by David Brenneman
"This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men.” Daniel 4:17.
"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 periods of time 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." Daniel 4:25.
"and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time 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.’" Daniel 4:32.
"It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding." Daniel 2:21.
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." Romans 13:1.
"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
"So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39.
Much as it's never been my thing to write messages that could be taken as political in nature...I've been reminded of Paul being provoked in his spirit concerning where he'd been and seeing a monument to 'an unknown god'. Therefore also having been in the book of Daniel...my favorite book of the Bible...and seeing comments by people professing to be Christians...representatives of Christ...I'm provoked into writing this today.
We may indeed be a part of some form of election process but as the Scriptures say in Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord.".
Our perception of our inclusion into the process by which leaders are placed among men is not random, it is not entirely by our choice and decision. The Lord Himself sets up rulers and it is He who removes them. Once the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has made His decision on who's to lead any nation or kingdom here on Earth it's upon His people, and His Church, to pray for those in authority over them. To lead a quiet life as it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your own hands, just as we instructed you.".
It's not on Believers to go out an start publicly protesting and wasting their witness before men and women because they don't like whomever THE LORD CHOSE to lead over them (note the emphasis!).
We may not like whomever was placed over them but we must must must remember that the Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ is STILL sovereign over all His creation.
It's on each Believer to live their lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. It is NOT for us to bad mouth anyone in authority over us. It's not for us to constantly nag and rip those in authority over us. We do NOT show a lost and dying world the character of Christ when we are being this way!
Don't take my opinion on this for anything...but look at what Jesus Himself said in Matthew 12:37 "for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.".
We are NOT glorifying God by our verbal or textual protests on social media. We are NOT glorifying God by slandering those in authority over us.
I hate to break it to EVERYONE...but what does the Scriptures say? Christ died once for ALL. Even those people in authority over us that we may not like. Even those people with whom we don't agree with. Look back at the history of Israel. King Nebuchadnezzar. At first he took those from Jerusalem and made them serve his gods. The Lord God corrected his theology personally driving him away from his throne and his people until he recognized that it is the Lord God who rules.
It's on all who call themselves Believers in Jesus Christ, who say they are Christ-followers, to be praying for those who are in authority over them. Secondly, we have no rights in the scheme of things. We are visitors to this world, only passing through. Our citizenship is in Heaven. We are Ambassadors of Christ. This being realized we are NOT Democrats or Republicans or Liberals or Conservatives. We are to be one in Christ Jesus. We have no true political affiliation. We are part of the body of Christ which has no affiliation at all except to live in obedience to Christ and by extension obedience unto our Father in Heaven.
So my Dear reader...lay aside these wasted arguments and feelings. Cast them far from you. Instead pray for those who are in authority over you as the Spirit teaches all of us.
Grace is what we have had extended unto each of us in Christ.
Grace is what we are to freely give ALL OTHERS.
Remember also that we WILL give an account of our lives before Christ.
It's a well known thing that you cannot encourage and tear down at the same time. You cannot lift someone up before Christ and tear them apart at the same time. Nor does Christ ever want to see you tearing people apart over a choice that HE MADE.
We have our instructions in Christ Jesus...pray for those in authority over us. Pray pray pray. Which means...that conversation is between you and God not you and all the known world.
Will you be ashamed of what your life reveals before Jesus or will He be glorified by your thoughts and actions?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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