Lesson outline for July 3, 2025
God’s Government
- Who established government on the earth?
- What is the purpose of government?
- What is the purpose of God’s government?
- Is the “church” a governmental body?
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- Government = #H4951 “misra” – 1) rule, dominion, government; from the root #H8280 “sara” power, have power as a prince (Isa 9:6,7)
- Authority = #G1849 “exousia” 1) power of rule or government, 2) judicial decisions, 3) manage affairs
- Church = #G1577 “ekklesia” – an assembly, a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating; 2) Assembly body of believers – not a building; 3) used among the Greeks and Romans to describe a body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of State;
The green is the author’s notes in the verses below
God established government and earthly governments
Gen 1:26 ESV – 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Isa 9:6-7 ESV – “6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
Psa 2:2-4, 10-12 ESV – “2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. … 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Dan 2:20-21 ESV – “20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding…,”
- God established man to govern and rule; He declared this in Genesis 1 and amplifies it throughout His word
- Before God established kings, who established laws? God
- God establishes and removes governments, rulers, kings, presidents, etc, on His timeline and good pleasure
- Man is not supposed to establish laws civil and criminal laws based on His moral laws (I’m not saying Jewish ceremonial law, and tradition)
- What were and are all governing rulers supposed to use as their lawbook? God’s law, His instructions, His commandments (I’m not saying your salvation and deliverance from eternal damnation are because we are held to the “law”)
Purpose of Government
U.S. – “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Preamble, U.S. Constitution)
Webster – body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: such as: the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency
Isa 33:22 ESV – “For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.”
- What are our three branches of government – Judicial, Legislative and Executive; this is no accident, our forefathers were deliberate
Thought for you – Distraction leads to destruction
Paul and Peter descriptions
Rom 13:1-5 ESV – “1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
1 Pet 2:13-16 ESV – “13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
- God’s purpose for earthly government – Good of the people, prosperity, defend the people, keep order, earthly justice, wage just wars, freedom, etc
- Who is the government of the U.S. – go back up and read the Preamble, U.S. Constitution
- God gives us what we ask for – gave us kings; check out 1 Sam 8 on Gud warning us what coming outside His rule would bring; and read Rom 1:18-32 to understand more on God turning us over to our desires
What did Jesus say regarding His Government
Matt 16:13-19 ESV – “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
- Critical / 1st Order doctrine on salvation – salvation is a personal choice
- Jesus Christ is the rock He is building His Church – the Body of Christ – on
- What does Jesus say He is going to give His church? Authority
- “Keys of the kingdom” are given to people of authority – A “Chamberlain” was a senior royal official in charge of managing a royal household – Christians are the managers, citizens, ambassadors – persons of royal authority of Jesus Christ’s Church
- Why is Jesus giving His Church authority? So Satan won’t prevail over Jesus Christ’s Church
- The location Jesus spoke at Caesarea Philippi had a purpose – do some research on this area and what pagan gods were worshipped at this location; and for what purpose did the pagans worship – the pagans were opening spiritual doors, gates and accesses
- How are you and I doing as citizens and royal managers of God’s governmental body?
- What is binding and loosing on earth and heaven – we need to know our authority Jesus gives born-again believers
Final thoughts
- Distractions in warfare lead to destruction; and it’s the same in spiritual warfare
- “We the believers” are citizens of God’s government, the Body of Christ, the Ekklesia – we are called to honor God’s government, to bring and manage His government on earth as it is in heaven
- God provided us instructions on how to govern, and be governed
- We are to fear the LORD, before man
- Jesus has given us authority to fight the battle spiritually – to advance His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven
- While Jesus gained victory over Satan at Calvary; we are the enforcers of the victory – are you enforcing the victory in your life? Over your family and where you walk daily? – it’s a spiritual enforcement
- Are we pledging our Lives, Fortunes and Sacred Honor to serve and advance God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven
United States Independence Day Emphasis
- Our forefathers were well read and integrated Isa 33:22 into the U.S. Constitution; they were not encumbered by all the distractions of our day- mobile phones, social media influencers for self-gain, all manner of entertainment, etc
- The signers of the Declaration of Independence declared “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
- Our forefather’s recognized God and His word as their Supreme Authority
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson Quotes to keep in mind
“The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“Power always thinks… that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all his laws.” ~ (John Adams, Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson (1959). “The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams. 1812-1826”)
“The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.” ~ John Adams
“We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!” ~ John Adams
“We have no Constitution which functions in the absence of a moral people” ~ John Adams
“There is no justification for taking away individuals’ freedom in the guise of public safety.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“When you abandon freedom to achieve security, you lose both and deserve neither.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“The federal government is our servant, not our master.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
