God's Government I
Notes
Transcript
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
decently:
ties to: Rom. 13:13-14
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
order:
① an arrangement of things in sequence, fixed succession/order
② a state of good order, order, proper procedure
③ an assigned station or rank, position, post
④ an arrangement in which someone or something functions, arrangement, nature, manner, condition, outward aspect
So this simple one sentence verse means:
Let all things be done honestly, soberly, not in envy or jealousy, anger or frustration but in perfect order, following divine procedure, carefully arranged as by God
I come with really bad new for some of you and really good news for others… God is well organized and expects us to be as well!
That’s a problem for me!
God set a well organized POA in affect from the moment he stepped out onto nothing and created everything!
Creation builds on itself.
How ineffective it would have been to create fish before water...
Grass and trees before land...
Stars before the sun...
How strange it would have been if God had created man first, and then build everything around him...
But God created everything decently and in order!
And because everything and everyone has to have authority in their lives in order to keep things in order and assure everything stays decent, he gave man dominion over it all.
Man would only answer to God.
This was God first form of government.
Today this idea of government (at least for Americans) is a complicated thing.
Most resent it.
It can be corrupt.
Taxing - both literally and figuratively
1/4 of population believe it’s the absolute answer to all our wows.
1/4 of the population believe we need to rise up in a second civil war and reestablish the constitution.
1/2 of the population don’t know what to think about it.
dictionary.com
Government: the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration:
Bible uses words like: lead, guide, bestow, dominate, rule, power, do, made, offer, wrought, commit, execute, authority
So God’s idea of government is his way of making things happen.
So God’s first government was that he give Man the power to lead, guide, bestow, dominate, rule, power, ability to do, ability to make, offer, wrought, commit, execute, have authority
When Eve came along, she was inserted under Adam in God’s government, led by Adam who was ruled by God.
And together they lead, guided, bestowed, dominated, ruled, exercised power, had ability to do, ability to make, offer, wrought, commit, execute, had authority
It was a spiritual authority or government.
But sin entered the picture...
There was a spiritual coup that took place and the spiritual government that God had set up, changed.
A new ruler, power, a new authority, a new government would be set up.
The NT calls is the law of Sin and Death.
While the whole world would now be under the Government of sin
The Constitution of the new government is found in John 10:10; the thief comes for one reason, steal, kill and destroy.
It went from a God inspired, spiritual government to a sin inspired physical government.
Two things to learn from this:
Government is ordained of God and it is His structure to accomplish His will
Because it is ordained of God, where it is possible (where physical law does not interfere with spiritual law) we are to obey it.
In the OT, the battle between the spiritual government of God and the physical government of man was a was never won...
A battle that was not won until the NT when Calvary gave Man the way, plan, authority, ability to rebel against the government of Sin and Death and become a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Governments
Kingdom of this World
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Power of Hell, Satan’s government
Spiritual Wickedness in High Places
Rulers of the Darkness of this World
Powers
Principalities
Kingdom of God
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Power of God, the Church, God’s government
The Church is God’s answer to the Kingdom of Darkness, to a system of chaos, to the physical government of this world!
Now we can shout all about that...
BUT IT’S TIME WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT MEANS!
If God is a God of clarity, organization, purpose...
If he is a God who wants all things be done honestly, soberly, not in envy or jealousy, anger or frustration but in perfect order, following divine procedure, carefully arranged as by God
Then it is time someone asked the question: what is the government of the Church!
If the church is the government which is to lead, guide, bestow, dominate, rule, power, ability to do, ability to make, offer, wrought, commit, execute, have authority in a system of chaos, then what is God’s structure for the church?
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The structure that God set us as the Government of the Church:
Apostle
Prophet
Evangelist
Pastor
Teacher
Within that structure; the Fruit of the Spirit Grow and the Gifts of the Spirit are manifested (given out).
There has been fear of this because of misuse, abuse and lack of understanding in the past.
Here is the key -
UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF GOD’S GOVERNMENT WE WILL NEVER HAVE IT’S POWER, AUTHORITY, PROTECTION AND BLESSING!
In the next few week are are going to be exploring this.
We understand more of the pastor and evangelist but not the others...
Apostle, bishop?
“Just a teacher”
This is a five point key to our future!
When the Government of God is established the power to lead, guide, bestow, dominate, rule, power, ability to do, ability to make, offer, wrought, commit, execute, have authority
Who decides who will rule?
You do!
Your flesh!
Conclusion:
Stand before a great door, trying keys and have not been able to open the door...
Key after key.
Safe in attic
Key is the establishment of GOd’s Government in TLC
