Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, August 24, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN RELATION TO OUR CONCEPT OF GOVERNMENT

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-19

Text: 1 Kings 21:7

1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Introduction: GOD BLESS AMERICA! That is my earnest prayer! Truly, God HAS blessed America, but I fear that we have turned our backs on the Author of our many blessings! In many ways, it seems that we have FORGOTTEN GOD, which brings to mind the scripture:

Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Let’s not forget God!

I believe one of the areas in which we have forgotten Him is in relation to our concept of government. In our text a wicked woman asked her husband, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? as if he could do anything he wanted to because he was the king. His wife had a faulty concept of government.

God has ordained human government. To govern is not only to regulate, but also to restrain. If wickedness is not restrained, there is chaos. We should not despise government, but thank God for it.

2 Peter 2:9-10 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

We seem to have forgotten

I. THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT

Romans 13:1-4 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. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 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: 4 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.

A. Restraint

Govern – one meaning is to restrain
“governor” on a truck or other vehicle

B. Reward of those who do good

C. Revenge toward those who do evil

We seem to have forgotten

II. THE POWER AND PROMINENCE OF GOVERNMENT

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

What makes a government powerful, prominent, and great:

A. Is not democracy

B. Is not diversity

C. Is not a defense (military might)

D. It is DECENCY and righteousness!

We seem to have forgotten

III. THE PERMANENCE OF GOVERNMENT

Psalms 75:5-7 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Daniel 4:17 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.

A nation’s form and figures of government are only as permanent as:

A. The plan of God

God sometimes chooses governments to correct His own people

B. The pleasure of God

C. The patience of God

We seem to have forgotten

IV. THE PARAMETERS OF GOVERNMENT

Romans 13:1 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.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

Nehemiah 9:13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Christian citizens need to

A. Seek to please God first

B. Submit to God first

Romans 13:1 “higher powers” versus LOWER powers, if and when they conflict

C. Serve God first