BELIEVERS IN THE WORLD 1

[The Book 📖 Of 1 Peter 2]

13 THEREFORE SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN FOR THE LORD'S SAKE, WHETHER TO THE KING AS SUPREME,
14 OR TO GOVERNORS, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise [honour, commendation, or encouragement] of those who do good.
15 FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, THAT BY DOING GOOD YOU MAY PUT TO SILENCE THE IGNORANCE OF FOOLISH MEN—
16 AS FREE, YET NOT USING LIBERTY AS A CLOAK FOR VICE, BUT AS BONDSERVANTS OF GOD.
17 HONOUR ALL PEOPLE. LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD. FEAR GOD. HONOUR THE KING."
1 Peter 2:13–17 (NKJV)

• The above Bible passage that is used as the text of this teaching says; "SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN FOR THE LORD'S SAKE" (1 Peter 2:13 NKJV).

• It says the believers should submit to the ordinances of Man—those who are ruling.
• It is true that human rights should not be denied of people, but God would not want whoever professed to be a believer to be involved in whatever is not right or contrary to the law of the land: "BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, A THIEF, AN EVILDOER, OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER PEOPLE'S MATTERS" (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV).
• God would not defend nor be part of any evil done by a believer. He would not condone it either!
• If you did anything wrong, God will allow you to pay for it. He would allow the law to take its course.

• The Head of state or the president, the governor, and those appointed by them should be obeyed.

• Government officials and the law enforcement agents are sent for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good (1 Peter 2:14).
• Thus, If you claimed to be of God, a believer, and stand against the law and those sent by the government, It would be considered an affront to Him, God, Himself.
• Government Authority is recognized and ordained by God:
  1 EVERYONE MUST SUBMIT TO GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. FOR ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD, AND THOSE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN PLACED THERE BY GOD. 2 SO ANYONE WHO REBELS AGAINST AUTHORITY IS REBELLING AGAINST WHAT GOD HAS INSTITUTED, AND THEY WILL BE PUNISHED" (Romans 13:1,2 NLT).
• Sometimes ago, some people were demonstrating against the government, and in the process, the demonstrators or the rioters had confrontations with the police and some of them were killed.
• Some of those who were killed are said to be believers, I said, If they were believers and understand the Bible, they would not be involved or part of rioting in the first place. A believer in Christ Jesus should not be part of such a thing.
• The government of Jesus Christ is not about this present world. And besides, we are not instructed in the Bible to fight for ourselves or stand against the government of the day.

• Whether the political party in government is of your affiliation or not, your responsibility as a believer in Christ is to pray for them; their success, wisdom for the political office holders to rule well:
1 THEREFORE I EXHORT FIRST OF ALL THAT SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, 2 FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE. 3 FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR" (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NKJV).

• The responsibility of the believers is to pray for those in authority. In fact, If the church or the people of God in a nation failed in their responsibility to pray for the government of the day, If they missed it or failed, or made a policy that is not favourable, that would not allow peaceful living; God will hold the church or the people of God or believers in that nation responsible for the government's failure.
• There is no place in the Bible where God says the believers should carry placards and demonstrate or riot when they are not pleased with the government of the day.
• The person or people in government may get there, the positions of power which they are, through the rigging of elections, but God permitted them to be there anyway!
• The truth is, no one can get to the position of authority without God's knowing, He must have permitted It. No one received anything except is given or approved by God (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7). God rules in the affairs of Men, humans: "THE HOLY ANGELS WHO TAKE CARE OF THE EARTH HAVE DECIDED THIS. IT IS THEIR COMMAND. NOW EVERYONE WILL BE SURE THAT THE POWERFUL GOD ABOVE RULES OVER HUMAN KINGDOMS. HE GIVES AUTHORITY TO RULE TO ANYONE THAT HE CHOOSES. HE CAUSES HUMBLE MEN TO RULE AS KINGS” ’ (Daniel 4:17 EasyEnglish Bible).
• Those who are in the government of your nation; the president and those in the elective positions, are all known by God, and they are approved by Him: "HE [God] GIVES AUTHORITY TO RULE TO ANYONE THAT HE CHOOSES" (Daniel 4:17 NKJV).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is not of God in your body is rebuked and completely uprooted in Jesus' name.
• That hold infirmity broken now will never be built again in your life in Jesus' name.
  Peace.
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!