God Ordains the Governing Authorities in our Lives

1. God Ordains the Governing Authorities in our Lives Romans 13:1

2. Romans 13:1 • Let every soul [person] be subject unto the higher [governing] powers [authorities]. • For there is no power but of God: • The powers that be are ordained of God.

3. When Paul told the Christians to submit to the governing authorities who was in charge at Rome? • Roman Emperor • Nero • Adopted by Claudius • Reigned (AD 54-68) • Charged the Christians with the responsibility for the great fire in AD 64

4. Why? Why must we obey secular, pagan governing authorities?

5. Paul Tells Christians to obey an authority figure who is a heathen because He is ordained of God.

6. Romans 13:1 τεταγμέναι • Governing authorities are • Ordained • Instituted • Established • Appointed • by God (for whatever time they are in authority).

7. Question How involved is our Sovereign God? Where did Paul get this understanding of God’s role in human affairs?

8. The Old Testament is the Foundation for the New Testament

9. Isaiah 46:10 • Remember the former things of old: for I am God, andthere is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, • My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

10. In America God uses/controls the vote to ordain the governing authorities.

11. Some Suggest That God’s Sovereignty is based on his foreknowledge of the future. That is not what the Bible teaches.

12. Consider any Verse like this: • Psalm 105:17 • He [God] senta man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

13. If God’s sovereignty was based on foreknowledge, the verse would speak of God’s knowledge of Joseph’s decision.

14. Cyrus the Great Persian King (559–530 BC) • Isaiah 44:28 • That saith of Cyrus,He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure [purpose]: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

15. Turn to Daniel 4 • Nebuchadnezzar • [neb you kad NEZ ur] (O god Nabu, protect my son) • King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (605–562 BC) • Captured Jerusalem • Destroyed the Temple and carried the people of Judah into captivity in Babylonia • 2 Kings, Ezra, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

16. Royal Proclamation Daniel chapter 4 is a letter from King Nebuchadnezzar to all people, nations and languages on the planet.

17. Consider the Irony That in Daniel 3 the same group of people received an order to bow to an image of gold are now being told…

18. God doesn’t share His Glory • Isaiah 42:8 • I am the LORD: that is my name: • and my glory will I not give to another, • neither my praise to graven images.

19. Daniel 4:1-3 Vs. 1-3 contain the introduction with vs. 4 beginning the historical narrative.

20. Daniel 4:17 WHY • This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: • 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 basest of men.

21. Daniel 4:23 What we can’t see must be utterly beyond our comprehension. • And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying,

22. Daniel 4:23 • Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field

23. Daniel 4:25 • That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

24. Daniel 4:25 • That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

25. Daniel 4:26 • And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; • thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, • after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

26. Daniel 4:27 The Bible never presents God’s Sovereignty as a fatalistic determinism yet it never leaves any doubt concerning God’s authority. The king can repent.

27. Romans 2:4 • Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

28. Philippians 2:9-11 • Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: • That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And thatevery tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

29. Daniel 4:30-31 • The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor [glory] of my majesty? • While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

30. Hold Your Place in Daniel 4 Go to Luke 12:16-21

31. Daniel 4:34 • And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

32. Its all grace. Daniel 4:35 Acts 4:27-28 • and all the inhabitants of the earth arereputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, • What doest thou?

33. Acts 4:27-28 WHY • For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, • For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

34. My Opinion The absence of the fear of God in America is a direct result of the church’s minimization and marginalizing of God’s Sovereignty.

35. Daniel 4:37 • Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, • all whose works are truth, and • his ways judgment (just): and • those that • walk in pride he is able to abase [humble].

36. Question What is the single exception to obeying God-ordained governing authorities?

37. Who are the God-ordained authority figures in your life that you are struggling with? Application

38. My Belief • I believe the Bible teaches that nothing comes into the life of the believer—including evil—that God either has permitted or ordained to accomplish His ultimate design and purpose in and through believers to His glory.

39. Essential Truths The 3 Most Important Foundational Truths in the OT: • There is only one true God. • He made everything including you. • He is large and in charge.