A Nation Renewed
Notes
Transcript
1- Following God’s Word!
1- Following God’s Word!
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”
4:
Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.
Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 4:
“Once we abolish God, government becomes god.” -GK Chesterton
Do you want the certain and sure word of God denouncing and condemning you, or do you want it with you, supporting you? Disregard it and the Bible will condemn you. Repent, believe, and obey, and the Bible will be on your side.
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. -CS Lewis
And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia;
Ezra
Ezra 6:
And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia;
Christians are called to… (1) respect and honor government leaders (); (2) be subject to government and obey its laws (; ); (3) pray for civil leaders (); and (4) pay taxes (; ).
Ezra 6:14
(1) respect and honor government leaders (); (2) be subject to government and obey its laws (; ); (3) pray for civil leaders (); and (4) pay taxes (; ).
Christians are called to… (1) respect and honor government leaders
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Christians are called to respect and honor government leaders
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
be subject to government and obey its laws
Christians are called be subject to government and obey its laws
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
I Peter
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Christians are called to pray for all civil leaders
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Christians are called to pay taxes
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
“Once we abolish God, government becomes God.” -GK Chesterton
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
2- Trusting God’s Plan!
2- Trusting God’s Plan!
When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind. -C. S. Lewis
To Obey or Disobey
1. Obey because we obey God (; )
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
Disobey Governors to obey God (, )
2. Disobey Governors to obey God (, )
2. Disobey Governors to obey God (, )
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Acts
3. Expect opposition, so we obey & trust God (; )
Expect opposition, so we obey & trust God (; )
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
“And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.
Deut 28:64
Rom
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
“He who converts his neighbour has performed the most practical Christian-political act of all.”
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
Hag 2:9