From
Acts to Revelation
Part
33 – LEADERS OF THE WORLD
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Last week we saw an angel of the Lord save
Peter from execution. We also looked at our own lives, and asked the question,
has God miraculously saved me in my past? And if so, for what purpose?
Today's scripture will cause us pause to
think, with elections drawing near;
do we really chose who will be in office?
Are they the ones who rule once there?
And what if they disobey God?
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 12:20-24 JUDGMENT
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed
there. 20 He
had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined
together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of
Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because
they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his
royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the
people. 22 They
shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did
not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he
was eaten by worms and died.
I.
POWERS AND AUTHORITIES
a. They
are placed/allowed by God
i.
Daniel 2:20b-21a “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might
are his: And
he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up
kings”
ii. If we read Daniel 2: 37 we will see
Daniel telling Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful king who ever reigned, that
his kingdom and power was given by God.
a.
Daniel 2:37 “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of
heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.”
iii. Powers and authorities are placed by God
b. They
are to be obeyed
i.
1 Peter
2:13-17 "Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for
the Lord's sake: whether it be to the
king, as supreme, or unto
governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,
and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men. As free, and not using your
liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honour the king."
c. unless
the law is ungodly
i.
Daniel was a good example here, because
although the king made ungodly laws and rules, Daniel did not obey them, but he
continued to honor the king.
ii.
He did not turn on the king, make signs,
start a petition, fight for his voice to be heard, start a party to rise up
against the king, he simply, quietly continued to obey God over the king in the
areas where the kings laws and rules were ungodly.
II.
HEROD HAS A PROBLEM
a. He
didn't play well with others
b. However,
God watches our leaders and their actions
i.
Daniel 4:13-17 “13 I saw
in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one
came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut
off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts
get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump
of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender
grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his
portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 Let his heart be changed from
man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over
him. 17 This
matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy
ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the
basest of men.
c. It is perfectly clear who the kingdoms of the world
belong to.
i.
Daniel
4:25-26 “ the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever He will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou
shalt have known that the heavens do rule.”
ii.
Herod stole God's Glory and Praise
iii. So God
struck him down
d.
It
is interesting to notice that all this is said to a gentile king,
i.
Now let us see what Jesus says about this issue. When Jesus
was presented before Pilate, this Roman governor arrogantly told Jesus that he
could crucify or release him. At that time Jesus told him that his power came
from God.
a.
John 19:8-11 “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus
gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you
realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus
answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you
from above...”
ii.
The devil tempts Jesus with what is not his
to give...
a.
Luke 4:5-8 “"And the Devil, taking him up into a
high mountain, shewed unto him all
the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time. And the devil said unto him: All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them, for
that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give
it. If thou therefore wilt
worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him: Get thee behind me, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
e. God's
Word continued to spread and flourish
i.
Romans
13:1-6 "Let every soul be
subject unto the higher powers. 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 rulers are not a terror to good works, but to
the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the
same. For he is the minister
of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be
afraid; for he beareth not the
sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must need be
subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also, for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”
III. SATAN CORRUPTS
LEADERS TO STEAL GOD'S GLORY
a.
Satan
wants our attention on man, not God
i.
Saint Paul
clearly says that governments do not exist but only those that God sets
up. God puts rulers in their position. After being in position
those rulers, enticed by Satan, may corrupt their ministry and do ungodly
things, but it does not mean that they were not placed there by God. It
happened so with Saul. Similarly, God calls a person to be a pastor or to be a
founder or director of a denomination, and after being in position, incited by
Satan, they may corrupt their ministry and do ungodly things, but it does not
mean that God did not place them there.
b.
We must remember
i.
we are aliens/foreigners in a strange land
ii.
we are diplomats for the Kingdom of God
iii.
we must change the world around us, not be
changed by it
c.
God is in control
CONCLUSION
Do we really chose, or vote for who will be
in office? No. God does, and scripture tells us so.
Are they really in power while there? Not really. They may make decisions, laws and
rules, but they can only do what God allows them to do.
What if they disobey God? They are not to
be obeyed, and have turned from the Lord. He will judge them, they should take
heed.
Want to learn more about
Salvation and Getting Saved? CLICK
HERE!
