Third
Outpost: The State (Civil Governance)
Prayer: Lord
God, heavenly Father, We thank You that unto this time You have
granted us peace and graciously spared us from war and foreign
dominion. We pray, graciously let us continue to live in Your fear
according to Your will, giving no cause for wars or other punishment;
govern and direct our leaders, that they may not hinder the obedience
due to You, but maintain righteousness, that we may enjoy happiness
and blessing under their government; through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now
and
forever. Amen.
Review
the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer as well as the
Meaning and “What is meant by daily bread?”
A very popular American false
doctrine was authored by Thomas Paine in his book Common Sense. He
wrote “society in every state is a blessing, but government,
even in its best state, is but a necessary evil.”
But
God calls civil governance “good” even though the people holding
positions of authority are sinners, some believers, most
unbelievers—and even if an evil tyrant is the head of government he
is still to be revered as God's servant, prayed for, and obeyed (for
example, Consider Daniel, or God's use of the Medes Isaiah 13:17-22,
His use of Assyria to punish Israel Isaiah 9:8-10:20, and many many
more examples)
The
State, also called Civil Government, was the third outpost
established by God in this sinful world. Though civil government is
filled by corrupt sinful men,
