26-0913sc Transcript

(0:04) Let’s go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. (0:07) Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. (0:11) We’re very grateful for the opportunity we have to get together with our brothers and sisters to study your Word.

(0:19) We’re very grateful for you providing us with your Word, (0:24) and with giving us the opportunity to be your children, (0:28) and extending to us the opportunity to be reconciled to you and having our sins forgiven through Jesus. (0:35) We’re very grateful for the fact that Jesus is willing to go through all the things that he had to go through in order to provide this. (0:42) We know he did this willingly.

(0:45) We ask your blessings upon our study this day. (0:48) We pray that you will give us wisdom, understanding, insight, and patience. (0:53) We ask that you help us to appreciate Paul’s writings under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

(1:02) We pray these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen. (1:09) I’d like to just do a little rambling here before we get into chapter 13 and 14.

(1:18) We’ve looked at 13 a little bit. (1:22) But as to help prepare our minds for what Paul has written through the Holy Spirit, (1:29) the Holy Spirit wants us to understand and know, (1:32) and God is wanting us to conduct ourselves in this way as his children. (1:42) So I’ll start over.

(1:44) I got to thinking as I was studying this. (1:46) I was studying it yesterday with Sandy. (1:51) And as I was doing this, I got to thinking.

(1:58) The main thing that Paul wants us to realize is we’re not the judge. (2:06) And what is the purpose of judging? (2:11) To either proclaim something to be the way it’s supposed to be or condemn it. (2:17) And most times we’re judging to condemn because we don’t believe that the thing that we’re judging (2:25) or the person we’re judging is 100% right anyway.

(2:28) So when we’re looking at this concept of judging, (2:36) it is the thought that when a person is sinning, he’s defying God. (2:45) I like that word I came up with. (2:47) When a person is sinning, he’s actually defying God.

(2:53) He’s going against statements, thumbing his nose at God, (2:57) and he’s basically arguing with God and saying, (3:00) I don’t agree with you in what you want us to do. (3:06) And as I’ve mentioned before, (3:09) when we’re growing up, we’re growing up in an education system (3:12) that’s basically that of Greece. (3:19) And basically, we have that particular approach to life.

(3:28) Defend ourselves, run the other person down, stand up for ourselves, and so on. (3:35) And basically, we’re talking about the idea of judging one another. (3:43) So remember in Chapter 2 of Romans, I believe it was Chapter 2, (3:52) let’s take a look at Chapter 2, I think it is.

(3:59) Therefore, you have no excuse, you foolish person. (4:03) Every one of you who passes judgment, (4:06) for in that manner in which you judge someone else, (4:09) you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things. (4:16) And as I was reflecting upon that, with the idea of defying God, (4:22) we’re practicing the same things.

(4:24) So we’re looking at somebody and we’re judging them, (4:27) and we’re thinking to ourselves, they’re going against God’s will. (4:31) They’re going against His commands that He says. (4:36) So we’re basically saying, they’re defying God.

(4:40) Well, Paul’s telling us, we’re doing the same thing. (4:44) We’re defying God, because we have sins ourselves. (4:48) There’s things that we feel that we can retain, (4:55) even though we’ve confessed our sins and became Christians, (5:00) and we are Christians.

(5:02) And the thing is, we continue to sometimes hold on to the sins, (5:11) thinking to ourselves, He’ll forgive us, or He’ll give us time. (5:14) But we’re defying God. (5:15) Every time we participate in that secret sin, we’re defying God.

(5:20) So Paul’s saying, you’re doing the same thing. (5:24) Not the same commission of sins, (5:28) but you’ve got the same attitude, you’re defying God. (5:31) And you’re doing the same thing, you’re defying God too.

(5:35) And so, that’s what he’s saying. (5:38) Don’t judge another person, (5:40) because you’re judging them on the basis that in your mind, (5:44) they’re defying God, they’re sinning. (5:47) But, what about you? (5:50) Where do you stand? (5:52) And so, the thing is, aren’t you defying God too, in your way? (5:59) You’re doing the same thing.

(6:00) You’re condemning yourself when you condemn the other person. (6:05) You’re saying, they’re defying, that’s wrong. (6:07) You’re defying, and that’s wrong.

(6:10) The other day, I got to thinking this. (6:14) I’m driving down Route 6 between Avon Lake and Lorraine, (6:20) and it’s 35 miles an hour, the whole stretch, no matter what. (6:26) And here I am, doing 35 miles an hour.

(6:29) And people coming up behind me, (6:31) and I know that they’re coming up behind me, (6:33) because all of a sudden, they’re on my tail. (6:37) They’ve been speeding, but they won’t pass me, (6:41) because there’s a yellow line there, and they won’t pass me. (6:44) But I had a couple people pass me.

(6:47) But the thing is, what’s the difference, (6:50) whether you pass me on a yellow line or speeding? (6:54) They’re both wrong. (6:57) They’re both wrong. (7:00) But yet, you won’t pass me, because the yellow line says don’t pass.

(7:05) But what did you do to catch up with me? (7:08) You sped. (7:09) So why won’t you pass me? (7:12) Well, I don’t want to do that wrong. (7:16) I don’t want to do that wrong, because that might carry a heavier fine.

(7:23) But anyway, the cop will stop you. (7:25) But the thing is, you’re a Christian. (7:31) Why are you here? (7:35) Why are you here this morning? (7:39) It’s because you want to learn more about being a Christian.

(7:45) But who are you most concerned about? (7:49) Yourself. (7:51) I am. (7:52) I’m concerned about myself.

(7:54) And what I do is all depending on whether I come here or go to Tully Road, (8:00) or what I do. (8:02) It’s all, you know, Steve Cain. (8:05) And Steve Cain says, I’m concerned about going to heaven and pleasing God.

(8:12) I’m not here to be condemned. (8:15) I’m not here to be judged. (8:17) And neither are you.

(8:19) And so the thing is, whoever becomes a Christian, what happens to them? (8:27) What happens to a person who becomes a Christian? (8:32) Share it with me. (8:33) What happens when a person becomes a Christian? (8:36) He becomes a child of God. (8:40) Which is more correct than that, isn’t there? (8:43) His sins are forgiven.

(8:45) There’s more than that. (8:47) The more you acknowledge God, the more the Holy Spirit will help you transform into His image. (8:57) Exactly.

(8:58) But what else happens when you become a Christian? (9:02) The Holy Spirit. (9:04) You’ve got the Holy Spirit. (9:05) What else happens when you become a Christian? (9:08) The blood of Christ washes away the sins.

(9:12) The blood of Christ washes away the sins. (9:14) What else happens when you become a Christian? (9:21) Okay. (9:24) What else happens when you become a Christian? (9:28) You are removed from the law.

(9:31) For there is no law, there is no sin. (9:34) And those who are in Christ, Romans 8, there is now therefore no condemnation. (9:42) In other words, you’re not going to be judged.

(9:44) So, as a Christian, you want to grow. (9:49) As a Christian, you want to bring yourself into people or around people who will edify you. (10:00) Encourage you.

(10:01) To lift you up. (10:04) Not to be judged. (10:08) And so, Paul is going to be pointing this out.

(10:11) When you went to school, why did you go to school? (10:17) Had to. (10:19) Had to. (10:20) Absolutely.

(10:21) Had to. (10:23) Had to. (10:25) But your teachers were not supposed to discriminate.

(10:28) That teacher was supposed to do what? (10:32) Teach you. (10:34) Educate you. (10:36) Admonish you.

(10:38) Lift you up. (10:39) Make education exciting. (10:41) And so, what Paul wants us to do is to do the same thing within the brotherhood.

(10:49) Within the assembly. (10:51) He wants us to come with the anticipation of being edified. (10:58) Lifted up.

(10:59) Excited. (11:01) Not to be judged. (11:04) Not to be discriminated against.

(11:08) And this is one of the problems that is happening in Rome is they are discriminating. (11:15) They’re discriminating based on the fact that that’s a Gentile and that’s a Jew. (11:21) He’s uneducated.

(11:23) He’s uncouth. (11:25) And he is a child of God. (11:28) What’s the difference? (11:31) They’re both Christians, aren’t they? (11:34) And that’s what Paul is trying to help us to appreciate.

(11:38) And so, we’re coming together to be edified. (11:42) We’re coming together to be lifted up. (11:44) And we’re coming together to be educated.

(11:47) To know what God wants us to do so that we can bring ourselves around and align ourselves with God. (11:55) But the thing is, when we became a Christian, God assured us of one thing. (12:02) We’re going to heaven.

(12:07) He promised that. (12:09) That’s the reason. (12:11) That’s Paul telling us in Colossians that that’s one of the reasons why individuals are becoming Christians is because it’s giving them a hope.

(12:22) A hope. (12:24) How are they going to get to heaven? (12:26) Are they going to get to heaven by being a Muslim? (12:29) By being a Hindu? (12:31) By observing this idol? (12:35) This thought? (12:37) Those aren’t going to get you to heaven. (12:40) They’re not even a glimmer of a way of getting to heaven either.

(12:44) What is going to get you to heaven? (12:48) Jesus. (12:51) There is now, therefore, no condemnation to them who are in Christ. (12:59) So, we’re on the same plane.

(13:02) We have the same interests. (13:04) But the main thing is, we want to be edified and we want to be assured that we know how to conduct ourselves in the presence of God. (13:17) And be pleasant to Him and pleasing to Him.

(13:21) What pleases God? (13:26) To believe that He is, that He’s the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (13:31) When I read Psalms, all I see there is the writer wanting to please God in some way or another and making sure that he’s pleasing God. (13:42) And in so doing, it puts him in a comfortable zone thinking that God is looking after him.

(13:55) And he wants that. (13:56) So, Paul wants the same thing for us, doesn’t he? (13:59) Let’s take a look at chapter 12. (14:09) So, Paul is writing to the Christians and he’s not running them down.

(14:17) He’s not condemning them. (14:19) In no way is he condemning them. (14:21) He’s wanting to encourage them and he’s wanting to give them insight as to how they need to conduct themselves and be pleasing to God.

(14:33) And so, if you want to be a Christian, this is the way a Christian walks. (14:38) This is the way a person will recognize you. (14:41) What is it? By your love? (14:44) You will be recognized as being a disciple of Jesus.

(14:48) You’ll be His disciple. (14:50) Take a look now. (14:52) Let’s pick up with chapter 12 and verse 9. (15:00) He’s talking about love.

(15:03) And this is the word agape. (15:06) This is a word that describes God. (15:11) And this is how God is known.

(15:14) God is love, agape. (15:17) And when we look at God, does He discriminate? (15:22) The only discrimination He has is whether you’re a child of God or not. (15:27) He doesn’t care about your ethnicity as far as whether you’re an African or Russian or whatever.

(15:40) He doesn’t care. (15:41) What He wants is your love and He wants your obedience. (15:46) And that’s where He’s asking us, don’t defy me.

(15:51) Cooperate. Be mine. (15:53) So, verse 9. (15:56) Love must be free of hypocrisy.

(16:01) So, here I am. I’m a student. (16:04) I’m a student of God’s will.

(16:06) I want to know what God wants me to do and how He wants me, Steve Cain, to operate. (16:12) You’re here because you want to know how God wants you to operate. (16:17) You’re not here for Steve Cain to run you down or to condemn you.

(16:23) I’m supposed to be a teacher, so as a teacher I’m supposed to do what? (16:28) Educate. Lift you up. Edify you.

(16:31) Help you be excited about the fact that you are a Christian. (16:38) So, there’s no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. (16:42) Why? Because Jesus is on the right-hand side of God interceding for us.

(16:47) And His blood continues to cleanse us. (16:50) And so, there is no condemnation. (16:53) There is no way that you can be condemned.

(16:57) That’s why Paul writes in what? Chapter 5 or 6? (17:03) That what’s going to separate us from God? (17:09) No one. No one’s going to separate you from God. (17:14) Who’s going to separate you from God is the way I should have said it.

(17:17) Who’s going to separate you from God? (17:19) No one. (17:23) Because God is the one who established and went through everything to save you. (17:28) He’s never going to condemn you.

(17:30) Is Jesus going to condemn you? (17:32) No. He came to die on the cross for the very purpose of saving you. (17:38) So, who’s going to condemn you? (17:41) Not God.

Not Jesus. Not the Holy Spirit. (17:46) They’re not going to condemn you.

(17:48) They have no intention to condemn you. (17:49) Who can separate you from the love of God? (17:56) You’re not supposed to condemn yourself either. (17:59) So, that’s one of the biggest things we have a problem with is condemning ourselves.

(18:05) But we’re not allowed to condemn ourselves. (18:08) Because we’ve got everything going for us. (18:13) So, love must be free of hypocrisy.

(18:17) Detest what is evil. (18:20) Cling to what is good. (18:22) So, that’s not too difficult to do.

(18:25) But we have to keep in remembrance about who we’re running around with. (18:30) Who we have a tendency to side up with and so on. (18:35) And so, we must make sure that we don’t embrace hypocrisy or detest or back evil.

(18:46) When you’re in a country western movie. (18:51) I grew up in country western movies. (18:54) And who wore the white hat? (18:59) He was the hero.

(19:00) And when he comes riding in with the white hat and on a white horse. (19:05) Way! Everything is good. (19:08) Everything is good.

(19:09) So, cling to what is good. (19:13) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (19:18) Give preference to one another in honor.

(19:20) Not lagging behind in diligence. (19:24) Fervent in spirit. (19:26) Serving the Lord.

(19:28) Rejoicing in hope. (19:31) And of course that hope is the fact that we are assured that we’re going to go to heaven. (19:37) That’s the reason why we’re a Christian.

(19:39) Because the only hope we have of getting to heaven is Jesus. (19:45) Rejoicing in hope. (19:47) Persevering in tribulation.

(19:49) Devoted to prayer. (19:51) Contributing to the needs of the saints. (19:53) Practicing hospitality.

(19:55) We could stop right there and say, hey! (19:58) We could be like the young man who comes to Jesus and says, what must I do in order to be saved? (20:05) And Jesus says, you know the commandment. (20:09) Honor the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul. (20:12) Respect your mother.

(20:13) Do not commit adultery. (20:15) And the young man says, all these things I’ve done for my youth. (20:22) Jesus doesn’t rebuke him.

(20:25) Rebut him or anything. (20:27) He says, you lack one thing. (20:30) What’s that? (20:31) Sell everything you’ve got and come follow me.

(20:36) He couldn’t bring himself to do that, could he? (20:40) We’ve got to bring ourselves to do this. (20:44) Now that’s the whole thing. (20:46) So we have to have the right mentality, the right perspective.

(20:49) We have to have the right outlook. (20:53) Therefore, this is, go back up to verse 1, chapter 12. (21:00) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, (21:08) to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, (21:13) acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

(21:18) And do not be conformed to this world, (21:22) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (21:26) so that you may prove what the will of God is, (21:32) that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (21:36) That’s Paul’s goal. (21:38) He wants us to achieve that.

(21:42) That’s what he wants every Christian to achieve, (21:45) to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. (21:50) Have no other interest. (21:53) One main thing is focus on God.

(21:59) And we know Paul practiced what he preached. (22:03) There’s no question about that. (22:05) And that’s why I like what he writes in the Philippian letter (22:08) and why I like what he talks about in 2 Corinthians, the first chapter there, (22:14) about being in despair.

(22:17) He and his entourage found themselves in a situation (22:21) that was beyond their control. (22:23) And they thought that they were going to die. (22:26) I don’t know why they thought they were going to die.

(22:29) They were being persecuted by pressure or ran out of money and food (22:34) and didn’t have anything wherewithal to sustain their lives. (22:41) And then Paul says, ah, God came to rescue. (22:49) Learn to trust God.

(22:52) Can we do that? (22:54) And that’s the whole challenge. (22:56) The challenge is trust God. (23:02) You know, that’s really a challenge.

(23:05) I know it is because it is for me. (23:08) But trust God. (23:13) I’ve had that opportunity to do that many times.

(23:17) You know, every time I would pause before I have an encounter (23:25) and I would ask God to help me. (23:27) And every time I’d come out. (23:36) And Paul would say, ah.

(23:40) And so I like how he finishes out the Philippian letter. (23:45) I just love that. (23:47) I’ll spare you that.

(23:48) We’ll go to that another time. (23:50) I’ve been there many times with you. (23:53) So then he goes on and closes out chapter 12.

(23:57) He’s not just closing out his letter. (24:00) He’s closing out what we consider to be chapter 12. (24:05) Bless those. (24:06)

(24:07) See, now we have to have the right perspective. (24:10) You came to hear what a Christian ought to live (24:16) and how a Christian ought to behave. (24:18) You come to hear what that perspective is.

(24:23) Paul doesn’t want you to argue with him. (24:27) Because that’s God. (24:29) God doesn’t want us to argue with him.

(24:33) Justify why we’re holding on to our sins. (24:36) Rationalize. (24:36) He doesn’t want us to rationalize why.

(24:39) Because that’s defying God. (24:43) We’re intending to defy God. (24:45) When we start rationalizing, when we start justifying, (24:50) we’re going to defy God in one way or another.

(24:54) God has a specific reason for us to approach our problems this way. (25:03) And it’s for us to approach the problems this way (25:05) so that we can understand God’s wisdom. (25:09) So when we’re in our prayers, just as we started out this class, (25:14) we’re asking God for wisdom, understanding, and insight.

(25:21) We’re asking. (25:23) So, bless those who persecute you. (25:27) Bless and do not curse.

(25:30) Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. (25:33) We talked about this last week. (25:37) We talked about this.

(25:38) And it’s a difficult thing. (25:41) Because we’re raised in a Greek culture mentality. (25:50) So this is the thing.

(25:52) It’s difficult for us to actually do what God is asking us to do. (25:57) So we’re going to justify. (25:58) We’re going to rationalize.

(25:59) We’re going to defy God in this respect. (26:04) Be of the same mind towards one another. (26:08) Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.

(26:15) And here’s where Paul is saying, don’t rationalize, don’t justify, (26:20) don’t argue with us, because that’s what, (26:24) do not be wise in your own estimation. (26:28) That’s what he’s talking about. (26:30) Don’t be wise in your own estimation.

(26:32) Don’t rationalize. (26:33) Don’t justify. (26:34) Don’t deny me.

(26:39) Don’t defy. (26:41) So do not be wise in your own estimation. (26:46) Never repay evil for evil to anyone.

(26:50) Respect what is right in the sight of all people. (26:56) If possible, so far as it depends on you, (27:01) be at peace with all people. (27:04) Never take your own revenge, beloved, (27:09) but leave room for the wrath of God.

(27:13) For it is written, vengeance is mine. (27:16) I will repay, says the Lord. (27:19) But if your enemy is hungry, feed him.

(27:22) If he is thirsty, give him a drink. (27:25) For in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (27:31) Do not overcome by evil, do not be overcome by evil, (27:36) but overcome evil with good.

(27:40) And so Paul is writing to them and he’s admonishing them, (27:45) and he’s giving them the mind of God. (27:48) And this is what God wants us, (27:51) this is how God wants us to conduct our lives, period. (27:57) And so he’s asking us to do this.

(28:02) Don’t argue with me. (28:06) Let it be. (28:08) And as we continue into chapter 13, (28:12) the same admonition continues.

(28:16) And we got into chapter 13 last week, (28:21) and this is one of those things, chapter 13 and 14, (28:25) it’s going to be more of the same. (28:28) It’s going to be rubbing us the wrong way. (28:30) We’re going to be saying to ourselves, (28:33) oh, he’s going to bring up judging again, (28:38) and he’s going to bring up, don’t condemn a person.

(28:44) Condemnation is God’s role, not ours. (28:49) And we’re not going to be condemned by Jesus, (28:51) and we’re not going to be condemned by God. (28:53) They’re the Supreme Court, if you will.

(28:58) They’re the Supreme Court. (29:00) Bring the issues before God. (29:02) Let God deal with it.

(29:06) And there are times, and what got me off on this, (29:09) is sometimes I think Christians make rules (29:14) about what Christian life ought to be (29:17) when it’s not a part of God’s word, (29:23) and we don’t have a right to make those rules. (29:26) They’re out of bound. (29:29) And so a couple of my very good friends (29:35) are not attending church anymore, (29:38) and are not even trying to be Christians (29:41) because they were judged and condemned by elders.

(29:51) So what can I say? (29:56) So we need to make sure that you are the one (30:03) who is here needing the education. (30:05) You are the one here who is needing God’s input (30:11) as to how to deal with your problem. (30:15) He’s not here to condemn you.

(30:17) That’s what James talks about, and I love James. (30:21) Let’s take a look at James real quick (30:23) before we go any further. (30:25) James, the first chapter.

(30:34) We don’t have to go very far into it, (30:36) but we’ll read the first eight verses. (30:42) Again, I’m reading from the New American Standard Version, (30:52) starting with verse 2. (30:54) Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, (30:58) when you encounter various trials, (31:00) knowing that the testing of your faith (31:04) produces endurance, (31:08) and let endurance have its perfect result (31:11) so that you may be perfect and complete, (31:14) lacking in nothing. (31:18) That’s repeated in Romans, the fifth chapter.

(31:21) It talks about how when we’re being tested (31:25) or when we’re having trials, that it matures us, (31:30) makes us better. (31:31) So he’s talking about, he says, (31:34) let endurance have its perfect result (31:37) so that you may be perfect and complete, (31:40) lacking in nothing. (31:41) I like verse 5. (31:45) But if any of you lacks wisdom, (31:48) let him ask of God, (31:51) who gives to all generously and without reproach, (31:56) and it will be given to him.

(31:59) But he must ask in faith without any doubting, (32:03) for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, (32:06) driven and tossed by the wind. (32:09) For that person ought not to expect (32:12) that he will receive anything from the Lord. (32:15) Being a double-minded man, (32:17) unstable in all his ways.

(32:19) But I like what he’s saying about God. (32:25) I started out the class asking God for wisdom. (32:31) So somehow, someway, (32:33) God is going to fulfill that promise.

(32:36) He’s either going to fulfill it through you, (32:40) through some other person perhaps. (32:43) He’s going to fulfill it. (32:45) He’s going to fulfill it especially (32:47) by reading his scriptures, (32:49) by reading his word.

(32:51) He’s going to give us wisdom. (32:53) He’s going to give us insight as to (32:55) how to deal with our problems. (32:58) But when he gives it to us, (33:02) we may not recognize it as being the wisdom, (33:05) God fulfilling our request for wisdom.

(33:11) And so, we don’t think it’s fulfilled. (33:16) We ask him again. (33:19) Well, he gave it to us, (33:21) but we didn’t follow up on it.

(33:23) We didn’t exercise it. (33:25) We didn’t do what he asked us to do. (33:28) I like that part of it.

(33:31) And so we come back quipped, (33:34) and we say, (33:35) God, please give me wisdom. (33:40) What is James telling us? (33:43) God’s not going to say, (33:44) What? I gave it to you. (33:47) You didn’t follow up on it.

(33:51) He’s telling us God’s not going to do that. (33:57) That’s what that word is. (33:59) He gives it generously without reproach.

(34:03) He’s not going to slap us on the wrist (34:07) or say, I gave it to you. (34:09) What did you do with it? (34:12) I’ll give it to you again. (34:15) Yes, God will give it to you again.

(34:18) He’ll give it to you exactly the same way (34:20) he gave it to you the first time, (34:22) in love, (34:24) in fulfillment of your request. (34:27) You’re asking for wisdom. (34:29) He’s going to make sure that you get it.

(34:32) And he’s not going to reproach you. (34:34) He’s not going to reprimand you. (34:39) He’s going to say, (34:41) Here it is.

(34:42) Please follow it this time. (34:47) Please follow it. (34:51) I got a few moments left.

(34:53) Let’s go back to Romans. (35:04) We’ll pick up with verse 13. (35:18) Give me a little time to straighten out (35:20) my clumsiness going around through here.

(35:27) So he’s talking about it. (35:29) And here again, we’re going to wrestle with God. (35:33) We’re going to argue with him.

(35:36) But he knows what he’s asking us to do. (35:40) And he knows what the results are going to be. (35:43) And this is what he’s asking us.

(35:45) We’ve got to trust him. (35:48) We’re going to argue with him. (35:50) And it’s just not going to work.

(35:53) But he says, do it. (35:57) This is God, through the Holy Spirit, (35:59) in the panoply of Paul, (36:01) telling us this is how you need to conduct yourself (36:05) as an individual. (36:07) Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities.

(36:13) Why? (36:14) For there is no authority except from God. (36:18) And those which exist are established by God. (36:24) We don’t argue with God.

(36:26) We don’t ask him why this particular government (36:29) is in this particular country or anything. (36:32) It’s there because that’s what God wants them to be experiencing. (36:37) And there’s Christians in those lands.

(36:41) There are Christians there, (36:43) and they are expected to do what God is asking them to do. (36:49) And he goes on in verse 2. (36:52) And this is Paul telling us if we don’t. (36:57) Therefore, whoever resists or defies, (37:05) whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.

(37:12) And they who have opposed or defied (37:16) will receive condemnation upon themselves. (37:22) And we know that to be true, don’t we? (37:24) But we’re not supposed to argue with God. (37:26) We’re not supposed to rationalize with him.

(37:28) We’re supposed to do exactly what he’s asking us to do. (37:35) For rulers, verse 3, are not a cause of fear for good behavior. (37:44) In other words, they don’t fear good behavior, obedience.

(37:50) They do not fear people who line up with them. (37:54) They do not fear them. (38:00) For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior.

(38:05) But for evil, do you want to have no fear of authority? (38:11) Sure we do. (38:12) We don’t want to fear authority. (38:15) We don’t want the cop coming on our front porch.

(38:18) We don’t want anything like that happening. (38:22) Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same, (38:30) for it is a servant of God to you. (38:33) That ruler is a servant of God to you for good.

(38:39) But if you do what is evil, be afraid, (38:44) for authority does not bear the sword for nothing. (38:50) For it is a servant of God and an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (39:01) So we don’t want to be reckoned as one who practices evil in any one way or another.

(39:07) I have just a little bit of time left, and the thought just escaped me. (39:28) There’s a word that I want to come up with. (39:31) Let’s continue on.

(39:34) Verse 5. (39:37) Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, (39:44) but also for the sake of conscience. (39:49) For because of this, you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, (39:59) devoting themselves to this very thing, (40:03) paying to all what is due to them, tax to whom taxes due, (40:09) custom to whom custom, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor. (40:17) Any questions or observations? (40:24) This is Paul giving us time to, you know, solemnly look over, (40:33) consider, and say to ourselves, we need to bring ourselves into, (40:38) whether we understand it or not, this is what he’s asking us to do.

(40:42) This is God, God saying, do it this way. (40:46) Paul is not writing it this way. (40:49) The Holy Spirit is providing Paul with this information, (40:52) and the Holy Spirit has gotten this information from God, (40:56) where the Holy Spirit searches the mind of God and then provides it with us.

(40:59) The Holy Spirit does not write anything on his own. (41:03) He only gives to us what he has been told or what he has said. (41:09) That’s what Jesus is assuring us in John’s Gospel, chapter 16.

(41:15) He gives us the outline of job description of the Holy Spirit, (41:20) and he tells us that the Holy Spirit is not going to say anything on his own. (41:26) He is going to share with us what he hears from God, and Jesus is the same way. (41:33) He’s an ambassador from God, and as an ambassador, (41:38) he has not authority to write anything on his own.

(41:42) He has no authority to extend anything other than what God has authorized him to give him. (41:50) So Jesus is limited in what he can do too. (41:55) God is the ultimate authority, period.

(42:03) Oh, the word quiet. (42:10) We’re being asked to have a quiet mind, a quiet approach to it. (42:18) When we look in 1 Thessalonians, (42:22) Paul is admonishing them to live quietly among the residents and among the people.

(42:33) And the woman is advised to study quiet. (42:42) And she’s supposed to, in Peter’s admonition about what marriage is about, (42:49) the woman is to have a quiet mind. (42:53) What is the word quiet mind? (42:55) What does the word quiet mean? (42:58) Shut up? No annoying? (43:01) Not in this particular respect.

(43:06) He’s asking us to be calm, to allow nothing to upset you. (43:19) What’s the opposite of quiet? (43:23) Disquieting. (43:26) Paul in Philippians tells us that he has a quiet mind, (43:32) and he doesn’t get anxious about anything.

(43:37) That’s what quietness is all about. (43:40) Don’t become anxious about the various things that are going on around you. (43:47) God is in complete control, and there’s where we have to have 100% confidence in God, (43:54) faith in God.

(43:57) He wants us to be quiet. (44:01) Don’t become excited. (44:03) Don’t become upset.

(44:04) Don’t become anxious. (44:08) God’s in control. (44:12) So we’re being asked to live among our people, our residents, Delaware residents, quietly.

(44:21) Don’t become upset. (44:23) Don’t become anxious. (44:25) Don’t become concerned.

(44:26) Well, you can be concerned about what’s going on around you, (44:32) but this is what does Paul say about governing authorities? (44:41) God’s in control. (44:45) Yeah, we can be concerned about who’s going to be the next governor of Ohio. (44:50) We can be concerned about, you know, the various individuals who are trying to usurp the government.

(44:59) We can be concerned about that, but know one thing. (45:05) Don’t become upset or anxious about it, because God is in control. (45:13) Believe that.

(45:16) Believe that. (45:17) That’s what Paul wants us to understand. (45:22) And what does God tell us? (45:26) Do not take revenge, because vengeance is mine.

(45:33) And Proverbs, or not Proverbs, that’s the Solomons, will tell us that God will make sure that the right government gets into place. (45:43) God will make it. (45:44) That’s where the Amish comes in to control it.

(45:50) Conscientious objectors. (45:53) They’re examples of what a conscientious objector ought to be. (45:58) They’re an example.

(46:00) They may take it to extremes, but that is conscientious objection. (46:07) God is in control. (46:09) My time’s up.

(46:10) And we’ll pick up with, well, let’s finish up real quick. (46:16) Verse 8. (46:21) Owe nothing to anyone except love. (46:25) Love one another.

(46:27) For the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (46:32) For this, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet. (46:38) And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying.

(46:44) You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (46:50) Love does no wrong to a neighbor. (46:53) Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

(46:58) We’ll finish on that. (47:00) Remember, love is a copy. (47:03) Love describes God’s love.

(47:06) His concern about us. (47:08) His overlooking us. (47:10) His providing for us.

(47:11) Providential intervention. (47:13) I love that phrase. (47:16) Divine intervention, providential preservation.

(47:19) Thank you so much for your attention. (47:21)