Celebrating Christmas: Come out from among them.

Once again I find myself caught in the frenzy known as Christmas, whether I wanted to be or not. I have posted twice on the subject of Christmas. First, I posted on the true pagan roots of Christmas and why I don’t celebrate it. Then I posted on the Biblical date of Christ’s birth found in Luke chapters 1 and 2.  It was not December 25^th which is Saturnalia, the wicked celebration of the sun god Baal. 

In both of those posts, I left it up to the reader as to whether or not he or she should celebrate Christmas. I quoted Romans 14:5-10 as the grounds for the celebration of Christmas as long as they did it unto the Lord. 

I recently was challenged in my thinking by an individual who showed me a few verses in Deuteronomy. After meditating on them I have come to the belief that Christians should not celebrate Christmas; no matter the intent of their heart. Consider two examples.

First, consider Cain and Abel. Both were taught by their father, Adam what God required in the way of a sacrifice. In Genesis 4:2-5 we see that Cain sincerely offered a sacrifice unto the Lord of the fruit of the ground. However, it was rejected because it was not what God required.

Second, consider the intent of the heart of King Saul who sincerely wanted to sacrifice the best of the animals taken from the Amalekites. This can be found in 1 Samuel 15:1-24. God told Saul to destroy all the Amalekites including their animals. Saul, however, spared their king and the best of their animals. Saul tried to place the blame on the people of Israel for his disobedience, but ultimately he was in charge and should have lead them to obey the command of God.  What do we learn from this? 

1 Samuel 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 

Because Saul rejected the command of the Lord, he was rejected from being king of Israel. 

God is more concerned with our obedience than the intent or sincerity of our hearts when, out of disobedience, we offer a sacrifice to Him. 

So what does that have to do with the celebration of Christmas?   

Deuteronomy 12:29-32 
29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 
30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from  before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do likewise. 
31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 
32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add to thereto, nor diminish from it. 

Jeremiah 10:1-6 
1  Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 
2  Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 
3  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 
4  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 
5  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. 
6  Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 

God is crystal clear that He does not want His people to learn the customs of the pagans (heathen) nor does He want us to worship Him in the same way that pagans worship their gods. Their customs are an abomination to the Lord and He hates them. 

The customs of Christmas are pagan. It was the Catholic “church” that took those pagan celebrations and gave them a Christian name so the Christians and pagans could be united under the Roman Empire. 

Many Christians have said and will say, “But that is not what those Christmas customs mean to me!” “I am celebrating  it unto the Lord!” 

The LORD is more concerned with our obedience than He is with the sincerity of our hearts in our sacrifice of praise when we do it in disobedience to his Word.

For those who have children, imagine you tell one of them to go clean up his room and you will come check on him in 30 minutes to see if he has done what he was told to do. Thirty minutes later, you go into his room to find it a complete mess and your son is on the bed drawing a picture for you because he loves you. As you chasten your child, he says, "But why am I being chastened? ...I was making this drawing for you." Yes, he did a sacrifice of love in making a drawing for you, but he failed to do what he was told to do and there are consequences to disobedience. 

Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the same day (December 25th) and in the same way that pagans celebrated their sun god Baal (almost 2000 years before Christ came) is an abomination unto Him. 

Some will say, "But that was in the Old Testament. That was for Israel back then and not for us today. We are not under the law, we are under grace. We can celebrate anything we want if we do it unto the Lord." 

We are under grace. We, who are saved, were saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ alone and nothing else. Does His grace abolish the law? Are we now free to live as we want and do what we want as long as we do it unto the Lord? Has God changed? Does He no longer require obedience in His people?

We don't obey His words as a means of salvation. Rather, we obey His words because we love Him and want to honor Him. Should Christians celebrate Christmas with the rest of the world or should we come out from among them and be separate?  Christians should come out from among the world and be set apart. 

America has spoken

I am not at all surprised by the choice our nation has made for President during this election. In essence, as a whole, our nation has spoken. Much like Israel did when they rejected Christ, the United States has said, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). As a nation, Israel didn't want Christ to reign over them and neither does the United States.

There is a remnant of Christians in America, but that is all it is, and a very small remnant at that. We who are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ would have Him reign over us and He does and shall, but as for the majority of our nation, they have turned every one to his own way.

Just as Israel in Isaiah 1, America is a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger. They are gone away backward.

Though our nation is sinful and headed for certain judgment at the hand of God, we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need not fear. Our Sovereign God has raised up the very man He will use to accomplish His purpose for the United States of America.

I believe before God spoke one thing into existence, He laid out a plan for mankind and is carrying out that plan right now. The stage is set for the return of our Lord...our redemption draweth nigh.

Let us keep our eyes upon Him and not on the circumstances that surround us. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

So be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deuteronomy 31:6).

NEVER ONCE

(by Matt Redman, Jason Ingram, Tim Wanstall)

Standing on this mountain top

Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battleground

Seeing just how much You've done

Knowing every victory was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But, with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say...

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful

God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say...

Never once did we ever walk alone

Carried by Your constant grace

Held within Your perfect peace

Never once, no we never walk alone

Every step we are breathing in Your grace

Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise

You are faithful

God, You are faithful.

America - A Nation Deceived

I am amazed at just how deceived our nation is. I would say a vast majority of Americans pin their hopes for a national economic recovery on one man…the President of the United States. In a month we will be voting for our next President. Will Obama win reelection or will Mitt Romney regain the White House for the Republicans?

Our nation is deceived in many ways. First we believe that one man or his political party (rather than the one true God) will save the United States from its economic woes.  Even many Christians think this way. I was asked to read two articles which encourage Christians to vote for Romney, without coming right out and saying it.

Neither man, nor political party over the other will save our nation.  We are under the judgment of God for our sins. A Romney presidency will not restore America. The only thing that will restore America is repentance and following the Lord Jesus Christ.

One thing I have noticed more than ever this election is how the American people have been deceived into believing that there are only two choices for President. It’s either Democrat or Republican.  There is absolutely no media coverage of any of the other political party candidates.  Americans do not get exposure to these other candidates because they are not millionaires, nor are they being backed by Super PACS or extraordinarily wealthy people.  People don’t know about these other candidates because they have become too dependent on the mainstream media to inform them. They will not take the time to search for themselves. They stay so busy it is easier to have others tell them who to vote for.

America has become such an entertainment and amusement based society that we don’t want to think for ourselves. The word “muse” means to think. Put an “a” in front of a word and it means the opposite. The opposite of thinking is being amused, or entertained.  Being amused does not require us to think. We want to take only mainstream media information and use it to make the “best possible choice” during this election.

I have had more than one person tell me, “I wish we had another option to vote for this year.” Well, we do. I often hear people say, “I consider myself a conservative, not necessarily a Republican.”  Since it is the Republican Party who leans more toward “conservative” values they feel the only choice they can make is for the Republican candidate.

How many conservative Americans have even heard of the Constitution party or their candidate for president, Virgil Goode?  I dare say, not many.

People have told me that a vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Obama. I beg to differ. A vote for a third party candidate is a vote for who I think would best lead our nation in the right direction. Obama has not led this nation in the right direction in the past 4 years. I do not believe that Romney will lead our nation in the right direction either.

People argue that the reason I will not vote for Romney is because he is a Mormon. Well, I didn’t vote for McCain or Obama in the last election and it wasn't because of their religious beliefs. I didn't vote Republican or Democrat last election because both party platforms  fail us. Romney’s religion has nothing to do with why I will not vote for him.

I have looked at Romney’s stand on several issues and while it is impossible to agree with a candidate on every issue, it is important to agree on at least a few.

Based on some simple research done online at http://2012.republican-candidates.org, I have looked at his views on issues that I believe have resulted in our nation being under the judgment of God.  Two of these issues I believe are moral issues. As the morality of a nation goes, so goes the nation. As morality declines, the nation will decline. First of all, how does Romney believe about abortion?  Romney previously supported a woman’s right to decide to terminate the life of her unborn child at any time for any reason, but he is now adamantly opposed to abortions, unless…

…unless it involves cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in mortal danger.  The Republican candidate for president of the United States believes an abortion is justified if the unborn child, who through no fault of his own, was conceived as a result of rape or incest.  That child is now worthy of death.  If the mother’s life is in danger, I presume during the birthing process, the child can be terminated if it is the only thing that will keep the mother alive. And who will make that call?

Our nation is responsible for killing more Americans through abortion than all the wars our nation has fought in combined.  Will a vote for justifying any abortions please God?

The second issue facing our nation is the issue of “same-sex marriage.”  Though Romney states that marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman, he seeks to have equality between husband/wife couples and  sodomite and lesbian couples. Basically, in the eyes of the government there should be no difference between the two.  The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged because of the unchecked sin of sodomy.  Will a vote for condoning and giving equal rights to sodomite and lesbian couples please God?

A third issue, though not moral in nature, is important in my estimation. That issue is will our nation support Israel or not? Our current administration “supports” Israel as minimally as possible mainly in word, not in deed. Our current President seeks to pressure Israel to go back to its pre 1967 borders…if I’m not mistaken about the date. He wants Israel to give up part of its land.

Will a Romney Presidency be any different? In an article I read just this week in the Jerusalem Post, Romney stated that he is committed to seeing the creation of a democratic and prosperous independent Palestinian state living side by side with a secure Jewish state.  How is that going to be possible unless Israel gives up some of their land?  Is Romney for Israel?

A final issue of importance in my estimation is the issue of immigration. I think our current President would be happy if there were no borders at all. What about Romney? Romney believes if America is to be competitive on the global economic scale, we must loosen the laws of immigration so we can take advantage of highly skilled workers.  He wants it easy for “highly skilled” foreigners to obtain citizenship, as well as pardoning the millions of unskilled illegal workers who unlawfully came across our borders and allowing them to stay. 

I believe a Romney Presidency will in no way deter or slow God’s hand of judgment already on our nation.  I am amazed at the number of Christians who look at this election from a purely man centered point of view. Do Christians not believe in the sovereignty of God?  They say they do, but their actions and words would tend to lead one to believe otherwise. 

I read two articles in which prominent Christians are urging us not so prominent Christians to vote for Romney. Their arguments are as follows…

If a candidate who is elected to office (President Obama) does evil, then it is our duty to remove them from office during the next election…in order to do that we have to vote for the one candidate who has the best chance of defeating the incumbent…regardless of what that candidate believes.

In this article, the writer tried to use the examples of Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and Esther in Persia as people who were asked to work for the good of others in the confines of often hostile government leadership. I was left with the impression that even though voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil, we have a responsibility to vote for the one (though evil) who won’t drag our nation down as far. Again they make it sound like there are only two choices for president. Notice that of the Biblical examples given, not one of them was given a choice or an option of what they would like to see happen. Joseph was not given an option of whether or not he wanted to be sold into slavery in Egypt. Daniel was not asked to vote whether or not he wanted to be taken captive to Babylon. Esther was not given a choice as to whether or not she wanted to me married to a pagan king. We have been blessed of God in this nation. We do have a choice and there are more than just two options for President of the United States.

In an article entitled, “Can Christians Ever Vote For Mormons?” the author states, “preserving the political process involves voting against someone as much as voting for someone.” I came away with the idea the author thinks our only hope for America is if Obama doesn’t get reelected and we have to vote for whoever has the best chance of beating him. Whatever happened to voting your conscience and letting God put in office whomsoever it pleased Him to?

Regardless of who we choose to vote for, God’s eternal decree will be accomplished.

Isaiah 46:9-11

9  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

10  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.

11  …yea I have spoken it, I will also bring it pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

From the beginning, God declared who would be elected President in 2012. His counsel will stand. He will do all His pleasure. He is Sovereign!

Daniel 2:21  And He changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

It is God who put our current President into office. It is God who will remove him when it pleases Him to do so. It is God who will raise up the next President, be it Obama, Romney, Goode or the man of His own choosing.

Daniel 4:17  “…that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will…”

Psalm 75:6-7

6  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

God is Sovereign. According to Psalm 83:18, His name is Jehovah, not "Allah" and He is the Most High over all the earth. He will bring His own will to pass. He alone is Sovereign. That being true, where does that leave our responsibility? Though God is Sovereign and will accomplish His purpose, we still live on this earth and are responsible before Him to be good citizens of our country. Part of being a good citizen is knowing who we are electing to office and what he or she stands for. Then we are to vote. But when we do, don’t vote for the one who we think has the best “chance” of putting the more evil candidate out of office. Vote your conscience. Go to www.constitutionparty.com  and read their party platform. See where they stand on abortion, same sex marriage, immigration, and economic recovery. You may not agree with every stand they take, but you might be surprised just how much you do agree with.

On this earth, as long as there are sinful men, there will never be a perfect society. That is not the goal of the Constitution party. They are not seeking to create a utopean society or to usher in the millenneal reign of Christ. They simply seek to return our country to a stricter following of the U.S. Constitution which the Republican and Democratic parties have in many ways abandoned.

The reason I will not vote for the lesser of two evils is because I choose not to vote for evil.

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."               Proverbs 29:2

This election, just as I did last election, I have prayed and will vote my conscience. I will vote for the man whom the Lord has impressed upon me to vote for and leave the results up to the Lord. Will you do the same? I hope so. Then you can walk away from the voting booth knowing you voted as the Lord led you no matter who it was you voted for.

A time of great rejoicing indeed!

Today is Monday, October 1 for most of the world. For the Jew today is Tishri 15 and marks a most wondrous occasion. On this day the Jewish people begin the last of the seven feasts or divine appointments given to them by God as seen in Leviticus 23. 

What is so wondrous about this day? I truly believe that it was on this day that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born into this world.

Today, my family celebrates the birth of Christ. If you wonder why I believe Christ was born on Tishri 15 you can read my earlier post from May 18, 2012. I believe if we dig a little, the date of Christ’s birth is given to us in the Scriptures.

  

During this feast, God commanded Israel in Leviticus 23:40 to “…rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.”  What could be a greater cause for rejoicing than to celebrate the birth of the long awaited Messiah? Only many Jews didn’t know and still don’t know, because their eyes have been blinded according to Romans 11.

Jesus Christ, God in flesh, was born of a virgin and dwelt among us.

Matthew 1:21-23

21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.

22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23  Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

            God with us…

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

            The word “dwelt” is translated from the Greek word “skenoo” which means…

1) to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle

2) to dwell

I believe that on the Feast of Tabernacles, Christ was given a body (temporary dwelling place…earthly tabernacle) …

Hebrews 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,  Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for me:

…and He tabernacled or dwelt among us.

With great joy, today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Another reason to celebrate this Feast (divine appointment) of Tabernacles with great joy is in the future, according to Zechariah 14:16-19, during the millennial reign of Christ, we all will be observing this feast as Christ once again dwells with us on this earth.

The Day of Jesus Christ

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good

work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6

In this verse Paul was very confident of a few things. First he was confident that it was God who began the good work in the saints which were located at Philippi. Second, he was confident that God would perform that good work or perfect that good work until the day of Jesus Christ.

To me it’s as plain as day. The good work spoken of by Paul is our faith in Jesus Christ. He began it according to Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” and He will perform it, or mature it, complete it, finish it.

From the day He saves us, He develops, strengthens, grows and matures our faith until the day we stand in His presence at which point we will have no more need of faith for we will see Him face to face.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Once we have seen Him, we will have no need of faith because He whom we have hoped for, yet have not seen will be right there in front of us. When will this take place? It will take place on the day of Jesus Christ. When will that day be?

I believe the day of Jesus Christ is the day we stand in His presence either through the death’s door or through the rapture.

The question that comes to mind is this… “Are we as Christians looking for the day of Jesus Christ?” Obviously the lost world has no concern for eternity or Christ or anything of spiritual value. Those things are foolishness to them.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  1 Corinthians 2:14

What about Christians? Do we give much thought to the coming day of Jesus Christ? Do we realize we are only one heartbeat away from standing before the Lord Jesus Christ?

In the past few years I have experienced having many people I know enter into eternity through death’s door. Most of them were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some were not. In losing loved ones who I’ve no doubt were saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, I feel as though I have been brought closer to the Lord myself. As I think about my Mother-in-law who has been in Christ’s presence for over two years I think about what all she has seen. Then there is my great aunt who went to be with the Lord a few days ago. People that I have known personally and have spoken with on several occasions have seen Jesus Christ face to face.

The Bible tells us that while living on this earth, we see through a glass, darkly…

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known.”  1 Corinthians 13:12 

                            

I didn’t research to see who wrote the song, but there is a song in the hymnal that speaks of that event. Face to face with Christ my savior, face to face what will it be? When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me! Do Christians today ever think along those lines? ..or are we too busy living the Christian life?

I think if we really believed the Lord was coming at any minute, it would change the way we lived. We believe He could come at any minute. We believe it is in His power to come at any minute, but somehow we think it won’t be for a long time.

That’s how I used to think. I thought I would be 96 years old in a nursing home having just celebrated my 70^th year of marriage to my beloved bride when the Lord came. Sure, He could come at any minute, but not today. If we really thought the Lord was coming today we would be more sober minded. We would have a spirit of repentance before God.

A few months ago, the Lord put in on my heart to study the Feasts of the Lord as seen in Leviticus 23. That study changed the way I think. The Lord has seven feasts…or divine appointments which He told Israel to observe. Four of them were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ during His first coming to this earth. Jesus Christ was the Passover Lamb and was crucified on the 14^th of Nisan. He was the bread from heaven…the unleavened, sinless bread from heaven and was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was the first fruits of the resurrection and was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits. Jesus Christ ascended to God the Father 40 days after His resurrection and 10 days later, He sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost.

Is that all some strange coincidence? I think not. God gave those feasts years before Christ came to point the eyes of Israel to His only begotten Son.  If Christ perfectly fulfilled the first 4 feasts or appointments during His first coming, why would He not perfectly fulfill the last three feasts or appointments with His second coming?

Every time those feasts were observed prior to Christ coming, they were rehearsals for when Christ would come and fulfill them. Even today, as the remaining 3 feasts are observed, they are rehearsals for when Christ will come and fulfill them.

I don’t know when Christ will fulfill them, but I do believe He will fulfill them on the days they are observed. The next feast in line is the Feast of Trumpets, otherwise known as Rosh Hashanah. This year (2012) the observance of that feast will take place on Tishri 1 and 2 of the Jewish calendar, which would be September 16 and 17 on our calendar. That’s just five days away.

In studying the Feast of Trumpets in the Scriptures and seeing how the Jews observe it and looking into all the meanings of it, I am convinced that the Lord will come on some Feast of Trumpets. If 2012 is the year He comes, what an exciting time! It is also a sobering time. If you thought the Lord was coming in 5 days how would it change your thinking and your living?

During the Feast of Trumpets the priests blow the shofar (ram’s horn) 100 times. The 100^th blast of the shofar is known as the Teki’ah Gedolah or the Last Trump.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  1 Corinthians 15:51-52

When faced with the thought that I could soon see my Lord face to face, I am sobered. Maybe that’s why we are encouraged in the Scriptures to be sober minded. I may be one who sees Him face to face after passing through death’s door, or I may be one who is caught up to be with Him having never tasted death. Whether this year or 200 years from now, no matter how it happens, the truth is I will one day see the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, face to face. Am I ready? Are you ready?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

...be thus minded

                There is no greater way for me to start a day than to take time to pray and meditate on the word of God while I walk or run. The other morning was the best time I had yet. Mixed with many prayers was a time of meditation in the word of God.  I asked the Lord to give me something from His word to meditate on. This is what He brought to my mind…

James 3:2  For in many things we offend all.

                I had heard this verse spoken on once before and it was brought back to my mind. The word “offend” is translated from the Greek word “ptaio” which is pronounced (ptah –yo).  It means to err; to sin; to fail; to fall; to offend; to stumble.

                In many things or in many ways we all err, sin, fail, fall, offend and stumble. It was worded to me this way, “we all stumble in many ways.” How true that is! As long as we live in these sinful, fleshly bodies we will stumble. There is no getting around it. When we do stumble and sin the Holy Spirit will convict us. Upon Holy Spirit conviction, we must confess our sin to Him and seek His forgiveness so we maintain good fellowship with Him. Then we need to get up and move on. Too often we stay there sad because we failed.

Proverbs 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:

                Due to our sin nature we will stumble, yet we are to get up again. We don’t need to stay there feeling sorry for ourselves, wishing we had not sinned.  We will fall…we will get up again. When we do we are to think like Paul.

Philippians 3:13-15

13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are left behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

                We always need to be moving forward in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn from the past…we should learn from the past, but we don’t need to stay there. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we need to press forward toward the mark for the prize which is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Got Peace?

 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”

Isaiah 26:4-4

The English word “stayed” is translated from Hebrew word “camak” pronounced  (sä·mak') which means:

1) to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon

a) (Qal)

1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against

2) to support, uphold, sustain

b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself

c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive

God will keep the person in perfect peace whose mind rests upon Him or leans against Him for support. Why? When our minds are resting on Him we are trusting in Him. When we are trusting in Him we are not trusting in ourselves or someone else.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember

 the name of the LORD our God.”

Psalm 20:7

People will put their trust in many things. Some will trust in others who appear to be strong. Some will trust in their own ability to get them through a situation. What happens to those who trust in anyone or anything other than the LORD?

“They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”

Psalm 20:8

Those who trust in anyone or anything other than the LORD will fall. They will be brought low. However, those who trust in the LORD will stand.

Trusting in anyone or anything other than the LORD is putting your trust in vanity.

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.”

Psalm 33:16-17

Do we want real peace? Then we must trust in the LORD.

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

Psalm 33:18-22

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let

your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all

understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

The only One who will keep those in perfect peace who trust in Him is the same One who promised he would never leave us or forsake us. He will provide for our every need as written in Philippians 4:8. His name is the LORD JEHOVAH. Trust in Him!

A broken heart for a broken Nation

I know I sound like a broken or scratched record in that I repeat myself often when I speak about the United States.  I can’t help it. I love this nation which it pleased God to make me a citizen of by way of birth.  I am deeply saddened by the direction in which it is going. 

I fully believe that God is sovereign and is carrying out His will among all the nations, the USA included. Still I hold to the hope that God may grant us one last great revival in America before He lays waste to our country. That is what I will pray for until He shows me otherwise.  As long as there is breath in these bodies, there is hope.

Though the United States, like Israel, has become a nation of stiff necked and hard hearted people toward God there is hope. Though we are under God’s judgment for our sinfulness, there is forgiveness. Keeping in mind that the following was written to Israel, I believe we can learn from it and apply the truths found in it to our own country.

Jeremiah 18:6-10

6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is  in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

7  At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck it up, and to pull it down, and to destroy it;

8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

9  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

10  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

Consider that the United States, just like Israel, is clay in God’s hand. He can do with it as He pleases. In 1776, God planted and built the United States of America and has blessed and benefited this nation for over 200 years. However, like Israel, we have forgotten God. We have become sinful and rebellious. We have done evil in His sight. As a nation we have not dealt with the abomination of Sodomy, or Homosexuality as the world likes to call it. We have killed millions of our own children through abortion. We have chosen our own pleasure above following God.

God has indeed repented or turned away from the good which He had previously blessed us with and now He has pronounced evil against us because we have forgotten Him and not obeyed His voice. His judgment is upon us. How do I know His judgment is upon us?

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 tells us of the blessings a nation can expect to enjoy when they obey God. For many years, we in America did enjoy those blessings. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 tells us of the consequences of not obeying God. I see those things happening in our country even now.

We are cursed in our cities. Many of our cities are plagued with corrupt city governments. Tax money is used for the pleasure of corrupt officials while the people are left to deal with poor infrastructure and  poor services. We are cursed in our fields. Do we think it strange or just some act of “mother nature” that the farm lands that have kept us fed for all these years are suffering a horrible drought?

We are cursed in our store. By that I mean we have no surplus of grains or other types of foods to keep us going during this drought. As a nation we must import a good portion of our food. Cursed shall be the fruit of our body. That means our children. How many American children have been murdered by abortion since abortion was made legal? Millions upon millions.

We are cursed in our flocks and herds. Our ranchers are suffering because there is no way to keep the cattle fed, so they are being forced to sell them off. The Lord has made the rain of our land like powder and dust.  The Lord will cause us to be smitten before our enemies. Did we “win” the Korean War? How about the Vietnam War? Either war in Iraq? …or the Afghanistan War? Since the days of WWII our nation has steadily declined and many of our brave men and women in the armed forces have died and for what? What has been accomplished as a result of these wars?

We are now a debtor nation. According to Deuteronomy 28:12, the nation that obeys God will experience prosperous times, rain and, interesting to note, will be a nation who lends and does not borrow. According to Deuteronomy 28:44, the nation that does not obey God will be a debtor nation. In verse 44, He says that those foreigners who live on our soil will lend to us and we will not lend to them. Our nation is currently trillions of dollars in debt. It is my understanding that China pretty much owns the United States.

I read on and on in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and see that we are under the judgment of a Holy God for our disobedience and rebellion against Him. In Isaiah 1:4-7, God is speaking to Isaiah in a vision. In the vision He describes Israel in that day. As I read it I see how we have become like Israel of old. We too are a sinful nation. We are a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers. We have forsaken the LORD. We have provoked Him to anger and we have gone away backward.  Why should God chasten us anymore? We will rebel more and more. As a nation, we are sin-sick from the top to the bottom. There is no soundness in our nation. Our country is desolate. Our lands are owned by foreigners. Not too many years ago one of our states, finding itself in financial woes, sold one of its toll roads to the nation of Japan. We are being overtaken by other nations.

Many American companies are outsourcing jobs to those outside our own borders. Many businesses on our soil are owned by those of foreign nations. Other nations, in a manner of speaking, own us. Do we not see this as the judgment of God, or is this just the way life happens?

Before God destroys a nation or people because of their sin, He first gives them a warning. We see that in Ezekiel chapter 3 and in Jonah chapter 1. In Ezekiel 3:17-21, God calls Ezekiel to warn Israel of God’s wrath… “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”  In Jonah 1:2, God sends Jonah to the wicked city of Nineveh to warn them… “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” One thing I would like to point out is that Nineveh paid attention to the warning Jonah gave them and they repented of their sins from the king all the way down to the lowest person. Jonah 3:10 “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”  God was true to His words in Jeremiah 18:8.  That is why I believe there is hope for the United States of America.

The question is who will warn our nation? In Ezekiel 22:30-31, God looked for a man to warn Israel and did not find one.  As a result… “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.”

I want to stand in the gap. I have a desire to warn our country of the wrath of God that is coming upon our nation as a result of our disobedience. My question is, how? I desire to see the United States of America return to following after God.  I love this country!

I look around and I see the hardness of the hearts of the men and women here and I am saddened. I think about Jeremiah, who was told to go to Israel and warn them, only they would not listen…

Jeremiah 7:27-28

27  Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken unto thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

28  But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Whether anyone in the United States of America will listen or not, the truth is there is only one hope for our nation. Our only hope is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those of us who believe in Him must humble ourselves and seek Him. Yes, even we Christians have sinned in that we have entangled ourselves with the cares of this life and set our affections on things on this earth rather than things above. We must return to God.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

That is the only hope for America! How do we pray for our nation? Look to the scripture for examples. Read the prayer Daniel prayed for his nation in Daniel 9:3-19. Daniel set his face unto the Lord. He sought God. He prayed and fasted. If we do that, I believe God will hear from heaven as He said He would. He will forgive our sins and heal our nation.

If we, as His people, fail to do this…if we do not humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then our nation as we knew it will be over.

Isaiah 60:12  For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea those nations shall be utterly wasted.

This is our warning. We are responsible. Even so, God is Sovereign and He will accomplish His will which He decreed before the foundation of the world.

Isaiah 46:9-11 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there 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…yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

Should it please God to bring about one last revival in the United States of America it will take His acting on the hearts of His people.

Lamentations 5:19-21

19  Thou, O LORD, remainest forever; thy throne from generation to generation.

20  Wherefore dost thou forget us forever, and forsake us so long time?

21  Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

If we, as a nation, are to be turned unto Him, then He will have to do the turning. If our days are to be renewed as of old, it will take Him doing it…Lord willing.

Should it please God to utterly waste our nation, we know (according to Romans 8:28) that it will work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”  Habakkuk 3:2

I know I have said these same things over and over in my posts. I cannot get them off my mind. May God be pleased to have mercy on our beloved nation!  Nevertheless not our will be done, but Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. To God be the glory. Great things He hath done and will do.

Concerning our Government...

I have long wondered what went through the minds of believing men and women who found themselves under a wicked king or wicked government.

What went through the minds of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they saw the destruction of the Temple of God in 586 B.C.E.?  How did they react when they were taken away captive to Babylon at the command of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon?

What did those believing Israelites do when they found themselves under the reign of a wicked king that set up high places and golden images to be worshipped instead of worshipping the True God?

I think you would agree that we are faced with a crisis in our nation that we have never seen before.  Not every president we have had has been a God-fearing man, yet we have not seen one as openly against the things of God as we have in the White House today.

So what are we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to do finding ourselves under a government that we do not agree with?  I dare say that not any wants a socialistic government or a dictatorship, yet it appears as though that is the direction our government is heading against the wishes of the American people.

I have struggled with this for a long time. I have often thought about what went through the minds of men and women in the American Colonies prior to the American Revolution, or those of the Southern States in the years leading up to and during the Civil War in the 1860s. On Facebook, or in conversation, I regularly hear people say the only way to “get our nation back” is another Revolution or Civil War. This is the sentiment of many, some of who profess Christ as well as many who have no profession of faith whatsoever.

What does the Bible have to say in regards to the governments of men? What is their purpose? How are we to relate to the government as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ? These are questions that I have been wrestling with.  When we have questions concerning this life, where are we to turn to find our answers? Are we to turn to the wisdom of man or are we to turn to the Holy, Inspired, Infallible, Inerrant Word of God?

If we turn to anything or anyone other than the Lord God, we will do ourselves a great injustice and find ourselves in a world of hurt.

What I have found in the Word of God concerning man’s governments and how a Christians should relate to them has brought conviction for my wrong and sinful attitude as well as comfort knowing God is Sovereign. What did I find in the Word of God?

Romans 13:1-7

1.  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.

In verse one we see that every soul is to be subject to the higher powers. The term “ higher” is translated from the Greek word (hü-per-e'-khō) which means to be above, be superior in rank, authority, power: the prominent men, rulers. The word “powers” is translated from the Greek word (eks-ü-sē'-ä) which means the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed).

Why are we to be subject to the higher powers?  There is no power, no government or ruler except God has put it into power. The governments that be are ordained of God. That is something I had to meditate on for a long time.  Governments and government leaders are ordained of God, both good and evil ones.  That’s a hard thought. Understanding this will challenge your view of God’s sovereignty.

God revealed to Daniel this truth in Daniel 2:20-21.

Daniel 2:20-21

20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

God removes kings…God sets kings up. It is God who raised up Pharaoh to oppress Israel. It was God who raised up each wicked kings who reigned over Judah and Israel…as well as the godly ones.  It was God who raised up Hitler in Germany. It was God who raised up Mussolini in Italy. It was God who raised up Hirohito in Japan.  It was God who raised up Stalin in Russia. It was God who raised up Saddam Hussein in Iraq. It was God who raised up Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran. It was God who raised up Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. It was God who raised up Kim Jong-il in North Korea and took him out, replacing him with his wicked son,  Kim Jong-un. What about Momar Kaddafi in Libya? Make no mistake it was God who raised Barak Obama to the Presidency of the United States of America.

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar… “Thou, o king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” (Daniel 2:37)

Daniel, again speaking to Nebuchadnezzar, said… “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.” (Daniel 4:17)

We see the same words used again in Daniel 4:25 and 32… “till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

In verse 2 of our text in Romans 13, the Word of God is clear that whoever resists the government resists the ordinance of God. Those who resist will receive to themselves damnation.   The word “damnation” here is not speaking of eternal damnation. Rather it is speaking of the consequences of breaking the government’s laws. The word “damnation” is translated from the Greek word (krē'-mä) which means the punishment with which one is sentenced.

Who sets the speed limit on U.S. Highways? The government does. What happens when you resist the law and speed? When you get caught you receive damnation…you suffer the consequences, you pay the ticket.

Whether the laws passed by the government seem wrong, grievous, or so foolish they couldn’t possibly be enforced, we still are to obey them.

Titus 3:1-2

1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Do these passages of Scripture apply only to a democratic government? Do these passages of Scripture apply only when the government is making laws for the good of the people?  As much as would like to think so, these verses apply to whatever government you find yourself under, whether it be a socialist government or worse yet, a dictatorship.

People think that can never happen in the United States of America. If God, who is Sovereign, has declared that end for the United States…it will happen. People live under the false security of our Constitution. Our government is already calling into question the power of the Constitution. It would take nothing for them to vote to do away with the Constitution and draft a new document. If that happened, the President would not be bound to a 4 year term. This nation could wake up one morning and find itself under the control of a dictator. What will we do then?

1 Peter 2:13-15

13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

Consider for a minute who Peter was writing to in 1 Peter as well as who Paul was writing to in Romans 13. These men of God were writing to believers who were suffering the most dreadful persecution imaginable. The Roman government under the Emperor Nero was severely persecuting Christians. They were being imprisoned. They were being placed in Roman coliseums, having hungry lions released on them for the sport of those watching. They were being burned alive at the stake and used to light Nero’s garden parties at night as well as the streets so Nero could go for rides in his horse drawn carriage at night.

The Roman government was wicked and evil at best and yet, God used Peter and Paul to tell the believers to submit themselves to that government.  They were to obey the ordinances of man. They were to do this for the Lord’s sake. It is any different for us today? I dare say it’s no different.

As we consider kings, government leaders, presidents, and dictators look again at Romans 13:3-4.

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.

These men and even in some cases women whom the Lord has raised up and put into power are ministers of God. Does that mean they are all godly people? No. It means that God is using them to accomplish His purpose. Did He not do so with Nebuchadnezzar? We see Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 46:11) God would use him to carry out His purpose and He did.  Did God not use the persecution brought on by Nero, Emperor of Rome, to spread the Gospel throughout the world?

Proverbs 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will.

God raises up men in positions of power to carry out His divine will which He determined to take place before the foundation of the world. When we understand that, I think it will take the stress of an uncertain future away. Our future is anything but uncertain. Our God rules and reigns in the affairs of men. His will is accomplished.

Though a wicked man be raised to a position above us, such as that of the President, we are still to show him honor.

1 Peter 2:17  Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

According to Romans 13:4, our President is a minister of God to us for good.  He may have a wicked agenda, but we know according to Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose.  Our President may very well take us into socialism. Are we to fight against him? Think about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Think about Nehemiah and Ezra. All of these men were taken away captive to Babylon. Did they fight against it, or did they willingly, quietly go. Did they have an understanding of God’s requirement of submission to the government similar to what Paul and Peter did?

What if we don’t like the laws our President gets passed through Congress? What if we rebel and fight against the government? Verse 4 tells us to be afraid. The President (ruler) beareth not the sword in vain. He is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon those who do not obey the laws.

We are to be in subjection to the government even when we don’t like the direction it is going. We are to honor our President even when we don’t personally like the job he is doing. If he were to walk in the room today we should stand and show him honor. For me this was a very bitter pill to swallow, yet this is what the Scripture teaches.

      
Not only are we to be subject to our government, we are to pay our taxes…even when our government continually raises them… when they use our tax money to fund abortions, gay and lesbian agendas, or keep Americans on welfare… when we are taxed without proper representation. Our American Revolutionary forefathers thought differently as witnessed by the Declaration of Independence. In the Declaration of Independence, one of the grievances that led to our breaking away from England and declaring ourselves independent was taxation without representation. Were our American forefathers actions in line with Romans 13:1-7? What did our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ say concerning the paying of taxes?

      
Mark 12:14-17

14  And when they were come, they say unto him, 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?

15   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.

16  And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

17  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.

Jesus Christ, our Savior and perfect example even paid taxes to the Roman government…

Matthew17:24-7
24  And then they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25  He saith, Yes, And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?

26  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27  Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go  thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Of whom does our President and Congress take taxes?  Of their own children or of strangers? …strangers of course!

This world is not our home. We are just strangers passing through.  The first letter Peter wrote to the persecuted Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire was addressed “to the strangers scattered throughout…” We are to pay taxes no matter how much they are, whether we like them, and whether or not we have been rightly represented. Were the American people rightly represented with the passage of "Obama Care"? Beginning next year we will be taxed if we fail to provide our own health insurance. According to the Scripture how are we to respond?

We are to submit ourselves to the government under which God has placed us. While sharing this with a fellow believer, I was in no uncertain terms (in a negative tone) called a passivist. Many having read this far get the idea that we are to cow down and passively allow the government to control our lives. Is that what I am saying? No! Only God is to control our lives. Does the Scripture teach there is a time for civil disobedience?  The Scripture is clear. There is a time when we must make a stand and respectfully disobey government laws.

When the laws passed by our government violate or try to force us to violate the Scripture, then we must respectfully stand firm and refuse to obey them.  Let me give you a few examples from the Word of God.
___________________________________________________________________________

(Example 1)
Exodus 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

The Word of God is clear. We are to have no other gods before us. In Daniel 3:14-18, Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to bow down and worship the golden image he set up. If anyone failed to obey his law, they would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

The reply of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel 3:14-18

17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us our of thine hand, O king.

18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Knowing the consequences of disobeying the law of the king, these three men respectfully chose not to  because obeying it would have caused them to violate the Scripture.   _____________________________________________________________________________

(Example 2)
What about the Jewish midwives and the parents of Moses who were commanded by Pharaoh to kill every Jewish male child that was born? Though the Ten Commandments had not yet been given, they knew that murder was wrong.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

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(Example 3)

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Christ commanded the Apostles to go and preach the Gospel, yet the religious establishment of the day commanded Peter and the others to stop speaking in the name of Christ.

Acts 4:19  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

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Many other examples could be taken from the word of God. The Word of God is clear.

We are to respectfully submit to the authority of the government that is over us, and yet we are not to follow them blindly.  Should our government pass laws outlawing spanking children, we should respectfully continue to obey the Word of God which tells us not to spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24).

Should our government pass laws outlawing preaching against sodomy, drunkenness, adultery, or any other sin, we should respectfully, yet boldly continue to proclaim the truth. These types of laws have already been passed in many European countries as well as Canada. Don’t think it can’t happen in the United States of America.

God forbid, but should our government pass laws forbidding churches to meet we should respectfully continue to meet. It happened in Germany under the rule of Adolf Hitler. We should never forsake the assembling of ourselves together. If our government passes laws forbidding the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we, like Peter and the other Apostles in Acts 5:29, should obey God rather than man.

Should these things ever take place, we must settle in our hearts not to resist the consequences of breaking our government’s laws. Many a Christian has been martyred for not renouncing Christ and His Word.

The decree was passed in Daniel 6:7-8 that no one was to petition or pray to anyone other than king Darius for 30 days. Daniel, knowing the law was passed, continued to pray to God knowing the consequences of doing so. When he was taken to the lion’s den, he didn’t fight it or struggle against them.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, knowing full well that not bowing to the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar would result in the fiery furnace, still obeyed God. As they were taken to the fiery furnace they did not resist or struggle against those who bound them.

Our own Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who received unjust treatment at the hands of the Roman soldiers opened not His mouth, but was silent as a lamb before the shearers.

It may well come to that type of persecution of Christians here in America. I encourage you to purpose in your heart now that you will follow the Lord no matter the cost. God's will which was ordained before the foundation of the world will be accomplished. The United States of America will go exactly as He has determined. He is Sovereign. He is the Almighty. Let us resolve to follow Him and obey His Word.