Dear Friends, "Authority Over Governments" by Alfred King* is what I have understood from my study of the scriptures. This lesson is so important, and timely, that my prayer is that all of us will ponder the great privilege we have to serve the KING of kings and LORD of lords. Our message to the heathen is OUR KING REIGNS:

Psa_96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

Just think. He has given us the authority of a chosen generation of Kings and Priests as administers of His will on earth! Let us be about this business assigned to us by The only true God who created the heavens and the earth.

Donna Kupp

* Our thanks to Alfred King for giving us permission to freely share “Authority Over Governments”.

dk

AUTHORITY OVER GOVERNMENTS
Alfred King

As we observe the political scene and realize there is no honest, much less godly, person running for the most important office in America, it becomes obvious that God has weighed America in the balance and found her wanting. Knowing that this is the month which will determine who will fill this most important seat, we can rest assured that God sets up whomsoever He will and He can also remove them when He sees fit (Dan. 4:17). Christians can take comfort in the fact that God is sovereign and rules in the kingdoms of men. While men may think they have the wisdom and abilities to rule nations, they are deceived, for unless God is in control, their human wisdom only generates more confusion. For no matter who sits in the oval office for the next four years, those who follow Jesus Christ can be encouraged, for God has given them the power to overrule and overturn those leaders who walk in rebellion against God.

When Jesus died on the cross, He gave His followers power and authority. It is time for those who believe to begin to exercise themselves in that authority. Consider a few promises given to the servants of Jesus Christ that reveal this authority. Psalms 149:2: “Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.” Notice here that Zion was to be joyful in their king. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords and Jesus rules over those men elected, for He is the One Who ordains and places them in their offices. But the psalmist continues, proclaiming the authority God gives to His servants. “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalm 149:6-9). While God’s people are called to have high praises in their mouths, they are also called upon to have a two-edged sword in their hands. The sword, which is the Word of God, is not just something to read, but something to hold onto and to be used as a weapon against enemies. Continuing, we are told the purpose of the two-edged sword. It is to bind kings and nobles and to execute the written judgment of God upon the ungodly. What we are being instructed to do here is to take the God-given authority and bind those in government who would write evil laws and enact legislation, whether it be in taxes or those directed squarely at Christians. Jesus is able and willing to overturn even those laws already in the books if God’s people will begin to exercise themselves in their God-given authority.

Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus, shows plainly that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces, those in the unseen realm of the spirit. Read Ephesians 6:10-13. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Paul clearly reveals that Christians are not merely warring against men in politics but there are spiritual forces at work, motivating and inspiring these evil men to bring destruction, chaos and strife upon the earth. However, in the end, Satan and his evil minions can only do what God allows.

There are spiritual laws that operate in our world. As evil men pass laws in direct opposition to God’s divine will and plan for man, God begins to remove His protecting hand from that people or that nation. As His protecting hand is removed, they are vulnerable to inspiration from hell itself. It is not necessarily that all of these evil persons are possessed, but they are inspired and influenced by evil spirits. They then in turn propose laws which come from evil. As Christians understand this, we can begin to unite together in prayer and begin to resist these evil forces.

The battle in which we are to engage is not fought with men’s weapons but through intercessory prayer before God, for it is through those prayers God’s hand will move. So many foolish “Christians” seem to think that they can stop abortion if they kill the doctor that performs abortions. They know nothing of the power of God or of His ways. God’s ways are not our ways and man’s ideas will fall short to accomplish their intended purpose. It’s not to say that we do nothing but pray, yet prayer is the power behind any successful opposition to evil and it is through prayer that one finds how he should resist it. God is the One Who can make the darkness light, make the crooked places straight and bring every high place down (Isa. 45:2). Jesus Christ is our King and the power of the church rests in Him. As His people unite together in sincere prayer and lay hold of the arm of God, we will see that truly “our God reigns.” The people of God have the power to stop evil legislation, whether it come from the President, Congress or the Supreme Court. These evil laws that are being passed are inspired by wicked spirits. One proof of this is the total irrationality of many of the recent laws imposed upon America’s populous. Christians who fear for our children and grandchildren, because of the stupidity of these laws, sometimes feel hopeless to do much about them. However, we have a God in heaven Who is greater than men and more powerful than Satan and the spirits of his domain. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

The greatest victories I have seen in my lifetime came after much intercessory prayer and waiting upon God. God is still the same today as He was in the days of old. He is still as powerful as He was when He delivered Israel from Egypt. He is still as able to part the seas as He did for Israel. He still has the authority to calm the storms or to walk on the water and He is still big enough to fight our battles against evil men in government no matter how many evil spirits they have behind them. He can even change those men’s hearts as He did Saul of Tarsus. Our God still reigns and He also hears the prayers of the righteous and He will fight for us. Let the church rise up to meet the challenges of this hour. Let the church equip herself and prepare herself for the battles we face today and let us lean heavily upon the strong arm of Him Who is able to deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, no matter how impossible it may seem to human understanding. Jesus has given to His church power, and that power is for today and is essential for the days which are ahead.

Jesus spoke of these days in Luke’s gospel chapter 21, verse 28: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” While we are living in perilous times, we are also living in the day when God will arise and bring forth a harvest to His glory. If we read and study God’s word, we know that God always has a remnant that remains faithful to Him, for they will not bow their knee to Baal. Let those who have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church today cry and sigh for the abominations which are in our land. Let us be relentless in resisting the devil, for scripture assures us that if we resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7). God delivered Israel many times from armies that were larger and greater than they and He is the same today. May every Christian be encouraged to stand upon God’s promises and begin to engage in the battle against the evil that exists in our country and in our world. Alfred King