- [Instructor] Welcome to a Grace Digital presentation.
God's Form Of Government.
It is undeniable
that we Christians have an obligation to take action
against the corruption of human nature,
initiated by sin taking its full course.
But we must also believe
in the revealed prophetic word of God.
Thus with all due respect for most politicians
and their usual promises for a better future,
they have no solution.
We cannot expect them to find a cure
for the problems of humanity, poverty,
disease, hatred, and war
which are all enormous and increasing.
And these horrible conditions are destroying
the lives of millions of people.
Nevertheless, we should pray for our government
and our leaders within the parameters
of God's revealed will.
I believe God will allow human
wickedness to be fully expressed.
If we are still alive, we will see real innate evil
manifested with ugliness and hardly imaginable fear.
God will let men and women who claim to be able
to elect their own leaders, make their own decisions.
The Bible shows that ultimately a politician
with a claim to solution will come to power.
That will be the antichrist.
Honestly, I prefer to live in democracy than in tyranny
but we have to be clear about it.
Democracy is not God's pattern of government.
Democracy is a Greek word, just like humanism
and it has corrupted our thinking.
The Greek philosopher Plato,
has given a clear picture of various forms of government.
An overview that is really hard to improve
starting with the best form of government
and ending with the worst.
Here is his list.
The best is the rule of a good person called monarchy.
Another type is the rule
of a few good people called aristocracy.
Another type is the rule
of the people themselves called democracy.
Abraham Lincoln and his Gettysburg address
resolved that government of the people
by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
But honestly, he was wrong, it's going to go under.
A different type of government is the rule
of a few bad individuals called oligarchy.
And the worst kind of government
is the rule of an evil individual called tyranny.
Democracy is one of the weakest forms of good government.
It is preferable to oligarchy or tyranny,
but it is not God's model.
God's form of government is monarchy.
The rule of a good man whose name is Jesus.
Therefore I believe that democracy is not
the ultimate solution.
It does not have the power to solve the problems
of the human race.
Men and women are basically unable
to choose the right leader.
In the end, there will be a monarchy.
A man, Jesus, will be King
And he will rule justly and share
His authority with His saints.
Those whom he has brought up to rule with him.
These people are called church.
Consider the word church
as a poor translation of the Greek word ecclesia
which is essentially a government assembly.
If we are members of the church,
we are members of a government assembly
led by a righteous man, Jesus.
There is no other valid solution
to the growing darkness of the world
than the establishment of the kingdom
of God by Christ on earth, a new people.
So we know that corruption is progressive and irreversible.
And we also know that trying to save society
without changing people is doomed to failure.
God will not patch up the old man.
He will produce a new creation.
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
Old things are passed away,
behold, all things are become new
and all things are of God
who have reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ
and have given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18.
We cannot be in Christ and remain the same.
Something completely new has happened that only God creates.
Men can reform, men can improve, but only God can create.
This is something God has to do for us and in us,
we cannot do it ourselves.
I have heard people talk about redeeming the performing arts
but anyone who thinks that the performing arts can
be redeemed without people being changed is deceived.
God does not save the old corrupt nature because
it is destined for his final judgment.
God's remedy is much more radical.
It is a new creation.
God has a logical cure for the old corrupt fallen nature.
He does not mend it.
He does not improve it.
He will not send the old man to church
or Sunday school or teach him the golden rule.
Simply put, God's solution is execution.
The mercy of this is the fact that the execution took place
when Jesus died on the cross.
Our old man was crucified in him.
If we know that, believe it and act on it, it works.
That is God's perfect remedy.
It is a loving remedy, a merciful remedy
but it does not compromise with sin or with Satan.
God will never do that.
Out of the new creation,
God is going to produce a new people.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men teaching us
that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts
we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in this present world.
Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our savior, Jesus Christ
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity and purifying onto himself
a peculiar people zealous of good works, Titus 2:11-14.
As we have stated,
God will remove his own special people from history.
He is waiting until everyone he has chosen
for himself has come to Christ.
For the truth is that the age will not end
until God has brought men from all nations,
tribes and tongues into his kingdom.
God has his elect and they come from every tribe,
nation, people and language.
Until they are all reached, we cannot rest.
This is God's remedy, a new creation
that will bring forth a new breed of people
who will be able to share the throne with Jesus.
And God will let us go through all that is necessary
in these bitter last days any kind of suffering
or anger or pressure to get us fit to reign with our King.
God has a solution
and that solution is the coming of Jesus.
Let us pray.
Father Lord, help me learn you are Lord of my life.
You have the power to rule all that I think, believe and do.
When I allow my mind to run to places that destroy my peace,
remind me these are illegal thoughts.
You do not require me to dwell on feelings
and affections that contribute to fears.
I acknowledge my mind will live in perfect peace
as I fix my attention on you.
So Lord Jesus, let your peace govern my heart.
Remind me of the peace I have in your house
and teach me how to be grateful
for those events that make me run to you
center on you, and remain in you.
I never need to live with fearful, troubled thoughts.
The truth is you are in control.
Dear father in heaven,
I praise you for your steadfastness
and steady presence in our lives.
At times we can feel you right next to us.
However, it is difficult to grasp that you are there at all.
Sometimes life gets so painful
that our minds just cannot feel you through the pain.
Sometimes you take away those feelings
so that we may seek you even more fervently.
I pray now father, that I may rely not on my emotions
but instead on your love for me.
May I rely on your word to be the truth
that governs my life over my understanding.
Help me to recognize you and believe in you
even though my emotions may tell me otherwise.
You are good, you are reliable and you are kind.
You are both all powerful and all loving.
You generally care for my loved ones and me.
Be with me as I live out those revelations
no matter what my concerns are today.
Lord as we walk ahead together,
almighty father we honor you for our lives.
We give you praise for your overflowing mercy
and forgiveness we receive.
Lord Jesus, we ask you to give us all
around peace in our minds, bodies, souls, and spirits.
We want you to heal and remove everything
that is causing fear, grief and sorrow.
Please supervise our path in life
and make our enemies be at peace with us.
I worry about the impact my choice will have
not only on myself but on others as well.
To be honest, I fear making the wrong decision.
You know this obstacle before me,
you know how it turns out.
That's because you are the Alpha and the Omega,
you know the end from the beginning
nothing happens apart from your will and plan.
Not only are you sovereign, but you are good.
All your plans are holy, righteous and good.
I can trust that you know what is best for me.
When I go forth with this decision,
I know that it is your will
and that you will apply it for my good and for your glory.
You are my rock, my savior, and my deliverer.
Be with me as I move forward in this time
of uncertainty and stress.
Above all, may your will be done on earth
and in my life as it is in heaven.
Lord, we remember that your word lets us know
that we do not have to worry.
We know that you are with us
and your protection and presence and powerful.
We ask for you to lead us
and remind us that you have placed your angels
around us to defend us in all your ways.
Thank you that you never sleep or slumber.
You are constantly watching over us,
constantly aware so we can get some sleep.
We choose faith over fear right now
and ask that you would surround us with your peace.
Amen.