Ordained Power

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.

When Paul speaks of this, there is the recognition of the fact that, if God had not allowed it to be so, then it would not be in place. In the scriptures of the Old Testament, you will find instances where God permitted both good and evil rulers of nations to be in that position of leadership in order to fulfill a certain purpose.

Some examples are:

~ Joseph being one who was sold by his brothers as a slave to Egypt. Later after the Pharaoh appointed Joseph as governor of Egypt, he told his brothers (whom he forgave):

Genesis 45:5-8 - Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

~ Years later another Pharaoh, who was king of Egypt during the time of Moses when God brought Israel out of Egypt, Of this king, God said:

Romans 9:17 - For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

~ Sennacherib, an Assyrian king, who had been preparing to go up against the city of Jerusalem was reproved by God saying to the king:

Isaiah 37:26 - Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.

~ Cyrus, a Persian king, was chosen by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem as is found in

Ezra 1:1-2 - Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Isaiah 44:24, 28 - Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself; That saith of Cyrus, He is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

These were examples of people whom God either placed in positions of power or simply allowed them to be there in order to fulfill His purpose.

However, when Paul refers to the higher powers in this chapter, one must look at the scriptures in its context.

When we become Christians (Christ followers) we come under God's government, not worldly government. God does not contradict Himself. He would not tell us not to be conformed to the world, to flee from sin in one instance, and in another tell us to obey those who are telling us it is okay to sin, and who make laws commanding people to condone the sin that is committed. God is not contradictory! There is, of course, the understanding that one must obey the basic laws of the land, and not disrespect positions of authority – to a king, one might say Your Majesty, or Mr. President to a president, a judge is addressed as Your Honor and one will stand in their presence because these things show respect for their authority. God is not against human authority, but if a leader of a nation in any capacity is an evil one, then God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11), and He will judge them. However, to keep to the point – of what power Paul is speaking in this chapter...

Romans chapter 13 verse 2 states:

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

The followers of Christ will not be condemned for rejecting the sin that is being allowed and promoted by these governments For what fellowship hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Romans 13 Verse 13 continues:

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:

The rulers in a government that serve the will of the sinful flesh, is a government that is contrary to the will of God, they will not reprove the unfruitful works of darkness, nor will they be a terror to evil works, but will eventually come against good and those who do good in full force. It is only a matter of time.

Be careful what you teach, be careful what you believe. Read the full context of the scriptures and you will see more clearly what God is saying to us through His servant Paul.

The rulers of God are those who rule with a Godly leadership.

There is a power and authority ordained and led by man, and there is that which is of God, by God and for God alone – through which God alone will be glorified, because that is a nation whose God is the LORD. This power and authority is one that ought to be feared, because the principles, and morals are set in place by One whose standards never change, but have been established forever. Those who follow in this way are not guided by their own fluctuating feelings, but by the ever-stable Rock who is the Lord God Almighty.

A nation / group of people whose god is not the LORD, because they serve only themselves, will be made manifest through their actions as well. This power and authority is not to be feared, for they hold no principles, nor morals. Their god is their belly or other fleshly desires. Because they are guided by these feelings and emotions, there is not a standard to follow, due to the instability of their desire. The thoughts and ideas that come into their minds are unbridled, undisciplined, thus permitting them, in their own minds to live in what they consider to be “freedom” - a life without boundaries.

Philippians 3:17-19 - Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Anything left undisciplined (as is seen in nature) will become a hindrance if not harmful or destructive to the surrounding area. This truth placed by God in our natural surroundings is also true for man. The discipline of man by God in the ways of God, is not bondage, but freedom. Freedom to be prosperous, to bear fruit and multiply, to replenish the earth!

Romans 13:1-5 - 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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?

Let us pay attention to these words,

do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

The sword is the Word of God. This person is a minister of God, meaning he ministers God to the people. This minister also has the authority of God to execute wrath (become angry with Godly zeal for the house of God) with the person who does evil [as Jesus did of whom it was written the zeal of Thine House has eaten Me up - Psalm 69:9, John 2:17]. For this reason you must be under subjection to them, not because they might be angered, but also for the sake of having a clean conscience before God.

There are not many ministers today (and I don't know if there are any really) who become truly angered by sin in their congregations. The majority of church leaders are so focused on preaching a “good sermon” that the people would love, or one of encouragement and advice for living, among other topics, that they forget that the reproof of instruction is the way of life (Proverbs 6:23). There are times, like now, when this reproof becomes of absolute necessity in order to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

The message of repentance unto salvation has become lost amid the inspirational speeches and applause. In the process, because the vision and purpose of the cross life is no longer the center of attention, though in a subtle manner, it has become easier to be yielding to the way of the world instead of wielding the Sword of the Word to bring everything (including our thoughts) under submission to Christ. The lack of correct focus has led many astray and continues to do so causing many to be led by a false light.

The Lord God tells us it is because of subtly false teaching that many will be led to worship the beast and take its mark. It is through teachers who appear to be on the side of the sheep, that very many will be led astray and souls will be lost.

Revelation 13:11-18 - And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Be careful to read the words of the Lord for yourselves. Do not look to signs and wonders alone in order to believe, for Jesus has told us, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29). Become a true believer and live by faith in God and in His word, not by sight or other senses or feelings. If you are in Christ, and you seek Him with sincerity and with all of your heart, He will lead you into all Truth by His Holy Spirit so you will not be deceived, but discerning.

Follow and submit to the government of the Kingdom of God that He may be glorified.