The Bible tells us that the authority that now exists is appointed by God. This simple statement of God’s mind is very clear. That means that if we live in a nation which is governed by a corrupt authority which oppresses it’s citizens that authority was APPOINTED BY GOD.
Therefore the issue is not the corruption of that Government but why we have such a Government.
Whenever we find ourselves under the authority of a murderous government that conspires to kill us or steal from us or to destroy us in some way we must remember that it was appointed by God. Sobering thought!!
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
And do not forget that Paul was writing to those Christians living in Rome, the very seat of the Government which was killing Christians. Paul did not tell them to try to overthrow the Government but to submit themselves under it as unto God.
When the Lord Jesus was brought before Pilate He told Pilate that he would not have any authority at all EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN HIM FROM GOD.
Joh 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, “You aren’t speaking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You, and I have the authority to crucify You?”
Joh 19:11 Yeshua answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it hadn’t been given to you from above. For this reason, the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”
Again Jesus statement agrees with Paul — that all authority exists because God has appointed it. Jesus submitted Himself under the Father , but also under the earthly authority so far as possible. Nothing Jesus did broke the law of God….but declaring Himself to be a King was the grounds that the Jews used to get Him killed.
Joh 19:12 Pilate tried to let Him go after this; but the Judean leaders cried out, saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!
Even though Jesus was under authority it could not be helped that eventually what He said would speak against the ruler. The clash of two kingdoms was at hand. But it was not the time for His Kingdom to rule over men in the physical world. For the time being He was under their authority for them to do to Him as they willed—which was really what the Father planned all along anyway.
Today we live under the authority of the government of men…men who are ruled by Satan…but both men and Satan are under God’s supreme authority.
The government’s of the nations are under the authority of hidden rulers in high places who are plotting our enslavement and destruction. Yet those Governments would not exist unless God had given them that authority. All that they do God shall cause to work together for good in the lives of His elect ones. And in the end God shall hold them accountable for any abuse of authority.
So we can be confident that God is in control even though we find ourselves seemingly in the grip of an evil authority. God shall win and we shall shine.
But if we resist the authority that God has appointed we receive judgement to ourselves.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment(krima) on themselves.
Whoever ranges oneself against or positions oneself against God’s appointed authority will bring judgement upon himself. That judgement does not have to mean that you will go to jail. It can simply mean that you get attacked in the soul realm …what intercessors call receiving Kick-Back.
Kick Back
Receiving Kick Back from opposing the powers of darkness is a sure sign that you are out of order. It may mean that you have been setting yourself up against God’s appointed authority. There is an authority structure in place in God’s creation. Evil powers have their own place in that structure which means they have been appointed by God. Why?
Rom 13:4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
For instance, just because you may know that a group of people practice witchcraft or satanism does not automatically give you the right to go and pray against that coven or group. This principle is seen in the seven sons of Sceva story when the demons in the one being delivered caused that man to rise up and beat the 7 men trying to deliver him. They were defeated and shamed by those demons for they did not have the authority to do it.
Also when Israel went up against Ai after failing to believe Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13, God was not with them and so the kings of Ai defeated the children of Israel in that war.
Suffering for doing good is okay…but suffering kickback because you are out of God’s established authority structure is foolishness. Knowing our sphere and our position in the Kingdom saves us from doing these things.
The enemy knows that we shall come under judgement if we rebel against authority so he tempts us to do just that. Speaking against God’s appointed authority is a form of rebellion. Therefore the enemy must get us speaking against the authority to bring us into Judgement and thus nullify us effectively bringing us on to his team.
I have often wondered why Jesus did not expose the authorities for what historians have told us they were doing. Most of those in leadership were involved in all sorts of sin. Yet Jesus never said anything. He upbraided the Pharisees for sure, but in a way that was not condemning. He said what He said in Matt 23 to give them opportunity to repentance. He did not judge their hearts and condemn them.
Even so today, there is much being revealed about the secret goings-on behind Government figures. It may be true and it may not be. The point is though that these authorities are appointed by God. Thus they answer to God not to you and me. They need our compassion and prayers even though it may be obvious that they do not deserve any. That is why it is called MERCY. If they have shown no mercy God shall decide what happens to them.
God is the One who raises up one and puts down another as Daniel was told in his time. He does not need Robin Hood types who think they can rebel against His appointed authority as if God were on their side. This kind of rebellion was in Judas Iscariot’s heart. He wanted Jesus to throw off the authority of the Roman Empire not submit under it. He ended up joining with the enemy and paid the price.
When we understand that God has placed these authorities over us for a reason we submit to them as unto God. God is sovereign and He is able to protect you even though the authority may be out to kill you unjustly. However if you rebel against that authority by breaking laws or speaking against that authority then you shall receive judgement to your self.
We must have patience to endure and wait to see the outcome God has in mind and not take matters into our own hands.
