God and Government Authority

I heard an amazing sermon last week on God and Government Authority.

Pastor Nathan Cothen is the Pastor for Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX - just a short one hour drive from where I live. I listen to him most afternoons on my way home, local station 100.7 FM. He preaches God's word, and in unapologetic about it.  He is one of my favorite pastors to listen to these days.

Their Day in Court - Sermon Audio

If you are able, please listen to the sermon. Below are my notes that I took when I had a chance to re-listen. 

Their Day in Court

Acts 4:13-22

Trouble: Government says "No" and we say "Yes" to GOD

What are believers to do when the laws of the state are in conflict with the laws of God?

Acts 4:13-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 

15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 

16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 

17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 

22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Guilty - Peter and John

• healing a cripple (a miracle)
• speaking truth

Charges not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Jesus to Pilate, night before crucifixion - "You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above."

Natural Revelation - everyone deep in their heart knows there is a God (Romans 1).

Nobody who thinks he is a god wants to hear about sin.

Verdict - The Sanhedrin wanted to kill Peter and John but too many were watching. So for the time, told them to shut up.

PROBLEM - Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching about Jesus, and Jesus told them to preach Jesus no matter what!

Romans 13:1-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Be Subject to Government

13 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

How do we deal with when God says one thing and man says another?

• Does God put in place irreligious governments? Yes. He uses even those who do not bow to Him, as agents of restraint and unregenerate men to keep some semblance of order in the world.

God & Government Authority

What ranks what place? Is the state above authority? No. GOD is!

3 Categories:

1.Agreement
        When everyone agrees.

        Even in non-Christian societies, have some general guidelines (Hindu, Communist, etc) they all say on "paper" - 

            - murder is wrong

            - rape is bad

            - lying is an offense (sworn in at court)

Remember - all truth is God's truth.

John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

On the BIG stuff, there is generally agreement, no problem, all on the same page.

2. Aggravation

        Not Morally or Biblically wrong, just irritate you.

            - IRS - take your money and do not ask you waht should be done with it.

                     - we may disagree with them and their policies - it is not immoral or Biblically wrong - so                         we all pay our taxes

            - Motor Cycle vs. Car

                    - in a motor cycle

                        no helmet

                        no doors

                        no seat belt

                    Perfectly Legal

                    - in a car - roughly 6,000 pounds can get a ticket for not wearing a seat-belt

3. Abomination

• God says one thing and government says another. 
• 2 sub types
• Gov. says "yes" & we (Christians) say "No"
• i.e. 1973 ROE v. Wade
• Prior to this God and Gov. said no to abortion.
• If there is any good news, when evil people are allowed to do evil things, and we says no, they cannot flog us, put us in jail, or kill us.

Where we run into trouble is when...

• Gov says "no" and we say "yes to God.
• God said to do it, not only did He say to do it, but we are under compulsion to do it.

What then?

3 answers

1. Obey God - Don't even need to pray it. When the two are in conflict, we are going to obey God.
2. Accept what comes (man up!) (don't organize an army)
1. Peter was in jail twice.
1. 1 time freed
2. 2nd time crucified

Why was it God's will to miraculously free him one time, an angel escorting him out of the city and next time he goes in, its God's will for him to be crucified?

What do both of these have in common?

Glorifying God

• Enhance the reputation of Jesus Christ
• and we as believers in Jesus Christ signed on the dotted line that we no longer live but die to ourselves and live for Jesus Christ.

Pastor Cothen -

"I don't mind dying for Christ, its the flogging. Dying for Christ is relatively easy, being in prison for heat speech, which is three (3) things away from happening in this country. Me being in prison, for hate crimes ir right around the corner. Hate speech . If you have any grit, you too."

Do what the original disciples did - we suffer.

    3. Watch

            Do you know what did Saul in? Holy Spirit was bringing a number of things against him. But, at the end of Chapter 7 of Acts, "stoning Stephen, to death, in total innocence, they laid their clothing at the feet of the man named Saul, who had told them to do it.

You know what breaks people inside? Watching innocent people suffer, unless you are a total mental case, it will break you watching innocent people suffer, because of your corruption. It is what turned the Roman Empires into the Christian world order. He'll do it again, but He has to have people ready to man up, and do what He says, which is obey Him and accept whatever comes and watch because what God chooses to do with it - that is His business.

Romans 8:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

When we follow "obey, accept, watch & know" we may be delivered on this side or in heaven. His will, will be accomplished and we will hear....

Matthew 25:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

And that is what it means to be a Christian.

Sermons To Watch Concerning Pentacost

Dear friends,

I hope you will take the time to watch these 3 videos. Brother Chad reveals some connections in scripture that I find very enlightening.

And in light of what the world is going through currently, I found tremendous peace as his outlined the scritpures. Please read his disclaimer before watching.

J.S.

Disclaimer: I am not saying the rapture of the Church will occur this year in 2020 ( it very well could), and I am not saying the rapture of the Church must occur on the Feast of Pentecost. This is simply a study. However out of all 7 feasts of the Lord...I believe Pentecost without a doubt paints one of the most beautiful pictures of the pre tribulation rapture of the Church. This year on the Gregorian Calendar Pentecost falls on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Other calendars have it in late May- early June time frame.

The way you should live your life is in constant expectation as if today could be the day Jesus comes for His Church...but at the same time occupying if it's years from now ( I believe Jesus is at the door ). Keep watching with me. Keep looking up! Jesus is coming soon!

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

The Sower, Seed & Soil: A Study of those who will go to Heaven

I have spent the past 8 months studying God's word, and what Jesus says is a disciple of Him. Eight months is a good deal of time to stud scripture to understand what Jesus taught in 3 1/2 years to His disciples. I have been blessed that my teacher on the class was a man that I admire, who has a passion for Jesus, and came to the faith through the Old Testament. And I am grateful that he is a man who wanted to teach a class that was of quality not matter the quantity of students. On the best day, there were 5 students, and the lowest, his wife and I were the only one's in attendance. And I feel that on those two occasions where his wife and I were his only pupils, the conversation and studying went to an even deeper level. I am blessed by this couple, I see them as friends, mentors, as family.

Now to what he taught, what I learned, and the truths everyone needs to face.

The attendance in heaven is going to be shocking, in two ways.

1. The people who go there will be shocked by who is there.
2. The people who go there will be shocked by who is NOT there.

The study I was apart of outlined: the call, cost, commitment, and the comissioning of the disciples. Jesus outlined a process to His disciples that they were to use to make more disciples to fulfill the Great Comission (Matthew 28:19-20).

I want to start with verse 16 though. Scripture should be read in context, not just picked at.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NASB)

¹⁶ But the eleven (in spite of deceptive Judas) disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. ¹⁷ When they (the eleven) saw Him, they (the eleven) worshiped (prostrated before Him) Him; but some (at least two) were doubtful (did a double take; unbelief at what they saw). ¹⁸ And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, (imperfect tense) “All authority (ability, strength, power to do God’s will) has been given (one event with result into the future) to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go (COMMAND – as you go) therefore (because of the authority) and make (COMMAND – molding, manufacturing, process) disciples of all the nations (no one is omitted), baptizing (emersion of life) them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (under the authority of the trinity), ²⁰ teaching (instruct personally) them to observe (living, keep, obey, act) all that I commanded (pay attention) you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (forever, end of time).”

This process, it is what God intended for all Christians/disciples to follow. And by the way, those are one in the same. A disciple is a Christian, and a Christian is a disciple. If you answer the personal call that brings you out of the darkness, and choose to pay the price of following Christ, and endure to the end (Matthew 10:22;24:13) you are a disciple of Christ.

The truth is though, most people who walk to the front of a church worship room and say they have given their life over to Christ, will not endure to the end. And by most, I say with confidence 72% of "professing" believers are not disciples of Christ (I will explain later in this post where I get this number from). They do not take the time to invest in God's word, to know what God has instructed His believers to do (live, act, believe), and when life gets tough they give up on "faith" because it is easier. And this is clearly outlined in at least two portions of scripture:

1. Parable of the Soil: Matthew 13:3-12; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8: 5-8
2. The letters to the Seven Churches: Revelation 2 & 3

The Wisdom of the Parable of the Soil

Matthew 13:3-12 (NASB)

3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Mark 4:3-9 (NASB)

3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:5-8 (NASB)

5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

By reading these three portions of scripture, we learn that there are four types of soil. If you have spent any length of time in a church service, more than likely you have heard a sermon on "What Type of Soil Do You Want to be!" The problem with these sermons, is they miss the mark, not entirely, but unfortunately, in a crucial way. Most pastor's in my own experience use this topic as a sermon on salvation to the lost. But that was not the target audience. The soil is in the church. This goes back to when I mentioned "professing" believers. The parable of the soil is a picture of those in the little "c" church (your local community churches). Not everyone in your local church is a possessor of saving & sanctifying faith. Unfortunately, the parable of the soil tells us that those in the local church are 75% lost; 25% saved. Truths about the parable: Sower is God the Father, Seed is the Word of God, and the soil is you and me. Of the three, the only one that changes is you and me. We have a choice to be lost or to be saved. Here is the break down of the four soils:

• The seed that fell beside the road.
• World system
• Has heard the Word of God
• Birds - occupation, recreation, family, money
• Might not even a a professor, but the soil is dry (not good for growing)
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell in the rocky places.
• Professor's for sure
• In the little "c" church, but is not in the big "c" Church (body of Christ)
• Bad fruit
• Judas, of the original 12
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among the thorns.
• Professor
• Not sanctified
• No fruit
• Chokes
• Unsaved
• Has a visible appearance of fruit/flower - is deceiving
• Most of the little "c" church
• Largest portion of soil in the church
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among on good soil.
• Possessor
• Good Fruit\
• Sanctifying faith
• Will endure to the end
• DIAGNOSIS: SAVED

Friends, brothers & sisters in Christ, we have a mission field literally in our House. The recently departed Reverend Billy Graham was once quoted as saying, "At least 50% of those sitting in church pews are lost." The parable of the soil shows us that number is closer to 75% - and God's word tell us that.

Now, let's wrap up with the Letter's to the Seven Churches from Revelation 2 & 3. I won't outline the Scripture here, I have shared that previously: Revelation: Letters to the Seven Churches

But a quick summary will suffice for what I want to talk about.

Church #1 - Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7

• Description of Christ - Holds 7 stars in right hand/ Walks among the 7 golden lampstands
• Commendation - Poverty (but rich), blasphemy of the false, some in prison, tested
• Reproof - V4 - Bu this I have against you that you have left your first love. Jesus is their first love, duty w/o devotion.
• Warning/Instruction - Repent, do your first deeds, from where you have fallen. 
• Promise to Overcomers - Crown of life,not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #2 - Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11

• Description of Christ -1st and last was dead, come to life (V8)
• Commendation - V9 - I know your tribulation (& poverty) but you are rich. FAITHFUL
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - V10 - Be faithful unto death
• Promise to Overcomers - V10 - Crown of V11 - Life, not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #3 - Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17

• Description of Christ -V12 - The One who has the sharp two edged sword.
• Commendation - Hold fast to My name. Did not deny My faith.
• Reproof - Tolerating the teaching of Baalm. Eat things sacrificed to idols. Some hold to the teaching of the Nicolatians. 
• Warning/Instruction - Repent or I will make ware against you. Jude/2 Peter
• Promise to Overcomers - Hidden manna White stone, new name

Church #4 - Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29

• Description of Christ - Son of God. Eyes like a flame of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze
• Commendation - Deeds, love, faith, service/perseverance. Greater than at first.
• Reproof - Tolerate Jezebel - prophetess - leads astray - immorality lust , idol, sacrifice, seduction
• Warning/Instruction - Hold fast until His return. REPENT
• Promise to Overcomers - Authority over nations. The morning star - possess.

Church #5 - Sardis Revelation 3:1-6

• Description of Christ - Has 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars
• Commendation - Have a name and are alive
• Reproof - Dead. About to die. Works are incomplete.
• Warning/Instruction - Remember what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Walk with Him in white garments, name not erased from the book of life. Name confessed before the Father and His angels.

Church #6 - Philadelphia Revelation 3:7- 13

• Description of Christ - Holy, True, has key of David, who opens and no one will shut. Shuts and no one will open.
• Commendation - FAITHFULNESS
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - NONE
• Promise to Overcomers - An open door. Deliverance from Great Tribulation. Permanent place in the Temple of God. A new name.

Church #7 - Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22

• Description of Christ - The Amen, faithful, and true witness. Beginning of the creation of God
• Commendation - NONE - NOT EVEN ONE
• Reproof - Neither cold/hot: LUKEWARM Say rich and wealthy and need nothing, but are wretched, miserable, poor,blind and naked
• Warning/Instruction - Buy gold refined by/from Jews to be rich, white garments to not be naked, Eye salve to see. Be zealous & repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Sit with Him on His throne.

Only 2 of the 7 churches were given no reproofs: Our Savior, Jesus Christ, held nothing against Smyrna and Philadelphia. And if you look at the map above, you see that the seven churches were close to each other. They knew of each other, and could influence each other. 5 of the 7 made a choice to not follow the steps of Smyrna and Philadelphia. And therefore, Jesus gave them commands that had consequences: rewards or penalties for obedience. The letters are written to the churches, and the churches are portraits of the church across the globe today. Every little "c" church fits one of the seven descriptions. Do the math, only 28% of churches are doing what Jesus told His to disciples to do. That statistic is heartbreaking. So many in the churches today are lost, by choice, and they are influencing those around them in the pews. Possessors are in short supply. There are few doing the work of seed planting for the harvest that is to come. 

Those of us that make up the 28% must not lose heart, must continue on, be strong, and endure to the end....death of these mortal bodies or the rapture of them unto Heaven. Keep planting the seed. 

I leave you with one more image to consider. The current of the world system that we are born into naturally leads to hell - death, eternally separated from God the Father. To be a possessor, a disciple,

you have to go against the current, which takes endurance, that Holy Spirit provides. At the top of the image is the gate to Heaven. You recall in the parable of the Narrow/ Wide Gate, few will enter by the Narrow. That is an understatement. Think of that gate as a capillary, which only allows one cell through at a time. That is the gate to Heaven, guarded by Jesus Christ. He only allows one person at a time to enter, and He decides who enters. The most highly exclusive destination.

Remember, Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

If we do not endure, we are not disciples of Jesus Christ. And everyone who is not His disciple is going to hell. The gates to which are wide open, inclusive (takes anyone), and are never satisfied.

If you would like to know more on the course I took, it will be offered again, and I will share, with pleasure, that information.