Christian Citizenship | Part 1

Rollover funding Studios to see Byron Tyler Yearwood. Former CEO of lover finding Jerry today Adrian Rogers message Christian citizenship. But what does the Bible say about Christian citizenship. You recently I discovered 50 verses on the topic.

What are our responsibilities, duties and rights.

What are Christians to do the think and how we instructed to behave. That is very clear in Scripture, it leads us to understand what it means to be a Christian citizen many shy away carry from political involvement for various reasons. Some are discouraged. Others are intimidated or maybe annoyed that's exactly right.

Byron, you know, the greatest responsibility in America is not in the White House, but in the church house when you joined your church and when I joined my there were some expectations right. Maybe one hour of service one hour of fellowship and one hour of worship.

The same is true for our membership in America right what are the expectations and so when you unfold the sermon what you see is we have a great great opportunity to praise our government to pray for our government to participate in our government and much much more. Why her Asian Roger say many times, separation of church and state does not mean the separation of God in government that's exactly right. And I believe we need the influence of God in our government right it's not a political influence that we need. It is the presence and power of God that we need that is so true.

We always love hearing from our lover. Finding listeners this message from Facebook.

Time and time again God uses Adrian Rogers short teaching of God's word to reveal exactly what God is wanting to say to me. I appreciate this time was truth which the Holy Spirit uses to correct change, transform and illuminate my walk with God, so true in our walk with God is a direct correlation with our time spent with God your wise pastor once said never confuse your service for God with your walk with God that comes with communion with the father right and Adrian knew that I'm heat because of his time with the father because he knew he was truly a reflection of the Savior.

He became a spiritual advisor to many US presidents in any new kind of what the Satanism says the government is not here to make you good. Only God can make you good so he knew if if these leaders would be a vessel that the Holy Spirit could flow through, then God could use that to change a nation we carry this month's resource is a book called battle for the soul of America originally out on a e-book download still available. That way, but we are making printed copies for those who like to have a copy.

Absolutely. So get your copy CA may be a Sunday school class may be a neighborhood watch may be some family members but get that in use that during this time.

Over the next 60 days.

Your purchasing these books and sharing will also help to support the ministry of lover finding and for any gift that you would give to the ministry. We would love to make this book battle for the soul of America, yours absolutely as you give a gift of love or finding. We will send that to you and pray that God will use it in a mighty way. Well for today's message from Adrian Rogers. Here's Christian citizenship book of Romans is the Constitution of Christianity that I want to tell you it is a solid word for and sure a 10 hour age without the word of God is and unsure a and I'm speaking many people are looking for something solid you're looking for a place to stand and catch you feel like you're walking around on egg shells and Jell-O. Thank God for the solid rock of God word and I want you to see what the Bible has to say about Christian citizenship. What are our responsibilities. I duties are rights is the Bible oblivious to this God ordained human government and tell these people to stay out of it. What are Christians to do the think and how are we going to behave. Now I the first contest that many Christians have simply dropped out and let me tell you the reasons that many have dropped out with great description on just a moment, let me tell you why many of dropped out they see involvement.

Somehow, as the social gospel, and I am against the social gospel is much as anybody else because he only one gospel.

And that's the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The blood gospel where Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, but there's some who have substituted culture for calibration and others think that if we get all involved in government that all were trying to do is make the world a better place to go to hell from and so they just simply drop out because they think well when not to get involved in social gospel. Now that other people who have dropped out just simply because they have given up hope.

They say that America has crossed the point of no return and so what they've done. They just hunkered down and they have begun to sing the song holding before they just waiting for Jesus to get here and to rescue them and so they just given up hope now that is who have dropped out. Not that they equate activity with the social gospel are not because they are hopeless because they see politics as dirty, something that would defile them that we as Christians are to be other worldly that dark kingdom is not of this world and so therefore we don't want to get contaminated, so we will just stay away from all of that some folks really believe that and then there are others in a great number like this who have dropped out and don't participate very frankly because they are intimidated they are intimidated. The ACLU and others that have traded so much about this thing called church and state in the separation of church and state that they think because we are Christians. Somehow we have no rights, no privileges, no prerogatives that we have been disenfranchised and they just tell us why don't you shut up and go back inside your little stained glass prisons and leave it to us to take care of it now.

Very frankly, a lot of people who are believers have more or less… Where are we going to get the answers. I mean, how are we going to know the answers to these questions are we going to get the answers to self-serving politicians.

Not all politicians are self-serving but are we going to let some self-serving politician a tried to co-opt the church and use the church for his or her purposes or perhaps intimidate the church so that he can RC can have his or her way the politicos going to tell us what is right or what is wrong do they know the answer, where we going to get the answers. Are we going to get the answers from the humanist and the secularist who don't believe in Christ and believe in God believe in the church, but we going to get the answers from some egg headed philosopher who's going to sit back and bumped his fingers and tell us what he thinks. I meditate where we don't get the answers right here, right here the word of God and the book of Romans is going to speak very clearly and very plainly about this matter of Christian citizenship begin now in chapter 13 verse one. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Now the Lord powers. There is a translation of the word that means authorities and when he saying higher powers. What he is literally talking about is the civil magistrate, the governmental leader. Let every soul be subject unto the civil magistrate, for there is no power that is no authority but of God and the powers that be. That is, the rulers, the leaders, the magistrates that be are ordained of God. You might think of your ministers an ordained minister, but have you ever thought of your government as an ordained governor sever therefore resist the power. That is, the authorities resisted the ordinance of God and David resist that is rebel dollars shall receive out to themselves damnation for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil will bow then not be afraid of the power of the civil magistrate do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of the saying that is of your governor, your ruler, your king, your president, your mayor, your counsel, for he is the minister of God to the four good but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he barracks, not the sword in vain. For he is.

Who is he talking about now. The civil magistrate heat, for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that with evil.

Wherefore, you must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.

For this cause pain. He attributes also, for they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing, render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear on our home now. That's the Scripture get a look at today and we can look at it, basically under three headings and the very first having that we can look at today is the reasons human government and you're going to find and when we get to the bottom line.

The big question is not can you be a Christian and be involved in government.

The big question is can you be a Christian and not be involved and not be involved. Can you obey this word of God and not be involved now. What other reason, human government. The Bible tells us that human government is ordained of God. Did you know that God sets up King and God brings Kingsdown that God ordains rulers and sometimes God sets up wicked rulers, does that for example in Daniel chapter 2 and verse 21.

Daniel said concerning the Lord.

He removed with Kings and Sabbath up kings God takes them down, and God puts them up. That's what the word of God says he removed with King and set up K not give you a prime example of that. One of the mightiest potentates in the Old Testament was a king named Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar ruled over ancient Babylon, and Daniel was in the court of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel had a chance to prophesy and testify that Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar where his power came from in Daniel chapter 2 and verse 23 God said through Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar bow old key art a king of kings. For the God of heaven have given the kingdom that's Nebuchadnezzar, and he was not a godly king. As a matter fact he got the rotten full of himself got so full of pride that God judge Damon. He ended up crawling around on all fours eating grass like an ox with long fingernails. This man was so stuffed full of himself got setting up and got broken as Nebuchadnezzar met the king let me get another K we think of is the arch villain so much of the Old Testament, Pharaoh, Pharaoh did his kingdom will God raised Pharaoh up Pharaoh was wicked malevolent anti-God for little babies now listen to this. Romans nine verse 17 for the Scripture safe on the Pharaoh. Even for this same purpose happened. I raise the I might show my power in God's that I brought you up and I will bring you. I'm going to show my power in you. Remember the man that puts a footing politician pilot. Have the moral rectitude and courage to release Jesus washed his lily white politicians hands and said I'm innocent of the blood of this just man, but it was pilot that had Jesus Christ in front and Jesus don't you know who I am. Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you a release you. Let me give you the answer that Jesus gave Pilate in John chapter 19 and verse 11 Jesus said to him, thou coders have no power at all against me, except it were given the from above even time. Even Jesus supply. Jesus said you don't have any authority you don't have any power except it was given to you from above as very interesting thing because of the three illustrations I give you now, all three of these were wicked men and yet God allowed them to have the authorities that be are ordained of God was the authority when Paul wrote this whole season, the Roman government was in power. That was not a democracy. The Christians were disenfranchised had no political power as a matter fact what they believed was illegal because they would not say Caesar is Lord. And yet that Aegis also wrote, the powers that be are ordained of God. The Bible says if you resist these authorities. In verse two here resisting God because it is God that set them up. While I know what you're thinking right now it's a safer way, you mean that some keying, some potentates, some fat toad sitting upon the throne, may tell me to do this or that and I am to do it, contrary to the word of the will of God will hold on that thought would get to that thought when I listen to me. I want to get this point down in your heart and your mind that God ordains human government for two reasons.

He tells us right here. Number one to restrain evil look.

If you will, in verses three and four of this chapter he says here for their rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil will thou then not be afraid of the power to do that which is good and I should have praise of the same, for he is the minister of God to the four good but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for a bath, not the sword in vain reasonable one that God is given us human government is for restraint to restrain evil. I listen you can't legislate morality, law can't make a good only God can make a good government is not here to make you can't make you good. Only God can make you good government is here to restraining there's not a lot on earth can make you love me so I have to have one to keep you from killing me say there's not a loner, they can make you honest so we have to have laws to keep you from staying and not a law that can keep you from lying.

So we have to have laws against purge is a you legislate morality. But you do legislate against immorality and I thank God for those who are here to restrain evil to say something else, it's about time we set a good word for the policeman. I'm sick and tired of being put upon. I took this out of my files.

Listen to a policeman is many things. He is a son, a brother or father and uncle and sometimes even a grandfather.

He is a protector in time of need and a comfort torn time of sorrow. His job calls for him to be a diplomatic psychologist, a lawyer, a friend and an inspiration. He suffers from an overdose of publicity about brutality and dishonesty. He suffers far more from the notoriety produced by unfounded charges to awful acts of terrorism go unnoticed, and the truth is buried under all the criticism. The fact is, listen to this less than one half of 1% of policeman ever discredit their uniform.

That's a better average than you find among clergyman policeman is an ordinary guy who is called upon for extraordinary bravery for us. His job may sometimes seem routine but the interruptions can be moments of stark terror.

He is the man who faces 1/2 crazed gunman who rescues a lost child who challenges him all and risks his neck more than we realize. He deserves our respect and profound things.

A policeman stands between the law of the buyer and the lawbreaker. He is the prime reason your home hasn't been burned your family abused and your business alluded.

Try to imagine what would happen if there were no policeman around and then try to think of ways to make their job more rewarding. Show them the respect you really hand offer them a smile and a kind word see that they don't have to be magicians to raise their families own less than adequate salaries. We think policeman a great we thank God for all the little boys who said they would be policeman and kept their promise. We hope you feel the same way and we hope you will show so there will always be enough good policeman to go around. He is the minister of God to be forgotten. Restrain evil and the Bible says that he bears the sword a sword as an instrument of data. Sometimes the government in order to restrain evil must take life. I want to listen to me friend the Scripture that says thou shalt not kill X. This chapter 20 verse 13 now this Scripture and the 10 Commandments means and the Hebrew translation bears it out, that thou shalt do no murder, thou shall take no personal vengeance but friend the same person who wrote ask this chapter 20 and verse 13 wrote Exodus chapter 21 and verse 12. Whatever else he was.

He wasn't insane. A madman and what did he say Exodus 21 verse 12 he that smite a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death the same Bible the same Bible chapter next to chapter 1 chapter says thou shall not kill.

That is, don't do murder in the next chapter says if you do, you'll be put today he is not the sword in vain. The sword is an instrument of death.

Now why is this. Well, the Bible said way back in Genesis chapter 9 in verse six. Listen to it dissociative man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed all murder is killing but all killing is not murder. I can listen to it dissociative man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for he that is man in the image of God made he may the God that gives life is the God has the right to take and God has his ordained ministers to do his work for that is the civil magistrate somebody says that is cruel.

Pastor Rogers, I thought you were a man of love friend you may not believe what I'm saying is based on love, but I don't want to be more loving than Almighty God and God's infinite love and I'm giving you the word of God and if you don't believe Genesis 96 when you get to heaven if you get to heaven with God. Okay, God is love.

You see, the coddling of the murderer is really cruelty to the community don't think that you're more wiser loving than God himself.

People say well love capital punishment. That's not an inhibition to murder. In some cases it is ha ha I want to tell you that that Henry they partner murderer. One time, and that murderer after having been part and killed another man came back to every day and they said the king him again. He settled all he said he killed the first man I killed the second man he will killing more and the man died for his. You see, it does inhibit some from killing again sums I will. God is too good to punish sin. No, God is too good not to punish sin that you don't believe in God believe in capital punishment. I would ask you this question who crucified Jesus we say the Roman soldiers. Well, they were the instruments that name into the cross you say will the Jewish Council. Yes, they were the ones that hounded him to the cross. But if you study your Bible carefully. You understand that God the son died at the hands of God the father. He had put them to death. That's what the Bible says that God the father poured out his wrath upon his only son. Why, because God son was standing in our place.

God was my substitute. Jesus was my substitute took my place and therefore he took the bat that I should die, and the Bible says the wages of sin is office was capital punishment is what it was at the hands ready of Almighty God. And will your part two of this message coming up tomorrow on liberty finding in the meantime make you have questions about who Jesus is what he means to you how to surrender your life fully to him were discovered. Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you find resources there materials that will answer questions you may have about your faith again go to LWF.org/radio and click discovered, thanks for joining us for our study in God's word today. Remember we dare not identify the Christian faith with the Democrat or the Republican Party. We need to be freed until both Rogers wise words so comforting in this season. Be sure to join us tomorrow for the conclusion of Christian citizenship on love with