- This blog, and post, will always direct you directly to your Creator, and God’s Word (Jesus).
- Directly means directly. No pastors, nor incorporated, so-called, “Christian” churches. Absolutely no human being between you and your Creator.
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24.
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Acts 17:24
- The actual Greek and/or Hebrew is in [red] and in square brackets [ ].
- We all need reminders: Jesus is the Word of God. The good message of John, first chapter:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Verse 14: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace [graciousness] and truth.
Today’s topic: SHOULD YOU ALWAYS OBEY HUMAN GOVERNMENT?
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed [arranged] by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance [arrangement] of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil [worthless]. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil [worthlessness], be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister [attendant], an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil [worthlessness]. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:1-7
- Most read Paul’s writing, and stop right there. There are more scriptures to look at.
- He seems to be saying, “respect the human authorities”, which other scriptures endorse.
A few of the other scriptures:
But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
Ex. 1:17
- They obviously understood the 6th commandment.
- In the same time period:
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
Heb. 11:23
- A little later:
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Heb. 11:27
- The principle is to obey God rather than man:
But Peter and the other apostles [delegates] answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29
- I’m not the first to recognise how wonderfully amazing the book of Daniel is. The first 8 chapters are straight history, and easy to read and understand. Then an amazing prayer (chapter 9). Only after this does it get into prophecy.
- We’d do well to live our lives, as Daniel, and his friends did theirs.
- No protests, nor riots. They just got on with their lives, quietly, and minded their own business. It was “certain Chaldeans” that reported them to the king.
- It should be pointed out that Daniel would be regarded as a traitor in this day-and-age. He worked for the king of Judah, then the king of Babylon, then the Median king. He did not rejoice that his original land (Judah) had been taken over by the Babylonians, but he recognised . . . . .
. . . . . In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest [lowest] of men.’ Dan 4:17
- We probably have some of those “low” men ruling over us today!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’s response to the king:
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Dan. 3:17-18.
Daniel’s response after being thrown in the lion’s den:
Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Dan. 6:21-22
To repeat:
- These men did not look for trouble.
- They served their Creator, and minded their own business.
- It was others that reported them (informed/snitched) to the king.
- They respected the human authorities.
- They accepted whatever human punishments were applicable, even though “unfairly snitched upon”, and trusted in their Creator.
A few wrap-up thoughts to this section:
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Heb. 13:6
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?
Ps 56:4
The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
Ps. 118:6
. . . . Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13
The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
Let Him be your fear,
And let Him be your dread [awe/dread].
Isa. 8:12-13
ANTICHRIST:
- As I’ve said before, a lot of these topics overlap.
- Events of the last few years bring this topic into sharp focus.
- A reminder: The word “antichrist” is only used 4 times in the delegate John’s letters. In the original Greek it means, “an opponent of the Messiah”.
- “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many [much/many] antichrists [opponents of the Messiah] have come, by which we know that it is the last hour”. 1 John 2:18
- What don’t you understand about the word “many”?
- If there were many antichrists in the delegate John’s day, there’s a high probability that there are many in our day.
You may need a reminder of “the Beginning”:
Then God saw everything [the whole] that He had made, and indeed it was very [vehemently] good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Gen. 1:31
- We don’t use “vehemently” much in modern English, but it means, “forcefully”.
So God saw “the whole” (including man, woman, and their immune systems), and said (forcefully) that the whole was good.
So, on the one side you have your Creator saying that your immune system is forcefully good. In opposition, you have human beings saying that natural immunity is not good enough:
“New studies show that natural immunity to the coronavirus weakens (wanes) over time, and does so faster than immunity provided by COVID-19 vaccination”. Nov 23, 2021 (Off the web).
- Human beings are, again, “antichrist”. In opposition to the Messiah.
- Very little, or no, attempt was made to strengthen the immune system. Basically diet, and exercise.
This scripture doesn’t prove anything, but it is interesting in what these people “missed” while in a desert:
We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; Num. 11:5
- It is also interesting that about 60 years ago a favorite sandwich was: raw tomato, raw onion, and cheese, with salt and pepper. Delicious!
- Be aware of the propaganda to which you are subject.
* * * * * * * *
PERSEVERE IN THE ORIGINAL, TRUE, DELEGATES’ INSTRUCTION (THROUGH THEIR WRITTEN WORD, IN THE NT):
And they continued steadfastly [were earnest towards/persevered] in the apostles’ [delegates’] doctrine [instruction] and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42
