Calling Rulers to Repentance B

Hi friend, this is Phil Johnson. Welcome to a special edition of grace to you with John MacArthur. We've interrupted our regular scheduled to bring you a message that John preached just a few days ago titled calling rulers to repentance before the message a quick timeline will be helpful.

Less than two weeks ago John wrote an open letter to the governor of California out of a desire to honor the Lord Jesus and out of a concern for the governor's spiritual condition.

John was motivated to write the letter because of billboards that Gov. Newsom had put up in several American states specifically states with the most restrictive laws against abortion because the California governor wanted to assure women across the country that they are welcome to come have abortions in California. But what's worse, the billboards included a quote from Mark chapter 12 with the words of Jesus himself blasphemous Lee claiming that abortion is a loving procedure and that God endorses it. So John called on his congregation to pray for Gov. Newsom and he wrote the open letter that I mentioned, which called the governor to repentance and a few days later John sat down with me for an interview on this matter. We aired that interview Monday this week and then the Sunday before last. John preached the message that we aired the first half of yesterday on the program or a wrap that up today. So with that follow along.

Now, as John MacArthur continues his very timely message titled calling rulers to repentance. Now you know last Sunday at the conclusion of the service. I inviting you pray for the governor of California. Gavin Newsom and I did that purposely because obviously we we would love to see him come to Christ. They probably all of you know that we wrote him a letter and open letter since he is very open about advocating the things that dishonor God. We are also open about calling him to faith and repentance and we have done that and there has obviously been an amazing response to that coming from a lot of angles, but that for the most part very encouraging to us, but in the light of that, I want to give you a kind of a biblical framework for confronting rulers. Some have questioned why would you do that and I want to show you how this is the calling of the church as it has been for God's people throughout redemptive history, the church exists in the world really was one mission and that is defined for us in the great commission.

Listen to the words of our Lord himself. Matthew 2819 and 20.

The command to his followers as this. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you. And behold I am with you always, even to the end of the age, summing it up it is to proclaim the gospel.

The gospel of forgiveness of sins by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that makes one a disciple who lives in obedience to the commands of God. That is the gospel. That's why the church is in the world. That's what we need to be doing that is our whole calling for this another text that I want to add that is found in first Timothy chapter 2, so turn to first Timothy chapter 2 the context here is salvation. Since God desires salvation if he desires salvation from all kinds of men.

If he desires them to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is why he has provided salvation through the ransom of verse six for all provided by Christ Jesus. So the context is salvation, one God, and only one, therefore only one true religion.

One mediator, and only one, the man Christ Jesus. Therefore only one Savior, one ransom for all, the only ransom and thus one gospel. One way of salvation because of God's salvation plan and because God desires all kinds of men in all strata is a nations and tribes and tongues and peoples as heaven will show in the book of Revelation we are to pray for the salvation of all men but especially for those who rule over us because that conversion at that level changes culture dramatically. So when things aren't the way you would like them to be. Yes, we recognize and has consequences.

Yes, we recognize divine judgment is operating but still the promise here is that we should pray for the conversion of rulers because it will change life as we know it.

So we need to know that this is God's calling for us, though it may seem hard over there a lot of things we don't like about the people in power over us. We would do. We would do an act of disobedience against our calling.

If we did not pray for our rulers. Salvation. And that goes not only for governors but all rulers all the way to the presidency and across the world. It's a challenging thing to confront them. Let's go back to the preaching responsibility.

You remember the story of John the Baptist, of course, John the Baptist chapter 3 of Luke confronted Herod the tetrarch, and John confronts him for his wickedness which he had done and 200 summarily locked up in prison. If you go to Matthew 14 you read the rest of the story and over this John lost his head.

His head was served on a platter to heroin.

The cost John his life.

To be honest with the ruler to present the truth to ruler because Jesus his life to present the truth to ruler. He spoke to pilot. He spoke to Caiaphas. Collectively they all came together had him executed. And then there was Paul in the ninth chapter of the book of acts where we have the account of his conversion. There is a comment there that is tied into his calling. It's a very direct comment chapter 9 and verse 15 the Lord said to him to Ananias after the Damascus road conversion.

The Lord says about Paul. He is a chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show him how much he must suffer for my namesake. He was called to go in front of Kings.

This is always been God's plan go all the way back and start with Moses Kearney Farrell come all the way through church history. In fact, it's it's only in the modern era that the church has not done this.

How sad is that. How sad is that that's our calling.

It doesn't go well.

I understand that they killed the prophets. They kill John the Baptist.

They killed the Lord Jesus. They killed the apostles. They killed the faithful preachers through church history, but doesn't change the mission or the responsibility.

You might ask is, is there any indication that this can be successful. These people become so wretched. Is there any hope for them and what we don't know anything about Sergius Paulus but he repented in the Old Testament, by the way, the king of Nineveh repented, but let me just give you two illustrations of the fact that it can happen.

Open your Bible to Daniel chapter 4 and let me reintroduce you to the king of the University called himself Nebuchadnezzar never think Nebuchadnezzar built 90 foot high idol of himself overlaid with gold and demanded that everybody bow down and worship and when the three Jewish young men wouldn't bow down. He threw them in the fiery furnace. You know that the Lord protected them but he demanded deity. He demanded to be the one worship he was as wretched a man as is imaginable. Is there any hope for a man like that.

Well, you have to hear his own testimony look at Daniel. Chapter 4.

This is Nebuchadnezzar's testimony Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations and men of every language live in all the earth, king of the earth. May your piece abound.

This is Nebuchadnezzar signing in. This is from me to you and answer letters. They introduce her there with the author is at the front and this is what he said. May your piece abound. It seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders what's the most high God has done for me. How great are his signs and how mighty are his wonders.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation will he was the king of the whole universe something dramatic happened here is his first person testimony you can see it in verse four I Nebuchadnezzar verse five, I saw a dream and you go through that whole chapter and he gives this amazing testimony about a dream about finding Daniel who interpreted the dream and the dream as you remember was bad news for him really bad news. He was told no doubt of verse 24. Here is the decree of the most high. Verse 25 that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place, be with the beasts of the field and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven and seven.

Seven years will pass over you until you recognize that the most high is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever he wishes. Verse 27 therefore okaying my advice to be pleasing to use as Daniel break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities, by showing mercy to the poor in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity. Daniel interpreting a dream thing. It's not looking good for you seven years are going to have what psychologists call bow entropy like lycanthropy and this is not going to be some personal selected identity shift you're going to think you are a cow for seven years. 12 months later. Verse 29, who had come to pass in the Nebuchadnezzar was feeling pretty good about himself is walking on the roof of the Royal Palace in Babylon. The king reflected in said is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built his royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my Majesty pride while the word was in the king's mouth voice came from heaven saying king Nebuchadnezzar to you. It is declared sovereignty has been removed from you and you will be driven away from mankind in your dwelling place will be with the beast of the field, you will be given grass to eat like cattle and seven years you will be unable really to enter into civil civilization. Again, you will live like an animal until you recognize that the most high is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever he wishes immediately. The word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled and was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like Eagles feathers and his nails like birds cloth the humbling seven years of verse 34 the end of that. I Nebuchadnezzar back to the first person account raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me and I blessed the most high and praised and honored him who lives forever for his dominion is an everlasting dominion in his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted is nothing but he does according to his will, and the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth and no one can ward off his hand or say to him what have you done at that time. My reason returned to me in my Majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out so I was reestablished in my sovereignty and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven for all his works are true and his ways righteous and he is able to humble those who walk in pride. When an amazing conversion, amazing conversion, there's one more amazing conversion and that's King Manasseh in the mid-seventh century, Manasseh has the story about him provided for us in second Kings chapter 21 so turn to it. Just take a few moments looking at it is such a powerful story, second Kings 21 verse one. Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king.

But what is verse to say about it. He did evil in the side of the Lord that's familiar.

Reading about the kings of Judah and Israel.

You see that he did evil in the sight of the Lord like his father's where he did good in the side of the Lord like his father.

They are all basically compared to their father, not Manasseh know he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. You couldn't even use and another Jewish king as an illustration of his wretchedness because it was pagan you you can only compare him to the abominations of the Canaanites and down in verse 11 it says is abominations were worse then all the Amorites and the Amorites at least 16 deities and all unimaginable wretchedness. He couldn't even be compared to any other Jewish king, the most wicked of all kings in the 330 year history of his people. How do you get that evil homosexuality beast reality child sacrifice idolatry, polytheism, verse three, he can only be compared to the wretched unbelievers because he rebuilt the high places with Hezekiah, his father had destroyed and erected alters for bail made in Asherah as Ahab king of Israel had done and worshiped all the host of heaven and serve them. He worshiped the sun, moon and stars and planets.

He was syncretistic he place alters all over the temple all over the temple courtyard.

Even in the holy of holies, he filled the streets of Jerusalem with statues. He was the worst of the worst, the most ungodly the end of the story is in second Chronicles 33 second Chronicles 33 surprise ending. Second Chronicles 3310 the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore, the Lord brought the commanders of the Army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with bronze chains and took them to babble. He was humiliated just the way Nebuchadnezzar was. He was chained and marched off on what was a four month walk to Babylon in humiliation, verse 12, when he was in distress. He entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers when he prayed to him.

He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication did you hear that God was moved by his supplication, his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom, then Messiah knew that then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. He rebuilt down in verse 16, he set up the altar of the Lord and sacrifice peace offerings and thank offerings on it in order Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed in the high places. Although only to the Lord our God, they were still syncretistic was only one altar that was in Jerusalem and the Temple. They had many and so it was a syncretism that continued the rest of the acts of Manasseh, even his prayer to God is God love that, in the words of the Sears spoke to him in the name of the Lord God, which means there were people talking him. There were prophets talking to him calling him to repentance.

All of it is part of the record of the kings of Israel is prayer also and how God was entreated by him and all his sin is unfaithfulness and all the sites on which he built high places idols and erected the Asherah men the carved images before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the was a so Manasseh slept with his father's Manasseh is the worst he's the worst God humbled him and he came to believe you see Manasseh in heaven. One final testimony of one final person in authority go back to where we started. First Timothy one. Factor we started we were in first Timothy two back in one there was another monumental conversion of someone in authority and here is his testimony. First Timothy 112 this is Paul the apostle hi, thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, putting me into service.

Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor yet. I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am for most of all, forget Nebuchadnezzar, forget Manasseh I'm the worst I had authority I had authority to imprison the slaughter Christians. I was a persecutor I was a violent aggressor. I was a blasphemer. No way could I be in the kingdom, except that God showed me mercy the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with faith and love found in Christ Jesus, and it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance in Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am for most of all yet. For this reason, I found mercy, not so much for my sake but so that in me, as the foremost sinner. Jesus Christ might demonstrate his perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life with pulsing you're never too far because Jesus will save those who are the worst of sinners to demonstrate his perfect patience and grace with even the worst. Paul concludes with a doxology not of the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. He is a man of authority man with power over life and death a man representing government power, who was saved by grace.

And he was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor in an unbeliever and the Lord saved.

Why does he do that. What is he say such wretched people because that's how he demonstrates his grace right you never beyond that possibility. And so that's why in chapter 2, he says, pray, pray, pray for kings and all who are in authority, that they may be saved as part of our ministry. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you again for as we always do.

The truth of your precious word. The message comes out at the end, as it always does that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that don't know what is going to be saved by works. You're saved by grace through faith works is going to get you anywhere for the good news is that even the worst of sinners. Not beyond divine grace have to hear and we need to continue to pray Lord, may we be faithful to pray for those in leadership, pray for those in authority as well as take every opportunity to proclaim the gospel to them and to all others. Let them know that the ransom has been paid by Christ if they repent and put their trust in him. This is our mission in the world. May the church be faithfully focused on it. We pray for your glory. Amen. Thanks for tuning into grace to you with John MacArthur.

I'm Phil Johnson. We broke from our regular scheduled to bring you today's lesson titled calling rulers to repentance. The content was so timely wanted to make sure you heard it as soon as possible. So now to hear this message in its entirety or to watch it on video. You will find it@jidety.org.

We also will send you a free copy of today's message on CD. It might be helpful for passing this sermon along to a friend. All you have to do is ask for the CD and for even more help in bringing biblical truth to bear on these morally upside down times, John has written a booklet called chaos, corruption, and the Christian response.

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It's a vital ministry to us and as John MacArthur has exhorted us over the past few days.

Pray for our government rumors pray for your local leaders for the governor your Senators, your representatives and for the president.

Pray that God would be merciful in their lives and that he may bring many to repentance and to humble faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now for John MacArthur in the entire grace to you staff, I'm Phil Johnson. We are back to our regular schedule tomorrow so be here for another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on racing