God is Sovereign Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck November 5, 2020

Blog Authority, God is Sovereign, Government

0

Praying For the Authorities

“I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

What is the most important and effective way for us to be active in our political process?

We all just voted. I was told over and over by Facebook and famous people and texts…endless texts that voting was the most important thing I could do. Is it?

I don’t think so.

God is the one who gives the government its authority. God is also the one who changes hearts. He can do even more.

Let’s say you were an employee at a large company. Even though you weren’t very high up in the company, you were good friends with the owner of the company. Now, let’s say the company put out a survey to its employees about certain things they would considering doing at the company and you had some strong opinions about what should be done.

Would you just fill out the survey or would you go talk to your good friend the owner who really has the final say on all things?

Let Your Voice Be Heard?
That’s another phrase I heard a lot leading up to the election. Do I really want my voice to be heard?

I know people I consider good, Christian people who voted for Trump, and I know people I consider good, Christian people who voted for Biden. The truth is, our wisdom isn’t always so wise. Even if we were very wise, we have very limited vision. We can’t see into people’s hearts nor can we see into the future. God can, though.

Rather than wanting my voice to be heard, I want God’s voice to be heard.

Let’s be humble and realize that we don’t always know what’s best, but God does. Sometimes, God gave Israel a judge or King to be good, God-fearing rulers. Sometimes, God let bad kings rule. Sometimes, God even let Israel be oppressed. It was all for their good, to draw them to God and away from idols and sin.

Thy Will Be Done
Let’s trust the Lord to do what’s best. Maybe our country needs a good and faithful leader to show people Christ. Maybe the people of our country deserve a poor leader and suffering to turn to God. Maybe a comfortable and complacent church needs to be shaken up a bit. God knows best.

We aren’t Israel. The United States isn’t God’s chosen people. So, we need to be a little careful in our Israel comparisons, but God is still sovereign and good. We can trust Him with our government, whether we have a faithful leader, bad leader, or need to endure suffering.

Our Hope Is In Jesus
Our hope is not in men or women. It’s not in presidents or judges. Our hope is in the Lord. Let’s turn to Him in prayer and thanksgiving. Let’s trust Him with our lives, including our politics. He will never fail us. He will not be defeated.

Let’s Let Our Voices Be Heard!

Not at the ballots, but our homes, neighborhoods and communities. Not about which political party is best, but about Jesus Christ who gives new life and changes hearts. Let’s let our voices be heard by God in prayer for our leaders, our country, and our people.

Almighty God,

You tell us to come to You in prayer for our leaders. I come to You for our country and it’s people.

(Take a few minutes to pray for our newly elected officials, our country, our community, and our church.)

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck November 4, 2020

Blog Authority, God is Sovereign, Government

0

Submission to Authorities

Submission To Authorities

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” – Romans 13:1

Who did you vote for?

Human beings don’t tend to like the word, “submit.” We like it even less in the United States when we are told to submit to the government, especially if the governing people are from the other party.

Yet, the Bible tells us quite clearly that we are to submit to the governing authorities because God is the one who has put them in Authority and He has done it for our good. Many of us, however, still find ourselves asking the question,

Do we really have to submit to the governing authorities if we don’t like the people in the government?

In Yesterday’s devotion, we discussed honoring and respecting the authorities God has put in place. That can be pretty hard, but submission is even harder.

The simple answer is, yes.

You are commanded by God to submit to the governing authorities and trust that God will work even through people we don’t particularly like.

There is an exception, though.

The government does not have the authority to overrule God. So, if a government’s law contradicts God’s Law, we are to obey God’s Law.

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” – Acts 5:29

Living In a Democratic Republic
In the United States, we have an opportunity and a responsibility which most people, including the Apostles, never had/have. We get to participate in our government.

We can vote.
We can organize opposition to a law to prevent it from being passed or get it overturned.
We can organize to get a law passed.
We can sue the government for violating our rights.

Submitting to those who govern can look a little different for people who live in a democratic republic. It doesn’t prevent us from being politically active. However, we are still to submit even while we work to effect change and we are to show all appropriate honor and respect while engaging in such efforts.

Almighty God,

You have established our government for our well-being. Give me humility and self-control to submit to the governing authorities You establish. Give me courage and boldness to stand against laws that contradict Your Law. Give me wisdom and boldness to work for positive change while showing all due respect and honor.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck November 3, 2020

Blog Authority, God is Sovereign, Government

0

Authority From THE Authority

“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” – Romans 13:6

Where does the government get its power?

In His Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln described the U.S. government as being a

“government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Seven score and seventeen years later, we are voting in one of the most contentious elections in U.S. history. Between the voting and the descriptions of our government, it’s easy to start thinking that our government gets its authority from the people.

From a civics perspective, this may be true, but in reality, no government, including our own, has any authority except that God has given it. That’s right. Whether it’s Joe Biden or Donald Trump who wins the election, today, it’s God’s sovereignty that has put this government into authority over us.

Taxes, Respect, and Honor
So, God tells us to dutifully pay taxes/revenue, give respect, and honor those who have been placed in authority over us. God doesn’t say you have to like what they do, but we are to honor and respect them.

These days, this can be a real bitter pill to swallow. Political discourse has descended to the point where people from one political party struggle to even acknowledge any good decision or act from members of the other party. Yet, we are told to honor and respect the authorities even if we don’t like the platform they endorse. We do this first and foremost out of respect for God and trust in Him. After all, He put those authorities into place.

We can disagree and even speak up or try to prevent certain political efforts from succeeding, but we should do so respectfully while obeying the laws of the land so far as they do not go against God’s Law.

Imagine
Imagine what our nation would look like if we treated our government officials with respect and honor. Imagine what it would look like if we treated our political rivals with respect and honor. Perhaps we could actually have honest and respectful political discussions. Perhaps we could still show people the love of Christ even if they belong to the other party.

Let’s be the start of a new political reality in the U.S., one marked with love, respect, and honor.

Almighty God,

You reign over all people and governments. You establish governments for the good of all people. Help me to show honor and respect to all those whom You have placed in authority and help me to treat others with respect and honor, as well, even when I don’t agree with them politically. May the unity we have in You, be greater than our political divisions.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

God is Sovereign

Praying For the Authorities

Praying For the Authorities

Submission to Authorities

Submission To Authorities

Authority From THE Authority

Authority From THE Authority

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL