38:17.820 --> 00:38:18.619
 high positions,

00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:19.639
 that they

00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:20.320
 may lead a

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:20.960
 peaceful and

00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:21.820
 quiet life,

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.940
 godly and

00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.639
 dignified in

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.159
 every way.

00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:24.579
 That's 1

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.820
 Timothy 2,

00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:26.179
 1 through

00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:26.500
 2.

00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:29.539
 So the

00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.679
 last point

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:31.059
 here, the

00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:31.659
 last sub-point,

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:33.840
 I think is

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.960
 probably the

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.960
 greatest influence

00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:37.019
 we can have

00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.440
 on the

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:37.739
 government,

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.259
 have on our

00:38:38.259 --> 00:38:38.619
 nation,

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:40.320
 preaching the

00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:40.599
 gospel.

00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:43.019
 This is it,

00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:44.780
 preaching the

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:45.079
 gospel.

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:47.219
 realize that

00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:48.139
 the gospel is

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:48.779
 what changes

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.719
 societies.

00:38:50.759 --> 00:38:51.539
 The gospel is

00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:51.980
 what changes

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.480
 societies,

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.239
 always has.

00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:54.539
 Let me give you

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:54.940
 an example.

00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.579
 When Christ

00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.739
 came into

00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:57.219
 the world,

00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:59.619
 he came into

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.480
 a very, you

00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.880
 know, broken,

00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.579
 sinful world,

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:02.139
 just like we

00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:02.380
 did.

00:39:03.259 --> 00:39:04.239
 Rome was the

00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:05.199
 existing ruler

00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:05.779
 and authority,

00:39:06.779 --> 00:39:08.440
 and slavery

00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.480
 was going on,

00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:09.799
 you know,

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:10.239
 obviously,

00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:11.479
 in the Roman

00:39:11.479 --> 00:39:12.239
 Empire in a

00:39:12.239 --> 00:39:12.819
 legal way.

00:39:13.379 --> 00:39:14.259
 So all these

00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:14.839
 things, all

00:39:14.839 --> 00:39:15.500
 these things

00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:17.299
 that existed

00:39:17.299 --> 00:39:17.979
 when Christ

00:39:17.979 --> 00:39:18.519
 came into

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.059
 this sinful

00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.519
 world,

00:39:20.339 --> 00:39:20.779
 what did he

00:39:20.779 --> 00:39:21.079
 do?

00:39:21.219 --> 00:39:21.659
 Did he, like,

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.139
 take up a

00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:22.659
 picket sign

00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:23.099
 and start,

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:24.599
 like, charging,

00:39:24.919 --> 00:39:25.279
 you know,

00:39:25.799 --> 00:39:26.819
 the Senate and

00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:27.239
 saying, you

00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.599
 know, hey,

00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.479
 stop slavery,

00:39:29.439 --> 00:39:30.099
 hey, you

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.699
 know, like,

00:39:30.759 --> 00:39:31.239
 this needs to

00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:31.959
 stop these

00:39:31.959 --> 00:39:33.500
 unjust things

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:33.779
 that you're

00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:34.179
 doing?

00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:35.940
 No.

00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.279
 But what

00:39:38.279 --> 00:39:38.919
 did he do?

00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:40.339
 He submitted

00:39:40.339 --> 00:39:41.019
 to all the

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.579
 institutions,

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:42.799
 even to the

00:39:42.799 --> 00:39:43.559
 Mosaic Law,

00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:44.059
 because at

00:39:44.059 --> 00:39:44.559
 that time,

00:39:45.879 --> 00:39:46.339
 the fullness

00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:46.940
 of it had not

00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:47.219
 come.

00:39:47.379 --> 00:39:47.579
 Like, he

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.639
 hadn't died,

00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:49.000
 he hasn't

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:49.819
 resurrected yet,

00:39:50.179 --> 00:39:50.719
 so he even

00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:51.399
 submitted himself

00:39:51.399 --> 00:39:51.819
 to that,

00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:52.859
 to the Roman

00:39:52.859 --> 00:39:53.839
 government,

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.379
 political,

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:55.659
 economic systems.

00:39:56.239 --> 00:39:56.819
 He submitted

00:39:56.819 --> 00:39:57.219
 to that,

00:39:57.279 --> 00:39:57.699
 but here's the

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:57.919
 deal.

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:58.980
 He stayed

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.579
 focused on

00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.099
 his mission

00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:01.199
 while he was

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:01.500
 here,

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.500
 and his

00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:03.379
 mission was

00:40:03.379 --> 00:40:03.779
 not to

00:40:03.779 --> 00:40:04.159
 overturn

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:04.639
 the Roman

00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:05.099
 government.

00:40:05.799 --> 00:40:06.099
 It took

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.799
 his disciples

00:40:06.799 --> 00:40:07.519
 forever to

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:07.899
 figure that

00:40:07.899 --> 00:40:08.460
 out, like,

00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:09.659
 not why I'm

00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:11.159
 here, guys.

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:13.199
 And so,

00:40:13.279 --> 00:40:13.960
 so what if

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.359
 the government

00:40:14.359 --> 00:40:15.139
 was replaced?

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.339
 Okay?

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.739
 We learn from

00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.460
 history that

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.639
 if a bad

00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.440
 system can be

00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.179
 overturned or

00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:21.619
 overruled,

00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:22.239
 it usually can

00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:22.759
 be replaced

00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:23.139
 with another

00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:23.779
 bad system

00:40:23.779 --> 00:40:24.719
 right after

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.039
 that.

00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:25.960
 So, is

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.359
 that really

00:40:26.359 --> 00:40:26.879
 the answer

00:40:26.879 --> 00:40:27.099
 to the

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.440
 problem?

00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:28.460
 No.

00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:30.319
 So, Christ

00:40:30.319 --> 00:40:31.000
 came to

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.519
 focus on a

00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.000
 much bigger

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.440
 problem,

00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:33.480
 on the

00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:33.900
 spiritual

00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:34.519
 bondage

00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:35.000
 of man,

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.480
 to focus

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.619
 on the

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.059
 sinfulness

00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:37.800
 of man,

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:38.760
 and he

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.139
 understood

00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:40.619
 that the

00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:41.039
 power of

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:41.539
 the gospel

00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:42.740
 changes people

00:40:42.740 --> 00:40:43.900
 from the

00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:44.659
 inside out,

00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:46.159
 and he

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:46.480
 understood

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:47.820
 that if

00:40:47.820 --> 00:40:48.099
 he could

00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:48.480
 work in

00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:48.880
 their hearts

00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:49.179
 and their

00:40:49.179 --> 00:40:49.599
 minds,

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:50.900
 the sinful

00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.760
 systems of

00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:52.119
 men would

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:52.719
 be destroyed.

00:40:53.420 --> 00:40:53.800
 Well, like,

00:40:53.880 --> 00:40:54.659
 renewed hearts

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.139
 that love

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.860
 God and want

00:40:55.860 --> 00:40:57.199
 to worship

00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:57.800
 God in

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:58.240
 spirit and

00:40:58.240 --> 00:40:58.679
 truth,

00:40:58.679 --> 00:40:59.779
 the overflow

00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:00.179
 of that

00:41:00.179 --> 00:41:00.399
 would be

00:41:00.399 --> 00:41:00.940
 the destruction

00:41:00.940 --> 00:41:01.539
 of sinful

00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:02.739
 governments

00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:03.779
 and sinful

00:41:03.779 --> 00:41:04.899
 laws,

00:41:05.239 --> 00:41:06.279
 and he

00:41:06.279 --> 00:41:06.639
 knew that

00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.099
 the greater

00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:08.440
 included the

00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:09.099
 lesser there.

00:41:09.819 --> 00:41:11.239
 So, as

00:41:11.239 --> 00:41:11.839
 his followers,

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.500
 we're to

00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:13.759
 unleash the

00:41:13.759 --> 00:41:14.299
 power of the

00:41:14.299 --> 00:41:14.839
 gospel in

00:41:14.839 --> 00:41:15.599
 all areas of

00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:16.139
 society,

00:41:17.219 --> 00:41:17.839
 wherever we

00:41:17.839 --> 00:41:18.279
 work, in

00:41:18.279 --> 00:41:18.799
 our homes,

00:41:19.379 --> 00:41:19.859
 in our

00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:20.199
 government,

00:41:20.299 --> 00:41:20.699
 whatever we

00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:21.179
 do, we're

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:21.460
 to, like,

00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:22.179
 unleash the

00:41:22.179 --> 00:41:22.659
 power of the

00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:22.980
 gospel.

00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:24.419
 We shouldn't

00:41:24.419 --> 00:41:25.139
 expect sinful

00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:26.699
 men to, like,

00:41:26.739 --> 00:41:27.739
 always act in

00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:28.259
 accordance with

00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:28.819
 God's law.

00:41:28.939 --> 00:41:29.379
 The power of

00:41:29.379 --> 00:41:30.599
 the gospel is

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.179
 the only thing

00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:31.659
 that can free

00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:32.799
 them and

00:41:32.799 --> 00:41:33.559
 actually change

00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.239
 those societies

00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:34.919
 is Christ.

00:41:35.899 --> 00:41:36.619
 And as

00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.819
 people were

00:41:37.819 --> 00:41:38.479
 changed and

00:41:38.479 --> 00:41:38.879
 they love

00:41:38.879 --> 00:41:39.819
 God, they

00:41:39.819 --> 00:41:40.279
 also will

00:41:40.279 --> 00:41:40.759
 value their

00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.379
 fellow man

00:41:41.379 --> 00:41:42.759
 even more as

00:41:42.759 --> 00:41:43.299
 a result of

00:41:43.299 --> 00:41:43.559
 that.

00:41:44.279 --> 00:41:44.959
 And so, we

00:41:44.959 --> 00:41:46.679
 see that, you

00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:48.899
 know, I

00:41:48.899 --> 00:41:49.759
 guess Britain is

00:41:49.759 --> 00:41:50.399
 another example

00:41:50.399 --> 00:41:50.919
 to use of

00:41:50.919 --> 00:41:52.219
 that with what

00:41:52.219 --> 00:41:52.959
 Wilberforce was

00:41:52.959 --> 00:41:53.479
 doing, okay?

00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.219
 He was fighting

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:55.399
 to end the

00:41:55.399 --> 00:41:55.979
 slave trade.

00:41:56.759 --> 00:41:57.119
 There were a

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.399
 lot of

00:41:57.399 --> 00:41:57.719
 people,

00:41:57.739 --> 00:41:58.479
 who were

00:41:58.479 --> 00:41:58.959
 saying we

00:41:58.959 --> 00:41:59.199
 need to

00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:00.359
 just overthrow

00:42:00.359 --> 00:42:00.879
 the government,

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:01.299
 overthrow

00:42:01.299 --> 00:42:01.839
 parliament,

00:42:02.779 --> 00:42:03.259
 overthrow the

00:42:03.259 --> 00:42:03.619
 king.

00:42:03.739 --> 00:42:04.179
 They did it

00:42:04.179 --> 00:42:04.779
 in France,

00:42:05.319 --> 00:42:06.199
 and France

00:42:06.199 --> 00:42:06.839
 was still

00:42:06.839 --> 00:42:07.539
 going chaotic

00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:08.099
 at the time,

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:08.500
 wasn't really

00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:09.299
 a good model

00:42:09.299 --> 00:42:09.799
 to follow.

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:12.679
 And so,

00:42:12.939 --> 00:42:13.659
 but he refused.

00:42:13.759 --> 00:42:13.979
 He was like,

00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:14.419
 no, like,

00:42:14.439 --> 00:42:14.739
 if we're going

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:15.079
 to change

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:16.239
 society, we're

00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:16.599
 going to do

00:42:16.599 --> 00:42:16.959
 it, like,

00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:17.699
 in a godly,

00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:18.919
 law-abiding

00:42:18.919 --> 00:42:19.599
 way with

00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:20.779
 humble submission

00:42:20.779 --> 00:42:21.500
 to our leaders.

00:42:21.619 --> 00:42:21.879
 And it

00:42:21.879 --> 00:42:22.119
 did.

00:42:22.179 --> 00:42:22.439
 Like, it

00:42:22.439 --> 00:42:22.799
 happened.

00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:24.279
 It took time,

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.059
 but that society

00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:25.779
 was changed,

00:42:25.939 --> 00:42:27.399
 and slavery was

00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:28.000
 brought down

00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.660
 as a result.

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:30.559
 Turn to 1 Peter 2,

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:30.940
 and this is where

00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:31.519
 we're going to end.

00:42:32.200 --> 00:42:33.579
 1 Peter 2.

00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:40.360
 The gospel will

00:42:40.360 --> 00:42:41.019
 change hearts,

00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:41.980
 change minds,

00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:43.780
 and thus will

00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:44.639
 destroy the evil

00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:45.519
 actions of man.

00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:51.739
 1 Peter 2,

00:42:51.840 --> 00:42:52.759
 verse 13,

00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:54.360
 to kind of add

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:54.860
 to what Paul

00:42:54.860 --> 00:42:55.360
 is saying,

00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:56.840
 Peter says

00:42:56.840 --> 00:42:57.719
 the same stuff

00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:57.980
 here.

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.780
 Be subject

00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:01.739
 for the Lord's

00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:02.059
 sake

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:03.940
 to every human

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:04.539
 institution,

00:43:05.259 --> 00:43:05.920
 whether it be

00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:06.679
 to the emperor

00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:07.759
 as supreme,

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.380
 or to governors

00:43:09.380 --> 00:43:10.400
 as sent by him

00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.280
 to punish those

00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:11.900
 who do evil,

00:43:12.619 --> 00:43:13.460
 and to the praise

00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:14.239
 of those who do

00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:14.599
 good.

00:43:15.539 --> 00:43:16.299
 For this is

00:43:16.299 --> 00:43:17.059
 the will of God,

00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:17.719
 that by doing

00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:18.379
 good you should

00:43:18.379 --> 00:43:19.699
 put to silence

00:43:19.699 --> 00:43:20.959
 the ignorance

00:43:20.959 --> 00:43:21.879
 of foolish people.

00:43:22.899 --> 00:43:23.899
 Live as people

00:43:23.899 --> 00:43:24.639
 who are free,

00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:25.959
 right?

00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.000
 It's us,

00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:27.819
 not using your

00:43:27.819 --> 00:43:29.099
 freedom as a

00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:29.959
 cover-up for evil,

00:43:30.059 --> 00:43:30.819
 but living as

00:43:30.819 --> 00:43:31.719
 servants of God.

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.419
 Honor everyone,

00:43:33.799 --> 00:43:35.000
 love the brotherhood,

00:43:35.799 --> 00:43:36.479
 fear God,

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:37.819
 honor the emperor.

00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:38.959
 I mean,

00:43:38.979 --> 00:43:39.619
 this is all

00:43:39.619 --> 00:43:40.579
 just very clear.

00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:41.079
 These aren't

00:43:41.079 --> 00:43:42.619
 negotiable things,

00:43:42.619 --> 00:43:44.139
 but as we draw

00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:44.880
 near to Christ

00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:45.339
 and the power

00:43:45.339 --> 00:43:45.799
 of the gospel

00:43:45.799 --> 00:43:46.599
 changes us,

00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:47.699
 the power of the

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.339
 gospel changes

00:43:48.339 --> 00:43:49.039
 the lives of

00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:49.980
 people around us.

00:43:50.440 --> 00:43:50.859
 That's how

00:43:50.859 --> 00:43:51.980
 societies are

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.420
 changed.

00:43:53.279 --> 00:43:54.179
 In other words,

00:43:54.380 --> 00:43:56.079
 we can't fix our

00:43:56.079 --> 00:43:56.559
 nation with a

00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.159
 bunch of,

00:43:57.159 --> 00:43:59.639
 at the end of

00:43:59.639 --> 00:43:59.859
 the day,

00:44:00.019 --> 00:44:01.819
 rules and laws

00:44:01.819 --> 00:44:02.279
 that are thrown

00:44:02.279 --> 00:44:02.559
 at them.

00:44:02.599 --> 00:44:02.900
 We have to

00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:03.579
 change people

00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:05.039
 for societies

00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:06.019
 to be changed

00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:06.960
 for the glory

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.440
 of God.

00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:09.099
 So let me just

00:44:09.099 --> 00:44:09.779
 pray for us

00:44:09.780 --> 00:44:11.420
 and continue.

00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:18.560
 Father, I just

00:44:18.560 --> 00:44:20.580
 admit that this

00:44:20.580 --> 00:44:21.420
 is a hard

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:23.760
 subject in

00:44:23.760 --> 00:44:24.160
 God.

00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:27.120
 I'm afraid that

00:44:27.120 --> 00:44:28.300
 even as believers

00:44:28.300 --> 00:44:28.920
 we can come

00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:30.860
 across very

00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:32.260
 simplistic and

00:44:32.260 --> 00:44:34.100
 very naive

00:44:34.100 --> 00:44:35.000
 about the

00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:35.820
 realities of a

00:44:35.820 --> 00:44:36.380
 sinful world

00:44:36.380 --> 00:44:37.100
 around us.

00:44:37.099 --> 00:44:39.179
 God, I know

00:44:39.179 --> 00:44:39.900
 that in

00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:40.420
 governments

00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:41.019
 today,

00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:44.719
 there's so

00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:45.339
 many hard

00:44:45.339 --> 00:44:46.119
 decisions that

00:44:46.119 --> 00:44:46.659
 have to be

00:44:46.659 --> 00:44:46.980
 made.

00:44:48.039 --> 00:44:48.559
 And sometimes

00:44:48.559 --> 00:44:49.159
 it really isn't

00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:49.900
 a choice of

00:44:49.900 --> 00:44:51.619
 good versus

00:44:51.619 --> 00:44:52.000
 evil.

00:44:52.179 --> 00:44:52.500
 It's almost

00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:53.199
 like what's

00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:53.719
 the lesser

00:44:53.719 --> 00:44:54.440
 of two evils.

00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:55.860
 They have

00:44:55.860 --> 00:44:57.019
 hard positions

00:44:57.019 --> 00:44:57.539
 that they are

00:44:57.539 --> 00:44:57.880
 in.

00:44:58.440 --> 00:44:59.779
 And Lord,

00:44:59.940 --> 00:45:00.559
 it's hard to

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.139
 know what to

00:45:01.139 --> 00:45:01.380
 do.

00:45:01.599 --> 00:45:02.219
 So I pray

00:45:02.219 --> 00:45:03.539
 that you

00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:03.960
 would work

00:45:03.960 --> 00:45:04.460
 in them

00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:06.679
 and that

00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:06.980
 you would

00:45:06.980 --> 00:45:08.500
 work in

00:45:08.500 --> 00:45:09.619
 President Obama,

00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.280
 you work in

00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:10.780
 the House

00:45:10.780 --> 00:45:11.760
 and the

00:45:11.760 --> 00:45:12.780
 Senate and

00:45:12.780 --> 00:45:14.179
 the judicial

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:14.780
 system.

00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:17.980
 Lord, I

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:18.639
 pray that

00:45:18.639 --> 00:45:21.019
 you would

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:21.679
 raise up

00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:22.380
 both

00:45:22.380 --> 00:45:23.800
 golly men

00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:24.179
 and women

00:45:24.179 --> 00:45:24.760
 to have

00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:26.260
 an influence

00:45:26.260 --> 00:45:26.679
 on the

00:45:26.679 --> 00:45:27.039
 government

00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:28.380
 for your

00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:28.800
 glory.

00:45:28.920 --> 00:45:29.320
 And as

00:45:29.320 --> 00:45:30.000
 citizens,

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.639
 we would

00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:32.400
 glorify you

00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:32.820
 in how we

00:45:32.820 --> 00:45:33.340
 conduct our

00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:33.940
 lives under

00:45:33.940 --> 00:45:34.480
 the government

00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:35.280
 just as

00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:36.880
 law-abiding

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:37.460
 citizens,

00:45:37.620 --> 00:45:38.000
 those who

00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:38.600
 pay taxes,

00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:39.340
 those who

00:45:39.340 --> 00:45:40.640
 don't slander

00:45:40.640 --> 00:45:41.500
 out hatred

00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:42.000
 against the

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:42.340
 government.

00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.380
 But Lord,

00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:45.120
 for those who

00:45:45.120 --> 00:45:45.640
 are quick to

00:45:45.640 --> 00:45:46.960
 pray for the

00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:47.300
 government

00:45:47.300 --> 00:45:49.780
 and quick to

00:45:49.780 --> 00:45:50.900
 speak the

00:45:50.900 --> 00:45:51.640
 words of life,

00:45:51.740 --> 00:45:52.539
 the gospel to

00:45:52.539 --> 00:45:53.360
 the lost world

00:45:53.360 --> 00:45:54.059
 that surrounds

00:45:54.059 --> 00:45:54.360
 us.

00:45:56.420 --> 00:45:57.180
 And Lord,

00:45:57.180 --> 00:45:58.160
 just help us

00:45:58.160 --> 00:45:58.920
 to be humbled

00:45:58.920 --> 00:45:59.480
 by that,

00:45:59.559 --> 00:46:00.920
 that a lot

00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:01.720
 of us live

00:46:01.719 --> 00:46:03.939
 in a

00:46:03.939 --> 00:46:04.739
 simple world

00:46:04.739 --> 00:46:06.199
 and live

00:46:06.199 --> 00:46:06.779
 by simple

00:46:06.779 --> 00:46:07.500
 rules because

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:07.959
 our world

00:46:07.959 --> 00:46:08.379
 is simple.

00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:10.119
 But Lord,

00:46:10.179 --> 00:46:11.039
 we often fail

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:11.579
 to realize

00:46:11.579 --> 00:46:12.779
 that government

00:46:12.779 --> 00:46:14.019
 is an

00:46:14.019 --> 00:46:14.519
 instrument you

00:46:14.519 --> 00:46:14.939
 use to

00:46:14.939 --> 00:46:15.459
 protect that

00:46:15.459 --> 00:46:16.019
 world for

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:16.259
 us.

00:46:16.539 --> 00:46:17.699
 And we're

00:46:17.699 --> 00:46:18.179
 just naive

00:46:18.179 --> 00:46:18.779
 about so

00:46:18.779 --> 00:46:19.359
 many things.

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:19.699
 Lord,

00:46:19.819 --> 00:46:20.980
 just work in

00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.299
 the hearts

00:46:21.299 --> 00:46:21.579
 of our

00:46:21.579 --> 00:46:21.899
 leaders.

00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:23.899
 But above

00:46:23.899 --> 00:46:24.419
 all, we

00:46:24.419 --> 00:46:24.859
 give you

00:46:24.859 --> 00:46:26.079
 praise and

00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:28.279
 just thanksgiving

00:46:28.279 --> 00:46:29.059
 that one day

00:46:29.059 --> 00:46:30.539
 all governments

00:46:30.539 --> 00:46:31.119
 will be brought

00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:31.460
 under the

00:46:31.460 --> 00:46:32.239
 supreme rule

00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:33.340
 of Christ

00:46:33.340 --> 00:46:34.639
 and his

00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:35.219
 kingdom will

00:46:35.219 --> 00:46:35.719
 endure for

00:46:35.719 --> 00:46:36.579
 all generations

00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:38.320
 and from

00:46:38.320 --> 00:46:39.119
 everlasting to

00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:40.199
 everlasting we'll

00:46:40.199 --> 00:46:41.539
 have a king

00:46:41.539 --> 00:46:42.199
 that is worthy

00:46:42.199 --> 00:46:43.059
 to be praised,

00:46:43.239 --> 00:46:43.980
 worthy to be

00:46:43.980 --> 00:46:45.400
 loved and

00:46:45.400 --> 00:46:46.079
 followed for

00:46:46.079 --> 00:46:46.739
 all eternity.

00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:48.400
 And that's

00:46:48.400 --> 00:46:48.699
 where we're

00:46:48.699 --> 00:46:49.300
 going, Lord.

00:46:49.400 --> 00:46:50.059
 So until then,

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:50.559
 help us to

00:46:50.559 --> 00:46:50.980
 know how to

00:46:50.980 --> 00:46:52.279
 live in this

00:46:52.279 --> 00:46:52.980
 life in ways

00:46:52.980 --> 00:46:53.779
 that glorify

00:46:53.779 --> 00:46:54.119
 you.

00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:56.300
 In Christ's

00:46:56.300 --> 00:46:56.500
 name,

00:46:56.679 --> 00:46:56.940
 Amen.

00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:00.980
 Amen.

00:47:00.980 --> 00:47:00.980


00:47:00.980 --> 00:47:01.119
 Amen.

00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:01.119


00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:01.119


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00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:01.119


00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:01.119


00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:31.099
 Thank you.