The rest of us can open our Bibles to Romans chapter 13 and verses 1-7. I realized as I was studying this, I almost had it memorized. I think I could get a decent ways through it. And I remember that as a counselor back in 1998, having campers come in every week that didn't know me. from anybody, and had no reason to obey this college guy that was their counselor. I would read this to him on the Monday night of our camp week, and I think I would read it something like this, Be subject unto the higher powers, counsellors. For there is no power, counsellor, but of God. The powers, counsellors, that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, counsellors, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. I probably got really loud right at that section. For rulers, counsellors, are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Would thou then not be afraid of the power? Do thou that which is good, thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he bareth not the sword in vain. For he is a minister of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. It's a great passage for putting fear of God into some campers. I know we know this morning that Romans chapter 13 is not about camp counselors, although this passage does apply to every authority that God has put into our lives. It applies to parental authority, it applies to teachers authority, it applies to bosses. There is certainly application within this passage to all authority. But specifically Romans chapter 13 is about how to respond to civil authority. Government that God has put into our lives. You know as believers, there is a sense that This is not our final place, this is not our eternal home, that life is temporary. I mean, it's 70 years, and that's great, but it's temporary. And there's somewhere that we know that we'll live forever in that place. But there is a temporary location for us, even though, as the Word of God says in Hebrews 11, 13, that the great men and women of faith, they died in faith and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We're strangers and pilgrims, we're passing through, but we have an obligation in our passing through this place to put ourselves into a proper position when it comes to government and the authorities that God has put over us. And I think nowadays, certainly this passage is applied in all days, but certainly in a day where we're going from a Christian nation, and we're well past that, to a secular nation, a nation that has put evolution into schools and has taken Christianity out of schools, and certainly, as I heard somebody say this past week, they call it the creation myth and things. They have put in homosexual marriage just in the last year, abortion, that's been a to be legal, but it is now. We've heard about the state-appointed guardian that's going to be put into place at some point here in the near future over every child. There's a lot of things that we can look at government and see. How do we respond? Or what does God... How does God expect us to respond to what's taking place? And so I trust this morning this will be helpful to us and timely as far as our position towards government. So let's just pray and ask the Lord to bless as we study this idea of putting ourselves under secular government. Father, I thank you for the Word of God. I thank you that it does have application beyond the Gospel. And I praise you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross for our sins. I thank you that you paid the price in full. I thank you that there's nothing left to pay, that we don't have to come to you and say, well, I'm a good person, please accept me. I thank you that while we were yet sinners, Christ, you died for us. And Father, I praise you that we can be saved. And know for sure today that if we die, we do not spend eternity in hell, that we be eternally in the presence of God. And yet, Father, we've got to get through life. We've got to walk in this world, in a world that is secular, in a world that's really anti-Christ and anti-God. And Father, we've got to know how to respond to authorities placed into our lives. So I pray the Spirit of God would help me as I speak this morning to speak clearly. I pray that Father you speak to our hearts and give us grace to respond correctly in the authority structure that you place around us, not just governmental, but also within our homes and within our businesses, that Father we would be rightly related to every authority that you place in our lives. Help us now as we study this. In Christ's name I pray. Amen. So this morning, how do you respond to secular, modern government that God's allowed to be over us? The first thing that Paul says is to humbly submit to government. Humbly submit to government, no matter who you are, as far as anything. Verse 1 says, let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Every soul, rich or poor, female or male, educated or uneducated, as far as wherever in society we fall, every soul is to be subject to these higher powers, the governmental powers. We've got a lot of governmental authority. We've got Prime Minister David Cameron. We've got the Deputy Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. I forget who she is. As far as her position, I know who she is. I know she's over immigration, which affects us coming into the country. We've got Al Salmon, the first minister. We've got mayors like Boris Johnson down in London. And there's up-and-coming other leaders. You've got the labor leader, Ed Miliband, and all these different individuals. And certainly, there's a lot you or I could say as we look at these individuals and say that we disagree with them on policies that they have and things like that. But no matter where I disagree, God has given me a primary responsibility of submitting to their governmental authority. I remember back when we had President Bill Clinton in the United States and he embarrassed our nation as he was immoral. And I remember hearing Christians, as they spoke about President Clinton after that, speaking in a way that was very disrespectful as to his office of President of the United States. I remember it kind of bothered me as a younger Christian to hear this take place. The Bible gives a warning in 2 Peter 2, 10 through 12, even in reference to the way that we speak about politicians or those that are in political or governmental authority over us. And Peter has been speaking about the godly and the ungodly. He's just talked about, he's just named the ungodly, and then he describes them in 2 Peter 2, 10-12. He says, chiefly, them that walk after the flesh in lusts of uncleanness. And then it says, and despise government. There is this anti-government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, the ungodly, as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of things that they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. That passage ought to be a big warning to us as believers, just in how we respond to it, and even how we speak about maybe policies or people that we have disagreement with, no matter what they've said or what they've implemented, that we be very careful, because our biblical responsibility is to submit. Secondly, no matter who is in authority, because it goes on to say, for there is no power but of God. Look at leaders that have gotten into office, and we think, oh, it's only that has taken place. But how many have gotten into office outside of God's control? The answer is nobody. The powers, for there is no power but of God. The power that they have is God-given power. Jesus recognizes, as He lived before Pilate, Pilate was the judge that Jesus faced on his way to his crucifixion. And Jesus acknowledged that Pilate had authority, but it was God-given authority. As he said in John 19, 11, Jesus answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. Pilate said, don't you know I've got the power to set you free, or I've got the power to kill you. And Jesus said, the power that you possess is God-given. Jesus wasn't scared of the power that Pilate possessed, because he understood that that power is just something that God has entrusted to Pilate. So no matter who is in authority, every authority, again, not just civil authority, but every authority, we can look at and say, you know what? The only reason they have that authority is because God's allowed them to have that authority. No matter who is in authority. Why? Because of who God is. The powers that be are ordained of God. God isn't worried this morning in heaven looking down at earth and thinking, oh no, because this person's in authority, or this group has risen to power, or this group. Can we be worried about it? You know, we can be at times. But God's not worried about it. Why? Because the powers that be are ordained by God. They're powers that God has put into place. Are they always going to be good powers? No. Daniel, there's an interesting verse in Daniel 4.17 that's good for us to remember. It's about King Nebuchadnezzar before God humbles him. But he's been told that he will be humbled in Daniel 4.17, it says, This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, by God, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basis of men. Nebuchadnezzar, a great man? No, just God's fool. He was proud of himself. He thought, I have arrived. I have become this great king. And God was going to put him down for seven years. But why? So that men can look at him and say, God's the one that sets him up. And he sets over the world the bases of men. It's not always great men that are going to be in leadership, and we think, well that's great, that's of God, because that's a great man that has done a great work for God, and so that's of the Lord. But then look at somebody that's not great, but somebody that's harmful, hurtful, and say, but that's not of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. God providentially, in His wisdom, whether for judgment or blessing or both, or just His plan, at times will put into place somebody that we look at and say, totally disagree, but we could also look at that and say, but. God has put that person into that position of authority. And even as a person, a wicked person, in that position of authority, we can know this, God's got it under control. Proverbs 21.1 says, The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water he turneth it withersoever he will. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Sometimes it surprises us. Why did that leader make that decision? It seems so contrary to personality. But the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. He turneth it withers whoever he will. You know, Pharaoh was not blessing to the children of Israel they didn't look at Pharaoh and say that's great you know harsh taskmaster put me under tribute and bondage and this is great one thing we know about Pharaoh is God prophesied to Abraham that his children would be in subjection and bondage for 400 years and that this would take place God used Pharaoh's hard heart. The Bible says in that passage, as you read it in Exodus chapter 9 and 10, it says, Pharaoh hardened his heart, he hardened his heart, and it says, and yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened. And then the last time it says, and God hardened his heart. Pharaoh hardened his heart, and God hardened his heart. So what? So that when the children of Israel left Egypt, what did they leave with? They left with the blessing of God. They left with the wealth of that nation. And so it was God's plan. So our submission to earthly authority is submission to God. So we need to humbly submit to government. And then, secondly, Paul teaches us to willfully accept government. Humbly submit to government, but willfully accept government. And I want to stop and just say, this passage assumes that government isn't asking us to do something that violates God's word. There's plenty of scripture that we can go to. The apostles are standing before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin says to them, you're not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus Christ anymore. What was their response? Acts 4, 18-20. They commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. What they say, they say, I'm sorry, we've got to obey, as they say in another place, God rather than them. We've got to obey God. But in doing that, did the apostles ever, and we've studied this, do you ever see the apostles resisting government and saying, you have no right to whip me. You have no right to stone me. You have no right. What happened? As they obeyed God, what did they accept? The consequences that earthly government would put on them because of their disobedience to civil government. So the apostles. The same with Old Testament Daniel, we spoke about him recently. The decree goes out, you can't ask a favor of anybody other than the king for these things. And the Bible says Daniel, knowing that it was signed into law, he went to pray as he had always prayed. And what did he do? He accepted the consequences. It was the lion's den. Daniel didn't stand before the king and say, okay, break your law that you signed into effect because you're my friend and let me go. He accepted the consequences as he disobeyed civil authority. The Hebrew children They would have bowed to the idol. If the king said, here is the idol, I command you to bow down to it. And they said, no. Why? Because they are going to please God. Daniel previously, they are going to eat the king's feet. But Daniel said, no. And he went to the right channel, seeking to be able to eat something else. And there's many examples that we could look at. If our society and our government ever said we can't assemble as believers, what do we do? We assemble, we accept the consequences. If they ever say there's no converting to Christianity, as Muslim countries did, what do we do if someone converts to Christianity? We still witness, we still evangelize, we accept the consequences. They say in some countries no Bibles. It would be shocking if Brent never came to them. But what do we do? We keep the Bible, but we accept the consequences. So this passage assumes the fact that our government is not asking us to sin or violate God's law. Okay, so that's valid. Us saying, I can't submit to that because to do that would be to sin. That's right. But you know what we can do? We can't take it and go this further and say, but we don't like it. In other words, whatever you're going to implement, I don't like it, so I'm not going to do that. That's not the biblical exception to submitting. Or we can say, I don't think it's fair. I don't agree with it. We can have these reasons why. But has God said to us, if you don't agree with it, then it's fine to resist? No. The principle only is if what the government asks us to do is causing us to sin against God, then we can disobey. Otherwise, we have to humbly submit. Because the passage speaks about some that will resist the government, verse 2, since whosoever therefore resisted the power. Every society has a segment that is anti-government. I mean, they are against the government and they resist the power, whatever sense that may be. It might be a criminal, somebody that's refusing to submit to the legal system. It could be a traitor, somebody that's selling the government or against government in that sense. It could be somebody that's an activist, a political activist, and they're trying to get their political way. What's the Bible? What's the biblical principle? You resist government, you're resisting the ordinance of God. You're breaking God's law. You know it's kind of a shame. Our government has given up a lot in forgetting God. They have, to themselves. If they would obey the Bible, they'd understand that the authority that they have is God-given authority, and they could claim it. But regardless of whether they understand that, what's the truth? They still have that authority from God. They still have God's authority. And so somebody that breaks the law or resists the power will face civil judgment and says, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. And a lot of times we read the Bible and come across the word damnation and it means what? It means hell. But here it's speaking about judgment, historically judgment, and crime and punishment. You've heard the statement, crime doesn't pay? Yeah. I've seen it. I've gone into the prisons and seen the guys in prison. In prison ministry, back when I was in college, we'd go into the jails and we'd have evangelism with the prisoners. Crime doesn't pay. It's good for us to understand, young people growing up, you live a life of crime, there is punishment. It's God-given authority that brings about that punishment. So we need to humbly submit to that authority. Then we need a wisely pleased government. Wisely pleased government. As Paul introduces this passage, he's dealing with basically how the believer relates in the world and to what's taking place around them. And Paul has instructed them in Romans 12, 18, he said, if it be possible, as much as life in you, live peaceably with all men. OK, and so he's applying it to government. As much as life in you, as best you can as a believer, get along with civil authority and civil government. Why? Because their purpose of government is to keep the peace. Verse 3 says, For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. The civil authority that God has given police and judges, What is their burden? Their burden is not to terrorize people that do good, but those that do evil. You've probably noticed if you're driving along the motorway, my car, if I have the GPS on, it beeps at me when the camera's coming. It tells me there's a speed camera up ahead. But if you notice, if you were to stand there by the speed camera, what would you see a lot of as people came past? You'd see a lot of brake lights. Why? Because there's people, as they see the camera, their conscience is, whoa, slow down. And I know at times, you're going too fast, right? But there's others, they're just breaking the law, speeding along, and they're scared of those speed traps for a good reason. Because they'll catch them. As you go to, I think it's Townland, and go to walk into Townland, what's on the front window at Townland? It's a poster of a security guard. You ever wondered what that poster, you know, it says? Is it home bargains? Yeah. It says something about shoplifters beware. And it's kind of like a spear curl for shoplifters. Why? Because it's reminding them that if they're going to do that which is wrong, you need to be aware of it. But you've never walked out of home bargains or someplace like that afraid when you've got purchased goods. You're not expecting a security guard to come up to you and say, hey, I saw what you did. You purchased those goods. And so come back in the store with me. No. If you've done what's right, you're supported by the civil authority. So rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. And their purpose is to praise peace. It says in verse 3, will thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have the praise of the saint. If you're doing what's right, you could have civil government that is very supportive of you. I mentioned I recently read a book about David Wilkerson. I'm over here. Going to New York City. And dealing with the gangs that were there and seeking to stop the gang violence that was taking place by the power of the gospel. You know, as he succeeded in that by God's grace and his gang members got saved and the gang fights stopped, police that had been scared to go into those areas, they congratulated David Wilkinson on accomplishing what they hadn't been able to accomplish. I've mentioned before, that was the gang member with Al Capone and how they burned his record and they praised him for the change that had taken place and that supports this biblical principle do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same because their purpose is to promote peace verse 4 says for he is the minister of God to be for good You know, if you're ever bothered by civil government and decisions they're making, it's really troubling you. This is a good verse to meditate on. For they are the minister of God to thee for good. Really, Paul? You know, at this time, as Paul is writing this, the king is Nero. Nero that killed his mother, Nero that killed Christians and persecuted Christians. And Paul, honestly, he could write for he's the minister of God to be for good? That's a precious verse these days. It would be easy for us to be frustrated with what's taking place in government and decisions that are being made. But to understand, look, these authorities, civil authorities, are for our good. They're for our good. So praise the Lord for them. And then fearfully honor government. Peace breakers ought to fear. It says, but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid. If somebody is living a life of sin, disobedience, they ought to be afraid of civil authority. Just this past week on Monday, as I was going to do flyers, I saw a police vehicle by the car park over here. I asked the car wash guys, I said, what happened? At 10, 10.30 in the morning, somebody tried to steal somebody's bike. We've had, just down here in this area, we've had broken windows. I've seen shoplifters three times since I've been in Britain that were being chased. Twice in Lone Head, once at Port Canard. There's disobedience. People around us, and certainly Peace breakers ought to appear. Back when I was on deputation to come to Scotland, I was with a pastor in Alabama, and we were doing door-to-door ministry, and we had suits on. And we were in kind of a rougher neighborhood. We knocked on a door and the guy started to open the door. He saw our suits and he was aggressively shutting the door. And the pastor or one of us said, we're not police. And he opened the door. He was afraid. He probably should have been afraid. I don't know what he had done or why he fears police, but he ought to fear police. If somebody grows up and they're living a life of disobedience, they ought to fear civil government. If they'll do that, which is evil, be afraid. Why? Because he's armed by God. He says, for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God. Why do police have weapons? I know limited at times, but they have weapons. It's because God has given them that authority to carry the sword. We notice at the funeral as they honor Mark who is a policeman. As he walked the pathway to the church on either side, there were police standing at attention at Honor Guard. And as he came past the last of the police, they had all their equipment on, including, I think, tasers that were on their belt. And Benson and I were talking about it. But why do they have tangers? Why do they have handcuffs? Why do they have batons? Why do they have, at times, real weapons? Because they bear the sword. They have that responsibility because God's given them the responsibility to not just keep the peace, but enforce the peace. He's a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Is God in favor of strong policing? I believe he is. God has given man the government to keep the peace and to do that they have weapons that God has given to them. In the United States I know it was this way and I don't know were often on the wall. And still, thankfully, I believe in some place in the United States, they've been able to keep them on the wall, even though there's been moves to take them down. But that's good. A criminal ought to sit there and see the authority of God behind the judge. This verse would be great to put behind the judge, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. That's the same as far as parental authority to children that God has given parents the privilege and teachers the privilege of discipline for the sake of guarding society from disobedience. And so here, fearfully honor government. And then sincerely obey government. Verse 5 says, wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Besides, we're not to obey government this morning just because we're afraid. Well, if I don't obey government, then this consequence. We're to fear government because of the consequences, but also we're to obey government for our conscience sake. Again, going into jail ministry, there's a lot of people in jail that Look back at their life and say, I wish I'd never done that. I wish I'd never got into that crowd and got in that environment. Because look at where it's led me. Now I've done this in my life. And that's in my past now. And I've got it there. Also for conscience sake, sincerely obey government. And then lastly, this morning, honestly pay government. Honestly pay government. Mark 12, 14-16 is a story where Christ is being tempted by the Pharisees. And when they come, they say unto the Master, We know that thou art true, and carest for no man, for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? Shall we give or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him. What did Jesus say? Pay your taxes. As believers, should we pay taxes? Yes. We have a responsibility to pay taxes. I heard of a, and I'm not sure who he is, but a pretty well-known preacher in the United States. He's in prison right now. Because he took the position we ought not have to pay taxes. I don't understand. Because this passage that we're looking at here is so clear. Other scripture is so clear. Because the government has a right to a portion of our income. Verse 6, for this cause pay ye tribute also, that's taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing. Government has responsibility, that's God given. How is that to be financed? It's to be financed by the people. We have a responsibility to pay government. We can complain about it at times. We do. All this tax that we have to pay and how high the taxes are. But we forget we've got streets, we've got health care, we've got all the different policing benefits, governmental judicial benefits. We've got our voice within government and it's supported by taxes. So give them what is due them. Verse 7. Render therefore to all their dues tribute, to whom tribute is due. Custom, to whom custom. Fear, to whom fear. Honor, to whom honor. It's our responsibility to participate. So, we look at government nowadays and we think, well, There's a lot going on, and there's a time to stand up, but when we stand up, it better be an area of sin. Like John the Baptist stood up and said, King, it's not lawful, but what did John the Baptist accept? The consequences of that. So, just because we don't agree with it, just because we think, well, you know, I don't like that, Our responsibility biblically is to submit. It's to put ourselves under and not to resist. And we're going to come to a days where perhaps we're going to have to make a decision. Honor God or obey government. At that point it's honor God. But until then, by God's grace, we ought to be leaders in submitting to civil authority. May God bless His Word to our heart this morning. Father, I thank you for the Word of God. I thank you that it does apply beyond just areas that we think, well, that's what we need to think about on Sunday morning. I know it's an unusual Sunday morning message in how to respond to government. But I pray the Spirit of God to use it in our lives. This is a day and age where we've got a lot of things taking place that are uncomfortable and they're worrisome. Father, worries taken away when we understand the powers that be are ordained of God. When we understand He is the minister of God to be for good. And Father, that we are to submit. I pray the Spirit of God give us wisdom. Lord, we want a Christian voice to be heard and that's good. Father, we want to stand up for what's right and what's true, and that's good, as we do it within areas of obedience. But certainly, Father, we can't do that within areas of disobedience or protest like the world protests. And so I pray the Spirit of God to give us grace, Lord, to submit, and I pray that you bless this, your Word, to our hearts. It's in Christ's name we pray. Amen. In 481, Jesus is resting, resting.