Lord of the Nations
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Charles Spurgeon writes, “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation--the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands--the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.”
Its seems that more and more our culture is beginning to influence the church. This is not a new thing… look at the churches in Asia minor in the book of Revelation and you will see how the church continues to imitate the culture instead of imitating Christ. Much of this comes from sin and our love for the pattern of this world. Sometimes it comes from a lack of understanding. When it comes to how we as the church are to respond to our government. How are we supposed to see our government. Do we follow? Do we not follow? Do we look to them? Do we we trust a political party? What do we do Shane?
I’m gonna help us with this. We are experiencing a highly charged time where politics dominate the media and everything has become political. Voting for the President has begun and there is a lot of confusion, alot of concern, alot of worry, lots of anger. Lots happening in our country that is foreign, that is confusing, that is unjust but not really. Our state even in our city of Aurorazuela there is unrest, violence and so much that is unsettling. And when I assert that we do not need to panic, there is no need to worry, there is no cause for alarm, people assert that I must be smoking something. God’s hand is all over this. How can this be. Because He is in control of all nations. This is what we will see in our passage today.
This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom.
We have heard a message from the Lord
that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say,
“Get ready, everyone!
Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!”
The grass withers the flower fades but the Word of our God stands forever.
All of the Nations
Lord of All
The first thing we will look at today is the clear truth that all nations all over the world for all times and in all ways as subject to the Laws of God in the scriptures. Second, we can rejoice for it is our risen Lord Jesus who is and always will be sovereign of all that is in heaven and in earth.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to diminish the validity of the Law of God in our lives and nation, it is the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the scriptures that will cause us to see the beauty of the law of God and its necessity for all of creation.
I. All of the Nations
- The Whole world is in His hands.
A. Many today either directly or indirectly see the law of God in the scriptures namely the OT scriptures as applying only to the nations of Israel. But what we should see today that all nations at all times in all ways are subject to the Law of God. And has always been. All nations in this world, ours included, is subject to the law of God in the scriptures OT and NT. Period. We see it here in the opening verse of Obadiah. God is over all the nations.
B. Number 1. Simple. God is the Lord over all nations in this world as the unchanging creator of the universe and all men are created by Him and are morally accountable to Him. Therefore we must conclude that the Law of God, which is a reflection of the unchanging character of God applies to every single man woman and child irrespective of their position in the world, situation in life, nationality or their place in history.
For God does not show favoritism.
When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.
B. Yeah but Shane the nations around the world who do not have the Bible should be excused. How can they follow what they do not know. God says that they know.
They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
C. Romans chapters 1-3 is the whole world Jew and Gentile alike. The scriptures make is very clear that ALL men who wander from the law of God will be judged by God.
But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
They are only fooling themselves.
You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
no wonder I love to obey your laws!
Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
“This same standard applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
D. God just showed us that there is no double standard when it comes to His Law given for the governing of people. There is no law of righteousness that does not apply to the nations outside of the borders of Israel. What was sinful for the nation of Israel is not condonable for the nations surrounding.
E. Number 2. The scriptures continue to refer the the leaders of other nations as the servants of God.
For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”
F. God tells the kings of the nations that it is He who gives them their power.
With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose.
And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”
He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
G. Did not David even desire for all nations to surrender to the rule of the living God. Was not Sodom and even Nineveh judged for not keeping the Law of the living God? Number 3. Another proof for this is that the kings of other nations were judged by God for not keeping His laws.
“Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the Lord. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever.
For the Lord has crushed your wicked power
and broken your evil rule.
H. So why is this important? It shows us how politics in the world is directed by the living God. All nations and all people are subject to the living God and must follow the decrees of God given to us in the scriptures and will be judged if they are not followed.
I. Shane I don’t think any nation is doing this. I think the whole world has forsaken the Laws of God in the scriptures and are doing whatever they want to do. So we no longer should guess or wonder why the world is as it is. Judgement is clear in the scriptures and many times it is in the form of leaders.
John Calvin writes, “When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers”.
In my anger I gave you kings,
and in my fury I took them away.
I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.
Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.
J. All that the Lord has commanded Israel is binding and expected of every nation in all the world in all ways and at all times. And instead of the church being the salt and light that we need to be. Instead of shining the light of Christ we hide it under a shade, instead of displaying the love of Christ in the unity of the brethren, we sow discord, division, and disrespect, we care more about church growth than we do about purity, we care more about popularity, than holiness, we care more about success than the truth, we do not unashamedly declare the gospel, we do not take up our crosses, we deny cardinal doctrines and disciplines, we have a low view of the scriptures, we imitate the culture more than Christ and we dare to ask God for blessings.
K. It seems we put more trust in the president than we do the living Lord who is alive and well sitting at the right hand of the Father with all authority in heaven and on earth giving to Him. I listen to christian engagement in political discourses and it is almost as if they have higher moral standards for our government officials than we have for our pastor. Christians today are more motivated to go to a political rally than getting together to pray over our nation. We yell, we cry, we plead, we beg, we engage in acts of violence for our political parties and officials but not for the gospel?
L. We are willing to stick our necks out and risk all for our political candidate, but won’t proclaim Jesus on our social media page? Many of us will rush to comment on political arguments and debates, but stay away from any discourse on Bible and or Christian topics. Many professing christian women are using their sexuality to promote their political agenda instead of promoting the purity of a godly women desired by our living Lord. Many Christian men care more about displaying the stupidity of political analysts, then the wisdom of Christ in the scriptures. We believe that we are the solution, but we are showing the world more and more that we are probably the problem.
K. We cannot help the world because we are to afraid of offending the world. Making a name for ourselves is more important than lifting the name that is above every name. We are all gonna be held accountable for it all. When God judges the world will the church look different from the world? When Christ comes to judge the US will there be wheat and tares or will we make it easy for Him because there is nothing but tares? Are we in danger of judgement? Are we already in judgement?
II. Lord of All
- All authority in heaven and on earth.
A. It is a reality in our world. Sin is real and feeds the rebellion of people and their nations. The Bible declares that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is no one righteous no not one. There is no one on earth who always does good and never sins. If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves.
B. And judgement is real. Jesus is coming back to judge the living and the dead. He is coming to separate the wheat from the tares. Every time the Bible declares that God is coming to judge He does. Its not all talk with no walk with God. It is real, it is coming and it will be terrible. It will be the place reserved for the devil and his angels. It will be the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. It will Be outer darkness. It is eternal fire.
C. But Shane I have faith. I believe. Really? Are you sure? Do you see the fruit of the Spirit in your life? Have you examined yourself to see if you really are in the faith? Do you know how? Faith without works is dead. We are not saved by works, but you know that you really believe if there are works. Saved by faith alone, but are you sure it is a living faith? Was there true repentance? Without repentance judgement is coming, it is real, and it will be terrible.
D. But here it is. Here is the moment. Is there good news for us today? You bet there is. Repent and believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. There is life in Christ. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
E. And the promises for life continue. Believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God and you will have life in his name. All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hearts that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. Confess your sins and he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
F. This should give us a clearer picture as to the ultimate plan that the Lord has for the world. We in our country are not exempt. Our governing leaders will indeed be held accountable. But Shane what if we get a bad one? Then its probably judgement. And as we have seen, our culture and our church are clearly deserving of it. It is what God directs and what God institutes?
For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
G. But in Christ we know we are in His hands, and He will never let us go.