Part 2

Intro

US Currency has this phrase: In God we Trust.

Although I think it is fairly evident our nation does not trust in God - that should not be the case for the church.

Do we actually trust in God?

If we do we should have a joy, a hope and a peace that is secure

because we are not from here.

Jesus wrestled with the tension of this dual citizenship

Mark 12:13–17 (NIV)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

Mark 12:15 This world is trying to trap us? to make us fit into a partisan category

1. But the church is meant to be NON PARTISAN.

The Bible gives us a better, bigger, more beautiful vision!

Mark 12:17 Jesus knew how to live with dual citizenship. He knew how to honor both God and man. Do we?

I think sometimes in attempt to honor God - we dishonor people.

And vic versa, in attempt to honor people we dishonor God.

Takeaway: We cannot forget where we are from!

Mark 12:16 ESV

16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

2. We belong to God

Image and likeness

Colossians 1:17–20 NIV

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

3. We are meant to represent Jesus

Love your enemies

Romans 5:10 (NIV)

10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

John 13:35 NIV

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NIV

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

This world doesn’t need another IG, or X post. It needs more love. And that we can bring!

Main Verse

Romans 13:1 NIV

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Where does authority come from?

God

Acts 17:22–28 NIV

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

If authority comes from God, why would he let unholy people be in authority?

God can use anything

why would he use any of us?

In numbers 22 God uses a donkey to prophecy.

The good news is God can us anyone or anything to bring about His good and His Kingdom

Story of Joseph

Genesis 50:20 NIV

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Further who are we to question who God puts into power?

The means by which God sought to bring about salvation was through crucifixion

John 19:11 NIV

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

But God has not only given gov’t authority - He has given us authority

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

the authority we have is not from here

Matthew 6:9–10 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

If we want God’s will to be done on earth we first have to allow Him to establish His reign and rule in our lives.

Ephesians 2:14 NIV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

3 Institutions

Family, Church, Gov’t

All affected by sin. But all for human flourishing

Be involved

Be a good witness

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

1 Peter 2:12 ESV

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

3. Be confident in God’s Kingdom

Kyle’s Version: