Last week: forgiveness

Government

Authority comes from God

  • All authority comes from God – Ephesians 1:18-23

    • Authority is under Him – Colossians 2:8-10

    • Defying authority is to defy God – II Peter 2:9-10

  • He has ordained governments – Romans 13:1-7

    • They have a purpose – Romans 13:4

    • They may sustain themselves – Romans 13:6

    • He expects that we submit to their rule – Romans 13:1

God reigns supreme

  • God and government don’t always agree

    • Government sometimes usurps or conflicts

    • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)

    • Daniel (Daniel 6)

    • Peter and other apostles (Acts 4)

For God’s purpose

  • The Exodus – Exodus 10:1-2
  • Cyrus – Isaiah 44:28-45:3; 46:8-11

Government service

  • Joseph

    • Pharaoh’s bodyguard – Genesis 39:1-4

    • For head jailer – Genesis 39:20-23

    • Pharaoh’s number two – Genesis 41:41-44

  • Daniel

    • Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:48-49

    • Belshazzar – Daniel 5:29

    • Darius – Daniel 6:1-2

    • Cyrus – Daniel 6:28

  • Saul and David