Friday, March 23, 2012

Obeying Those Who Rule Over You






Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers (authorities of government). For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation… For this cause pay ye tribute 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; honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Rom 13).

Many ask the question, “How can we love our authorities who are no longer for the people?... How can we love our authorities when they lie and steal from us?”- Yahushua (Jesus) wants us to love our enemies, even the ones that are rulers over us. Daniel (in the Bible) dealt with a king that didn’t care about the people, and he (Daniel) continued to honor this king; But in honoring this king, he didn’t compromise his love for Yhwh and his people. Daniel had to love a ruler who did some wicked things. We are also living in a time when our rulers are also doing some very wicked things. Our job is to be the example of Love. We honor our leaders, but when they tell us to do something that’s contrary to the Word of Elohim (God), we should not bow to their way, because we serve a greater Master (Yhwh). If they establish a law that is contrary to the law of Elohim, we should respectfully decline. We need to ask ourselves this question, “Are there laws established by leaders in government and/or religious authorities that are not in line with the Word of Elohim?” We must follow their laws, BUT if it goes against Yhwh’s law, then Yhwh’s law should overrule their law. The book of Daniel gives us an example of this when we see three followers of Yhwh refusing to bow to the King’s command. Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were threatened by their governing authority, but what their government told them to do, was disrespectful to their King of all kings (Yhwh). They respectfully declined and they were punished for it. Most of us know the end of the story, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were miraculously saved, and King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the power of The King of all kings.

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5).

Yhwh knows that our leaders are corrupt. He sees what’s going on. He hears the cries of the people. Our leaders are constituted with a greater responsibility; And with a greater responsibility comes greater judgment. Let Yhwh be the one to judge them. Yes, by all means expose what is not of Yhwh, but don’t expose with hate in your heart towards your corrupt leaders. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove/expose them” (Eph 5:11).

To obtain further clarity of how to follow the rules of those who despitefully use you, read the book of Daniel and see how Daniel lived his live in the midst of an evil ruler.



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