Below are my sermon notes from my series, "Politically Incorrect". This four part series started in mid-October and was completed today. This post contains the notes from Week 1.
These are my actual notes from which I preach. They are not a manuscript and therefore do not read like an essay or article. Perhaps they will be helpful to you.
These are my actual notes from which I preach. They are not a manuscript and therefore do not read like an essay or article. Perhaps they will be helpful to you.
What Is Government For?
Psalm 103:19 (NKJV) — 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Intro
What is government for? pt. 1 & 2
The Bible and issues, pt. 1 & 2
During election season we are bombarded by various opinions and not a little misinformation.
No doubt, many have reservations about a pastor speaking to this subject .
God's herald stands between heaven and earth, declaring and applying truth! He represents the sovereign of the kingdom to the kingdom of men.
Body
1A. The Lord God is the supreme authority in the universe. Daniel 4:17 (ESV) — 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
NOTE: When we make anything other than the glory of God the ultimate good or the ultimate truth, we necessarily err.
1B. In our pride and self-sufficiency, we try to limit God to the role we want Him to have. Psalm 83:18 (NKJV) — 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.
2B. God establishes government in general.
3B. He also sets up rulers in particular.
4B. He works in and through them as it pleases Him. Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) — 1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
2A. God established government to promote good and deter evil. 1 Peter 2:13–17 (NKJV) — 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
Romans 13:3–4 (NKJV) — 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
1B. Evil is to be punished.
2B. Good is to be rewarded.
NOTE: It is imperative that those who are governing know the difference! Isaiah 5:20–23 (ESV) — 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
3A. God decentralizes government and distributes its power.
1B. Highly centralized government power is inherently evil. Genesis 11:4 (NKJV) — 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
2B. Power should be distributed close to the people being governed. Ex. 18:17-23
Concl
Psalm 103:19 (NKJV) — 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Intro
The Bible and issues, pt. 1 & 2
1A. The Lord God is the supreme authority in the universe. Daniel 4:17 (ESV) — 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
NOTE: When we make anything other than the glory of God the ultimate good or the ultimate truth, we necessarily err.
1B. In our pride and self-sufficiency, we try to limit God to the role we want Him to have. Psalm 83:18 (NKJV) — 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.
2B. God establishes government in general.
3B. He also sets up rulers in particular.
4B. He works in and through them as it pleases Him. Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) — 1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
2A. God established government to promote good and deter evil. 1 Peter 2:13–17 (NKJV) — 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
Romans 13:3–4 (NKJV) — 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
1B. Evil is to be punished.
2B. Good is to be rewarded.
NOTE: It is imperative that those who are governing know the difference! Isaiah 5:20–23 (ESV) — 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
3A. God decentralizes government and distributes its power.
1B. Highly centralized government power is inherently evil. Genesis 11:4 (NKJV) — 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
2B. Power should be distributed close to the people being governed. Ex. 18:17-23
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