Tag Archives: Romans 13:1-8

Prayer Day 5 of 8??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #281

01 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Good Citizens, Good News, Polluted by the world?, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!

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Prayer Day 5 of 8???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #281

 

Hope you’re having a good Friday morning, it’s lovely here in Oklahoma, after a bit of rain, and the fires that have been raging around us are almost contained, and praise God we are expecting more rain this weekend.  Many have been praying for rain and the cessation of all the fire danger around us, but more importantly than that, we need to be praying for the spiritual rain that will quench the spiritual drought about us.  In that vein we’ll look at some things about prayer today; instructions about seeking God’s face and interceding for those around us!  All of those around us, and let me just add when we are praying for the government entities in our culture (no matter where you may live) we are to pray in humble dependence upon our Father God, our precious Lord Jesus and His Holy Spirit to lead us in all our ways, and that we will be a genuine reflection of Jesus.  That means that we are ever to be “speaking the truth in love” (See Ephesians 4:15) not disrespect!  And let me simply add that the recipients of the passage below were under unfriendly, often hostile, rulers.  Keep that in mind as you are tempted to complain instead of praying and depending on Jesus! (And I’m not saying we can’t be involved in politics, but that we are called to be those who bridge the gap not those who stir it up!  Remembering that sometimes just speaking the truth in love will stir some things up!). Heed God’s Word!

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

For there is no power but of God:

 the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power,

resisteth the ordinance of God:

and they that resist

shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works,

but to the evil.

Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?

do that which is good,

and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good.

But if thou do that which is evil,

be afraid;

for he beareth not the sword in vain:

for he is the minister of God,

a revenger to execute wrath

upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject,

not only for wrath,

but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also:

for they are God’s ministers,

 attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues:

tribute to whom tribute is due;

custom to whom custom;

fear to whom fear;

honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing,

but to love one another:

for he that loveth another

hath fulfilled the law.”  Romans 13:1-8

What an amazing picture of God’s will for our responses to those in authority.  I’m not condoning evil that goes on in high places, but when we feel led to participate in “civil disobedience”, we better be sure we are doing so with a clear conscience toward God, and for good cause; not for spite, pride or any other fleshly reason!  The passage about prayer that I want us to look at today isn’t actually a prayer, but instruction on how we are to pray in regard to circumstances, culture and political issues.  (Keeping in mind what Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-18, that our battles aren’t against “flesh and blood” but against unseen spiritual forces.  And another helpful passage in this regard is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5!)

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life

in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God,

and one mediator

between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus;

 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all,

to be testified in due time.

7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher,

and an apostle,

 (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;)

a teacher of the Gentiles

in faith and verity.

8 I will therefore that men pray every where,

lifting up holy hands,

without wrath and doubting.”  1 Timothy 2:1-8

And let me close by saying that while we are called to pray for others, especially those in authority, it doesn’t mean that we are to condone or promote evil and unbiblical practices, and that’s enough said! (Remember Jesus’ instructions that we saw earlier this week…” Thy kingdom come…. Thy will be done…!)

Amen and Amen!!!

Good Citizens For Jesus’ Sake!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #664

03 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Be not conformed to this world, Blessed by God, God Bless America, Good Citizens

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #664  Good Citizens For Jesus’ Sake!!!

 

I would simply like to wish each of you a most blessed and “Happy Independence Day”-4th of July, here in the US!  And a blessed and joyous day to all!  I just want to share a message from God through the Apostle Paul in regard to our duty to our governmental leaders no matter where we live, no matter the perilous times we may live in!  We as believers and followers of Jesus, are called to follow God and respect the authorities that God has established.  I simply want to share a couple of passages for your perusal sometime this weekend as you spend time with family and friends, celebrating the blessings of God in establishing this great country!  And I pray that God will please “Bless America”, and “deliver us from evil”!  Amen!

“Let every soul be subject

unto the higher powers.

For there is no power

but of God:

the powers that be

are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power,

resisteth the ordinance of God:

and they that resist

shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works,

but to the evil.

Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?

do that which is good,

and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee

for good.

But if thou do that which is evil,

be afraid;

for he beareth not the sword in vain:

for he is the minister of God,

a revenger to execute wrath

upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject,

not only for wrath,

but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also:

for they are God’s ministers,

attending continually

upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore

to all their dues:

tribute

to whom tribute is due;

custom

to whom custom;

fear

to whom fear;

honour

to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing,

but to love one another:

for he that loveth another

hath fulfilled the law.”   Romans 13:1-8

And from Paul’s letter to his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy!

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life

in all godliness

and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto

the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God,

and one mediator

between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom

for all,

to be testified in due time.”   1 Timothy 2:1-6

And may we, each one, seek to please our Lord in all we say and do, letting our “little light shine”!

“Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

May God’s blessing be seen at every turn in your life—He’s there—are we paying attention?  Let’s do!

Amen and Amen!!!

Living In Faith Or Presumption??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #639

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Presumption, Speaking The Truth In Love, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #639 Living In Faith Or Presumption???

 

There are a lot of issues floating around in this time of crises and chaos in our world.  We are seeing emotions flare, ideas in conflict, and opinions flying around in abundance.  I have only a few words to share this morning in this regard.  There are those who are claiming to disregard the requests and orders of government officials stating that they are violating their “rights” and are gathering, flaunting their confidence in “God” to deliver them, or protect them from the virus.  It is polarizing people of faith—that is the issue that I wish to comment on this morning.  Is there a difference between standing in faith in God and acting in presumption toward God?  I believe that Scripture gives us clear guidelines in this regard if we will but let them speak and then heed God’s direction.  I share The Word; you will have to decide for yourself what you will do with it.

With that said, I would like to add that being the church is our call, more so than ‘going’ to church. (And I believe that church attendance is a priority, but it is not the do-all, be-all of deciding how to be an affective witness of God’s truth before a lost and dying world.)

“Let every soul be subject 

unto the higher powers. 

For there is no power 

but of God: 

the powers that be 

are ordained of God. 

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, 

resisteth the ordinance of God: 

and they that resist 

shall receive to themselves damnation. 

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, 

but to the evil. 

Wilt thou then not be afraid 

of the power? 

do that which is good, 

and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

4 For he is the minister of God 

to thee 

for good. 

But if thou do that which is evil, 

be afraid; 

for he beareth not the sword in vain: 

for he is the minister of God, 

a revenger to execute wrath 

upon him that doeth evil. 

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, 

not only for wrath, 

but also for conscience sake. 

6 For for this cause 

pay ye tribute also: 

for they are God’s ministers, 

attending continually 

upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore

to all their dues:

tribute to whom tribute is due;

custom to whom custom;

fear to whom fear;

honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing,

but to love one another:

for he that loveth another

hath fulfilled the law.”   Romans 13:1-8

Paul makes it so clear that we are to be honorable citizens to the government powers and subject ourselves to them (and remember that when Paul wrote the commands above the Roman government was not friendly toward ‘Christians’!) unless the commands directly violate The Word of God!

Jesus Himself gives us the greatest instruction and example in regard to presumption in all of scripture.  I simply ask that you consider what He is saying—and while He was speaking to Satan, He had it recorded for us!  I would encourage you to read the entire passage and consider the three things that Satan tempted Jesus to do; meet His own needs outside of God’s will and timing, to tempt God and His Word; and to worship anyone or anything other than GOD!  And remember, Satan used “The Word” to tempt, but Jesus used “The Word” ‘in context’ to refute him!

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city,

and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him,

If thou be the Son of God,

cast thyself down:

for it is written,

He shall give his angels

charge concerning thee:

and in their hands

they shall bear thee up,

lest at any time

thou dash thy foot

against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him,

It is written again,

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”   Matthew 4:5-7

And just a note, tempting God with His own Word, is still tempting God.  You decide, are you walking and living in faith “IN GOD” (not in your own faith or interpretation of it) or are you being presumptuous toward God, His Will and His Word?  I’m praying that we will hear HIM and not our flesh or the flesh of others!

Amen and Amen!!!