1 Peter 2:11-17, Submitting to Governing Authority

You heard it said that, there are three things that never talked about, don't want to start an argument. No, they are right. Politics religion and money. I'd like to talk about all through this morning.

Goodnight, I've talked to a number of you throughout the week and if you've seen my dismay and even this morning, something, that's how I've been doing nothing.

it's on messages that I've been crazier preaching other than my right, you know, I am, I just spent about Jacqueline to worship songs and, and they just spoke to me in continuing to remind me that we are here and God is doing something. We are in the midst of the battle. And sometimes it's a little uncomfortable and that's the nature of it. In the end Godwin, I don't need to be hamstrung by my inadequacies and to you in the morning I would like to

other in heaven grateful, if you give us your words and things that you want us to know about how to live life,

it makes a huge difference. How you been navigate? Why weren't you?

I just know you can minister to us through the word and I'd like to ask you to come and do something that's beyond on myself. Without question to call something to be comprehensible for us to see in your word, things that touch home.

I think so. Do you. Here in the top of the wicked, just got back. I just wanted you to know that I love you. We love you and I just want to set this whole thing right here, trying to find what I asked for your power. And you're crazy in Jesus name, amen. So, we're looking then that First Peter chapter 2, we're looking at the verses 11 through 17 and I mentioned, you know, knows about politics religion of your money up here in front of you. And I got to know what's funny that you know, you. I don't know how many of you struggle with humor, you know that I do. Well, let me go for it.

The 1st Peter 2:11 to 17 might be summarized to stay in that Godly religion teaches us to be submissive to our American politics even though they keep taking our money. You'd rather keep your money for the politicians.

Or we could hang out here first and then come to grips with what God really says about politics religion money. I thought about calling the title of the message politics religion and money, but it's not really that, that's just sort of a way to get to get to guys thinking, but really it's about submitting, the government Authority. And this is such a child to say right out front. This is such a complete or accusing a complex, the principles not complex, it all the title is Italy so that the government okay cool, that's easy. Second season. But the more we think about what it means, what the text is asking of us, and why we would obey that why we would submit to God. How to become a matter of Fate them in a Biblical role. This is a summarize. What? We've seen in 1st Peter already? It is people who have been born again. Born Again, In Christ are now set apart. Talk about that to reflect God's glory and fulfill his Kingdom Purpose. So there is a church and he's created a, born-again people to something new about the way, they live, the life that exists.

And that building that's crucial building the church is to reflect his glory and Phyllis purpose. That's why we're here sermon the last portion of text. About an idea about honorable conduct. And so the next couple of weeks to live an honorable life, In the presents are in end in Plainview. Of the world outside of the shirt, what's it mean to live an honorable life? A meaningful life to God outside of these walls of this contact? And Peter gives us three ways three areas in life. Then we can do that. And if they're all tied to submission, And I don't like it.

God knows better than me. Three areas that he's going to. Help us understand how important it is to submit why it's important to them. So that others may see your good works and glorify Monday glorify God the Father I need to tear the three ways, the three eras you can do that. You submit to governing Authority for talked about this morning. You submit to debtors or vocational Authority retirement. Next at the Market's going to frown, and I could frame it but he's going to be preaching next week and submission to your husband or your wife. It's interesting that right after the talk about submitting to your husband and your wife, who's on the suffering.

Only a sinner saved by grace.

It's not a human but it's sure not American. But that's what makes the text so important because in Plainview, if we're living in Plainview the world outside, the church,

Then Peters going to build his case. That. We need to let them see a new life that causes meaningful change in our condo in in, in very challenging areas of life. And for whatever reason, the spirit of God says, hey Peter, I want to talk about something. because it's in The Crucible of submitting one to another or two over to authority of in different ways that you will find out what a person's made of What they believe about God and about the world around them about their future, about the safety, about the provision and so we might as well continue. We have mentioned, also the feeders riding to a mix of Jews and Gentiles most likely. And there are some. Historical references, that would suggest to the audience of gold, kind of touched on this a little later, I believe. That as the Gentiles. Remember they're not in Jerusalem, they're not in Israel. They're out in this. Harry, wouldn't be mentioned at the area of the dispersion here in the first persons that the letter, you know, and it gives this the city's to wear these this letter to be ready by 10, to take him to his churches exist, and there is a style, they have Religious practices that are opposed to what Peter, and what Jesus taught. They have a political system that antagonistic toward that at this point in history, when is the thing had written and passed around? And so they have their own bit of challenges

The next becomes part of the context in which we're going to understand what's being said. So let's go ahead and look at the first couple of

Beloved. Urge you as sojourners and exiles. To abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. I'll be honest. That that that's probably a message right there. We're going to almost. I want to skip it this morning, but that, if you think, if you need something to think about on your devotional life this week, Consider this thought in the end of that statement that there are desired, our very own desires wage war against our soul.

We don't need anybody else picking on us. We do a pretty good job trying to tear ourselves down with our own Disobedience. So anyway, there's that, but we're going to keep reading this morning. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable So that when they speak against you is evil doers. Let me see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation covered. A little bit of leave of the, born-again person in newness of life, and see the way. They now navigate challenges and trials. And God is letting us know here through Peter that when they see the way we behave, the way we live our lives. There's going to be a result that result will be it. One day, there will be people who literally stand and glorify God because the impetus for their consideration in Jesus Christ as your behavior they began to take notice and the beginning to wonder, is this yeah, we're pretty good at picking out people who played at things and knowing that

I don't know if some of you are aware that the Eagles are going to the Superbowl. and I saw,

Someone wearing a jersey that the colors were blue and white had some red on it. And I share this with the guys have coffee Friday and they think you had been watching the Eagles game. And they're celebrating. It was it was through FaceTime house. Like I don't know what you're wearing, you need to take it off. Is wrong colors on a stand for? What are you sharing this with you? As an example of my ignorance? And what I saw I was looking in and I can't I question someone's Commitment to the Eagles football team where the playoffs. And the person replied. Revealing my secrets.

Baby said first off, this is the Villanova jerseys. Is the V. Secondly, when he turns around and Scott Westbrook across the back and Brian Westbrook number on the test because he's an alumni of Illinois, Yeah, because I didn't know that. Brian Westbrook was one of the Eagles. Most hailed players, you know, at least just agreed to the team years ago, but it's just an example of when I look, we look at things and sometimes the people will look at the way the church behaves and they don't understand the meaning behind it. And sometimes that can be frustrated for people who don't do church. I don't know why they act that way or why. Why is it what I do with my life seems offenses to them? Why do they seem to? Are they saying that? I'm not as good as them because I participate in XYZ? And so ignorant. Play. Why a Christian wife Church. In particular, may make certain decisions about lifestyle.

they don't understand because of things that we see and Peter's letters even that those people who are surrounding these Churches in these areas had different cultural ideas, religious ideas, political ideas of doing things, white people would be behaving anyways. Why would they be raining from activity has participated in?

But there were some who would take notice. And there are some who when they take notice will ultimately concede their lives. They will submit their lives to Jesus Christ. That's what we get from 11 X 12.

The idea in verse 11 is sojourners and that we talked about that earlier and chapter 10. I came across something that I thought was meaningful and share it with you about this idea sojourners. The word literally means, check this out. Settlers having a house in a city. Without being citizens. In respect to the rights of citizenship.

You don't participate in the right of that area. Your house is there. Anybody's moved from Delaware, County to county has gotten this. As well. They should because it's a filthy County. I'm kidding. I'm

This is where I can say, well, we moved from Delaware County from right here, just great to me to have to buy stuff.

We were talking about the church, we talked about you as sojourners, we've been brought into a kingdom. We have a house here, but we don't really participate in the citizens, read citizen in participating in the culture around the city.

This is what Paul, excuse me, Peter is recognized.

Is this? Saying a different plane to still the Physical Realm. We belong to something more return. so ask this, he says, as this group of people, now this church He's on something for you. And then we get in here to the ideas are conducting and the Gentile I don't want to go crazy. I'm going to do you want to go crazy really on the words? That's cuz they all kind of lend color and shades to the texts that were looking at. But for your sake I'll try to keep a knocking on the chair. So I'm going to try to keep the idea of keeping assist in the Greek word. It's spelled well. Transliterated e, e, c h o How does it sound like echo in the grief? But is that guy that you maintain something? To maintain to keep it keep it off. So maintain your conduct. Your manner of acting or get this. Your manner of controlling one's self. This is your conduct, the way, you control yourself the way, you behave your way of life. Maintain this. In full view of the outside unbelieving world. Maintain it in an honorable way. Meaning it's morally.

Is advantageous. So we're living a way that's its Excellent moral day.

and I don't know about you, but sometimes that's, Doesn't work out for me. But that's the call of the church, something that we're going to look at it again later. This Clarett the plural of language here. Peter is a dressing shirt at large right together the toys. This we make what we allow it within the family of the church, not just this isn't just limited, it's not limited to the individual. Keep in mind. The code to live well and good. Deeds is a sort of reminds me. I think Peter's recalling Jesus Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:16. Let your light shine before others. So that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.

A more recent, the illusion writes, the very Words which on more careful consideration. Must move the Heathen to praise our at the object of hatred in raillery. I'd repeat it for, maybe I'll just try to paraphrase. The very things that we do to live a morally. Excellent life, especially as the church, as a community is, is God's Community. Those are the things that the outside world will first find offensive.

They will first find out that they may always want to buy these very needs right now. For saying, even though we may see people Railing at first against Choices, we make in our lifestyle and I and I think maybe one simple way to apply it kind of puts us. In the same page I thinking is we have a lifestyle Hollis part of our constitution says, what we will uphold in regard to marriage. That there is between one male and one female and that male in that female in their gender is as prescribed and birth, there's a genetic code for their gender. This is not something we believe to get to changed and that's not very popular. You're you, and y'all know. Men, marry men and women marry women, and then you can switch it up. And then the whole thing's just a mess. You can put on a furry costume. Call yourself a cat.

Dude, no.

We have as a church considered these things, we looked at the scripture and we've said in the community of the Church of Jesus Christ, here's how we do life, and is different than how you are saying, it should be done. And we have not had a problem, but there are plenty of churches who have had a problem defending that if they need to defend it. You see, so if, you know, our local experience isn't always the same as others, but it's a great example to send the sometimes being pursuing good deeds will ruffle feathers living in a right way to ruffled feathers. And that's okay. Yeah, let your light so shine before men, but it turns out sometimes that light is the fence.

There's one thing to be civil when all is well to cuz this is another consideration, he saved the good. Well, people will be affected for the name and sake of the Lord. Went all civil but when a person is being pressured or persecuted becomes far, more likely for us to want to become tempted to grumble. complain and ultimately when we sense resistance, if we are not vertically minded,

then humans are easily push towards Rebellion. First said small in word levels and then that can pick up momentum. Like a snowball, you roll across your snow-covered front yard, just gets bigger, bigger feet, have something over revolt. The Peter urges his audience to reconsider their natural impulse in favor of God's glory. When he says, let them see your good deeds and I live as a church that we should do so and being mindful. That are Godly choices in our Godly way of life. Is really to be lived right out in front of everybody. It's intended to be seen. It's not something that we do now. I'm picking up a little song. You don't hide your light under a bushel with it. It's not that. Now that we often sing that song about what the gospel. I don't keep the dog out to myself, but neither should we live. In secret. It should be keep I refused tuck quietly away when others are talking about their views. I might suggest that there is a way that he conversant without being a jerk. When you have people to whom, they're talking about things that clearly aren't biblical. Whether it is homosexuality, a transgender changes, all this stuff. But there's any of that there's a way to be conversant without being a bunch of chores. And I think that, we really should pursue that. And so that we can be, we can live our life openly verbally, and through our actions in front of witnesses. If we in the break room, Turn our backs and kind of muddled off to the corner. While conversation is going on and maybe we missed an opportunity.

You know, that's kind of not what we're here for over here, to be a witness. Ambassadors is something to think about. So now I can getting back to the Texas Street of God moves in Peter Wright, identified, the three three areas in the next coming week.

13. Be subject for the Lord say to every human Institute. Whether it be to the Emperor as Supreme Court to the governor's, I sent by him to punish those who do evil.

This is the will of God that by doing good. You should listen.

Stop there. Be subject again. Here we have the use understood. You was Flora was talking to the church. I want you to be Peters, ride home, Spirit moving in him because I want you as a church as a spiritual household, to be submissive Disease.

And boy, again, with the word studies. human institutions says through the meaning of it is this, it says it's an administrative unit of government, especially Especially understood is something instituted or created by God. Jesus is the Greek word in, in part of his definition is that it's used in reference to God's creation. God's created order you and I is created being discontinued. Has it that he's put into place and that we understand that government and government structure. Is put into place by God. It's, it's authorized. We should say my God and that's because we know so many of them.

So many of them are corrupt. So many of them are antagonistic to go.

Who created water?

It talks about hearing the Emperor or some version to have a cane. We are to submit. We are to be subject to be subject. For the Lord's sake.

The Lord say it takes a minute.

That's what we are being called, Zoo matters.

We're just nevermind. Reputation of God. so, the cause of this, Isn't that what we're not talking about getting a Treatise on how to live a comfortable life, how to live our best lives. The impetus is that we are called to live a life. That honors God that what we do, reflects said what we do on Earth his reputation is for the Lord. Say can we do this hard thing living call to be submissive to these human it whether it's the Emperor as supreme or governor.

Authority or the bottom run. We're actually going to see list of skip to the recipe to see what's going on. We stopped at the 16th of live as people who are free not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. But living as Servants of God, get this or 17th. Honor everyone Love a brother. Dear God. Under the info, check out the situation there. How honor brackets the in between everyone? Love the Brotherhood fear God, honor under the king There's a mess in between. Did the ideas being? There's a submissive that's that's appropriate. And it isn't just. To the high-ranking. It's that everybody submission in the Christian life is to be part of the whole thing and we're looking at one slice of it this morning.

You know how it looks. In other situations. We're just looking at the governmental aspect is top-notch thing.

as I consider this,

it is easy to submit to a government that's good. If we're all on the same page is really no problem. If my government does good Godly things, then it's congruent with the way I want to live my life to grow up the way the church. I'll be doing. Good, got anything? And there's no problem. And for a long time, we have benefited from our forefathers governmental forefathers. America's forefathers, who had good Godly principles injected into our constitution things of And we've been blessed and we've experienced, I think blessing and tons of freedom to do. What we do is Ensure the church is, I think still is A major part of our country's fabric the church and Believers that are in it throughout the course of our nation's history. And I'm just limited to get to our history with supplies around the world and back in time, be on America's beginning that it is believers who have through their Good Deeds through the love and respect for God's reputation. Have changed the world of changed. The world is significant

education. Human needs. I mean, Christians, anytime you dig into something to find a Christian who's been influential? In the world. So this is what I was saying was because of our forefathers decision, to face our country's constitutional

Living in a Godly way to church. Nothing persecution too much resistance. The biggest issue appears to be taxes. I mean, it's an issue. Don't get me wrong.

As long as things are good, this is easy peasy. But around the world and even in America today we see now that things are not good. And they're not good government believe. They're not good with the policies. They're not good culturally. If there's a lot of anti-biblical, decision Lifestyles, being promoted mean.

You know, the opportunity for a betrayal digit in Norman right now.

and I don't even really want stories, but anyway, Right down to it.

In that their government authorities were not sympathetic.

because at this point in time, the division, People.

Becoming clear that lives. There was bruised and while the Christians know how the church would involve the Jewish people. Remain distinct early on this first century era. There's still, this is all still being understood by people all around them. so, from a governmental standpoint,

A sentence. you know, they're still coming into their own and development are Something I wanted to point out many people wear this when I find it intriguing pasta Rajan, iron, used to talk about it more than once and it just always intriguing.

Creative. Is he? Agencies human institutions that he's allowed to exist like a structure. Do you Manatee know? I don't think that he is particularly. Let me say this. And then say this way, God is king of kings and is Sovereign above all and all-powerful. And there is no one who Rivals him ever anywhere. And yet, he allows lesser beings to be involved in the manipulation and the world governing their Affairs, and the effects of unrighteousness are Amplified. Because it's the way of it is busy. Not only just a simple nature of man running government but also the influence of Spiritual Beings who want to see either their own Glory or commands and demise. Also there on the things at work, but from a human point of view. There are large and in charge that do not. Cried to God as their King to subscribe to themselves one, man's name was Nebuchadnezzar back in.

Why does a 605-2561 b, c, e? So six hundred years before Rutland being thrown generalizing drag

Judah and the folks in Jerusalem off the valve that he destroyed the punishment for their spiritual idolatry is adultery to him.

and the interesting thing to me is, Just set this in motion.

Bring reality in focus for you. I will cause you to be in submission to this ungodly King, it's for 70 years. They're forced to live in Babylon. I just suggested that his rule Daniel 4:29 through 32 or you can join me. So it'll be behind me at the end of the email, talking about Nebuchadnezzar Theater. 12 months. He was walking on the roof of the Royal Palace of Babylon. The king answered and said, it's not this great battle on which I have built by Mighty. Power is a royal residence in for the glory of my Majesty. while the words are still in the king's mouth are, 70, King Nebuchadnezzar to you. It is spoken. The kingdom is Departed. and you should be driven from among men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field and you should be made to eat grass like an ox and seven periods of time shall pass over you until, you know,

And give it to whom he will. That's what we're taking away, right here. He said the voice of the Lord came to Nebuchadnezzar while he was And says to him, boy you're going to spend the time in the grass, eating grass and do whatever like a while until you know that I rule the kingdom of men.

And I'm only taking a bath and I give it to who I will.

Even the evil one.

we also see Paul in the Book of Romans,

Paul wrote in ADT Pulse. Radio Nero, was likely the person who is in charge in Rome or thereabouts as intended. Wonder when Paul's writing the book of Romans,

according to

Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica has two radical self-indulgent debauched. He was eventually declared a Public Enemy by the Roman State. The very

Tell this guy is lousy, he's divorced. And we want him dead.

Also, he raised taxes and blame the Jews and Christians for burning room for whatever. This is the person in charge when Paul writes the following. Romans 13 1 through 7 person. Be subject to the government Authority for there is no Authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted.

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and those who resist telling her judgment. The rulers are not a terror to Good Conduct, but to bed. Would you have no fear of the one who is in Authority? The new what is good and you will receive his approval for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, not bear The Sword in vain for he is the servant of God, an Avenger who carries out God's Wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection. Not only to avoid God's Wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Because of this, you all don't pay taxes. The authorities are ministers of God.

Patient.

Revenue. Respect respect. Honor bestowed hemp all Races to Christians when Nero. Is the a the debauch guy blaming them for burning room?

And here we are in 2023. and, personally, struggling to accept the God would have put

Some people in charge. But he calls us to honor the position. Denial as a person's may be as corrupt as the policies. Maybe he says, give him honor. And obey the law. And this is where my weak took a turn. It's going to start to think about. What does really mean for us as a church, was it me from Days of Christmas schedule to submit to the governing Authority? As long as things are good, I'm happy to do that. But what happens when their bed? And I'll look at the scriptures and I see a majority of information that says I didn't say submit when things were good at the tomb. It you want your money? Give him your money.

Stupid. If there are rules and they want you to know baby, just don't say it. obey them because they bear The Sword in his punishment and be because I said, so if you disobey them, you disobey me because I Ford thing that has created the Border That is difficult, then buddy else. Just find it difficult. So what are we doing? Boil it down and I think there's an unconditional interpretation says, the Bible is telling me. He's telling us as a church to submit to the authorities of governing authorities over us. And so we just did it. they say, jump you say how high they say they paid us. We pay them if they move this or that we stay here and it here now or don't get it all. He's okay. What's an unconditional subjection? There's a conditional side of it that says and many theologians. It seems everybody's really had that kind of jump into this because it's super The conditional sign says you obey the governing authorities until it comes into contradiction with God's law. Should we do a Shadrach Meshach, in a Bendigo when Nebuchadnezzar says, Hey, there's a big statue of me, everybody's praising it, you too, and they say something going on. So we're cool with her.

Contradicts with what we know God wants from us. Then we said we're out. You govern me so far. You govern the church, the bar then. No. And that's great. Right? Cuz that's

The problem I have is, I don't see anything the conditional to text me bothers me. Now there is the whole rest of the Bible of it comes to our aid, but I'm here to say my feet deep abiding opinion. Is that who it is? Not so cut-and-dry as we wish it was,

Not only does this affect. What we do or don't do it is. A government says, this is how churches are to behave or carry themselves? Do we see ourselves to that tonight? Is it in accordance with God's word or not? Am I is a pastor forced to marry to you? No homosexual. People can they tell me to do that? And why subject myself to Authority has hard? Pass at the bat metal? Why? Because God said, we do it another way. I do it another way, I've prescribed the correct guiding and it's over. Okay, well, we then according to a conditional view, say I have the freedom in scripture to say, yay, or nay.

But the conditional thing goes both ways and this is where I'm going in to get fixed. When we have a government that abuses, an indignant agonizes, it goes against two, things of gods, and what's our responsibility there? If it is, is my subjection to be passive. Listen to be a doormat is is our church to do nothing. I brought up have us as I talk to this throughout the week with different people. Abortion seems to me to be really hot topic with a way to illustrate this week. Give you where I'm thinking. You take something as We Bought a Zoo abortion, and are we taking this objection to the government Authority means that when the government says abortion is okay that we say well We won't do it. We don't support it.

What are we to do? Nothing about it. Are we not to be involved engaged? And this leads me that into something that says we're an important American. We're in a very complex situation as we apply the principles submission to governing authorities because now our country has built-in mechanisms through which we can protest through it.

And change the course of politics or future present. The question comes dead, is being in submission to Authority. Does that still give me the privilege then to use those mechanisms to

Is that the answer?

being in subjection to Authority means I have to But as it comes down from the authorities above me, and we have church have to consider them as they come down. stars above us, but also, I believe, There's something here to be said about. To be in subjection to Authority. What does that mean about what I do to prevent ungodliness do I participate in fighting against it because evidence evidence in scripture for that as well. And so Pence might come comment about this is like very complex. It's a simple principle. But I think it's incumbent upon the wheelchair to local church in the church at Large. Two-way. The bits of scripture to be wise and attend to look at things and descend to the leaving of the spirit of God. And not make a broad brush stroke about this is what submissive means. It means I do nothing. And I accept theirs, if you can come down the pike or that suggests, the subjection means that I will just accept everything that comes down as long as it doesn't conflict. But I think that it is subjected to God means that we will evaluate all things. In relationship to his kingship and his culture.

We are going to stop trying to say.

Dirty shirts. but his kingdom being interviewed should Propel us to consider whatever topic is coming up with the text and make decisions one of the time with patients with

carefully. Because our Good Deeds, ultimately our wisdom. That's what the world will. Look at it. Yeah, I was at Baptist Church out. Midwest years ago, doing that stupid trash with You know.

I've already said that, I think homosexuality is biblically wrong, but we have also said in our church, that doesn't mean that if somebody could probably win. That we ask them know, we chose of the love of Christ does not let your people their Senators broken by said, I don't know how I feel about that, but that's the reality we said together, this is our lives. Here's the church. We love that, we don't agree with that Bun, B and won't tolerate it and places of authority. You won't marry them. But we will love though, I just got off of change and so the world watches the way we treat way, we respond to their ideas to changing ideas.

the turn of the first century, the 1st to 2nd Century, there's a guy named tertulia, he's a prolific Kristen apologetic writer And he had taken and written. Some of the things that he noticed. A contrast between early Christians and they recalled the Heathen. Just say the church and is not charged. And he wrote this is what I see these are my observations. Now this is somewhere around the turn of the 2nd Century and the church. Has come into its own. and Jesus Christ is traded this entity the spiritual house and it's being a very young

and already. Here's what you're tooling it observes. I got five things for you. He says that he delighted in the bloody gladiatorial spectacle of the amphitheater. Gladiator fight with her. Where is the Christian was excommunicated? If he went to It's like going to the movies in the 80s.

No Christmas techno. Christian was found in prison for a crime but only for fake from some of the religious Services whereas Kristen had some of their presbyters Of the classes later some of their church leaders were slaves. So there's an inclusive. This is a recognition of value in God's eyes and not being limited to social caste systems 4th when pagans deserted their nearest relatives in a plague. The nearest relatives, we got to plug them out. Christians minister to the sick and dying Christian, stuck around comfortably.

When the Gentiles left, their dead, unburied after a battle and Kessler wounded into the streets. The disciples hasten to relieve the suffering and the world saw their good deeds. And one other Rider earlier, play me a play me, the younger said something about This was been around the time of Nero. About what he observed in Christianity. You just thought it was a, there's nothing here to worry about, he's not threatening that I'm a political threat.

Superstitious.

But they're not a threat. I expect that he probably in the reserved, good things of Jesus Christ, the reputation of God's glory is to be promoted by what we do what we said. So it would have to be antagonistic if our views are in contradiction to what the authorities are espousing or supporting, there's a way in which we behave that requires wisdom and thought that caused the people to say this is different It's not and I think I got sidetracked about the church in the midwest, carrying the signs against don't fight to get sidetracked but you know down and homosexuals. The nation saw them on the news repeatedly. I think they have all kind of disrespectful things to say about different people. Do you want anybody in the nation? Joan?

The Loving Hut. I can see why serving their God. Make a difference in my life and nobody got time for that. I need the run around saying the Christian Baptist on the left. Hey, how's it going away? Grass withers. But that's not how we do. But the idea of submitting to governing authorities is it just to be a resistant for a thorn in the saddle of your government? Define Waze as a church to shine the light of Jesus Christ and at the core of it, I need to finish up. At the core of this. This is, it's not submission to governing authority of submission to God. Will eyes individual will use the church submit to God for his Sig Sauer sleep with his sick during what we do in the community around us. Even though we're living in a countercultural way. How can we reach?

when we resign our fleshly life as being subordinate to God's greater eternal life, Then we become free to submit ourselves to the government parties. See you look in the verse there to live as people who are free verse 16 through people who are free not using your freedom as a cover-up for heat. But living as Servants of God. And then he said, honor everyone love the brother. Dear God, all of the answers. If you want to conduct yourself as a church, if we want to conduct ourselves as a church, in an honorable way within eyeshot of the unbelieving world around us is starts with submit and then also submitted to the authorities around his head.

I will close with this.

It requires. A Biblical worldview to submit to the government are as it requires a genuine faith in God's character and his planned, it requires me, you trusting that God knows what. And then ultimately we are called to give our very lives. First Bank.

We can talk about the Steve Rascals about the level of homosexuality or transgender, and all this. But when it comes down to the place where God is saying, I want you to submit yourself even unto death. Remind safe. Then will you do it will the World Say Something Different or will you Revolt will you ring the bell when you stand for your own rights? What's it going to be? And its complexion is complete vividly. As straightforward As Americans, it's straightforward but also complexed because we have to figure out what is the difference between just being a doormat and working within the framework of the American government that exist?

Was it condemned for that too?

What is supremely date and it only work. What God is like? I want to program in Tales From, what's his future? What's a seizure? Do it right? If I lose my life here, if I give up my flesh here. if I give up my rights here,

not really lost anything.

I think that's the part that I struggle with the most is seeing that Jesus so meant what he said to self.

What he's given us is eternal and I'm an inestimable world. Unfailing imperishable and he wants our eyes to be fixed. On the long games. You do that even when it cost you submit to me, Even when it cost. You should be good things that come out, then we'll see your good deeds and glorify the Father in heaven.

Jesus, underneath the text of it. All is Spirit, doesn't it?

We're going to see that Morris pastor, Mark. Unrolls the, the text for us, but that's where we are. This morning. We are called to submit, to God, to submit

It's convenient for us, but because our lives are the Archer. The picture is about bringing glory to God, finding ways to do that, most peculiar ways in the side of the engine. So, may God give us wisdom to do that, too.

Father Again. And we read this, I need this. And I think about really kind of straightforward, but it hits me deep deep deep in the chest because I want to hold on to my life, I might question my right. I want to, I want to change things. I want to stand up against my being wicked and evil.

And then I run about and I know I'm not the only one I find yourself trying to figure out how to balance, how to apply the principle in a good way, how to live a Godly life and faces in the side of unbelieving people?

Pray and ask for your wisdom. I would ask if you would be with folks who are listening, we continue to process this going forward and will know that we conclude on it right here.

I just know that you asked us to do things but you'll never throws in the Deep without your help. So we want to trust you trusted you with this morning and that was then. Be the spiritual House of Lords to be for the individuals. In it to our overall Presence at the community around us. So we just need your help. I'm confessin that hundred percent. We ask in Jesus name.

Will have classes in groups.

Deven again like a regular coffee.

How late is the h?

But I need my life to cut off coffee.