Reflections

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”” Daniel 4:37 NASB2020

The Apostle Paul admonishes us to pray for our leaders so that we may live in peace.  He encouraged this at a time when the Romans ruled.  The church at that time was subject to Roman rule.  The church was being persecuted by both the government and Jewish leaders.  Remember Paul was once one of the ones that persecuted the church.  So, he tells us in Timothy to pray for our leaders.

In the United States of America, we are able to elect our leaders.  We are not under a dictatorship but can vote in free elections.  Whenever, the election season is upon us we as Christians will take sides to support the candidate that we may deem as godlier or just not participate because neither is godly. 

In the past elections we have allowed our dissatisfaction to rule, and we have complained and vilified our leaders instead of taking up our roles as intercessors and praying form them.  We have disqualified those that do not hold our ideals as being of the devil and those that hold our ideals as one being from God.  The scripture clearly states that God is sovereign and can put whomever he chooses as leaders.  Our job is to pray.

The best example we have is Daniel.  God used King Nebuchadnezzar to capture Judah and bring them into captivity.  Daniel was captured and positioned as a wise man in the King’s court.  Daniel did not worship the king or other gods, but King Nebuchadnezzar knew that Daniel heard from his God and had great wisdom.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked Daniel to interpret the dream.  The King tells Daniel what he heard the Lord speaking and asked for interpretation.  The dream is about the downfall of the King so that he may know the Most High God.

““This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And He grants it to whomever He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of people.”” Daniel 4:17 NASB2020

Daniel interprets the dream and is frightened for it is to befall the King.  Daniel wishes that it would not happen and tells the king to repent.  Daniel has such a heart for this evil and wicked king.  God’s word does come to pass, and King Nebuchadnezzar loses his mind and is humbled by God.  Finally, King Nebuchadnezzar comes to his senses and recognizes God.  As a result, he is restored, and this is his testimony:

““But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, But He does according to His will among the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can fend off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the honor of my kingdom, and my state counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.” Daniel 4:34-36 NASB2020

There are many prophetic words about our 2024 election, some are from the soul’s perspective, and some are actually from God.  Remember He is sovereign and can use anyone he wants to bring about His purpose even an evil and wicked ruler.

Our responsibility is to pray and pray for that leader’s salvation.  Daniel prayed for his people and for the King.  Just look at what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.  As a result, the people knew the Sovereign Lord reigned and knew His purpose would stand.

Instead of demonizing our leaders, let us pray for them and pray that they will be God’s instrument in bringing about peace and salvation to our land.  Think of how much influence these candidates would have if they began to proclaim the power of the gospel?  There is no reason for us to fear because God is on our side.  All authority in heaven and on earth belong to Him.  No man or woman will accept the seat of the presidency without God’s permission.  Our Lord reigns.  Be encouraged.

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“But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”” Matthew 8:8-9 NASB2020

The story of the Centurion is a great illustration of faith.  The Centurion’s faith was rooted in a few things.  First, the Centurion believed that Jesus was a healer.  News about Jesus had spread throughout the region.  It is not evident if the Centurion heard any of Jesus’ teachings but he knew that Jesus could heal his servant.  Second, the Centurion knew that Jesus was a man of authority.  The Centurion was a man of authority and knew Jesus also had authority.  The news about Jesus was that He spoke with great authority.  The Centurion must have also heard this about Jesus.  Third, the Centurion must have recognized that Jesus was a holy man.  The Centurion felt that he was unworthy for Jesus to come.  Also, Jesus was a Jew, and the Centurion was a Roman.  However, the Centurion did not say Jesus was not worthy to come to his house, but the Centurion said he was not worthy for Jesus to come.

The Centurion believed because Jesus was a healer and had authority, all Jesus had to do was say the word and the Centurion’s servant would be healed.  Jesus was astonished by this Centurion’s faith and even stated he had not seen this kind of faith in Israel.  We can surmise from this story that many in Israel still did not recognize who Jesus was and the authority that He had to heal the sick and even forgive sins.  Jesus then stated that people from various nations will come and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven and many of the sons of Israel would not and instead be thrown into darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Centurion’s story is powerful because it shows the willingness of this Centurion to humble himself before Jesus to ask for his servant’s healing.  Also, the Centurion’s faith shows his compassion for his servant because he found Jesus and asked for His help.  It is a lesson of faith for all of us.  We must believe that Jesus is able and willing to do what we ask according to His power, authority and will.  We also must believe that He hears us and will answer us.  Finally, it takes humility to admit our own weakness and go to Jesus’ seeking His help in our situations. 

Be encouraged by the Centurion’s story and may it spur your faith.  The Centurion was able to walk up to Jesus and see Him face to face.  The Centurion believed in Jesus because he had seen Jesus for himself and was able to talk to him.  Our faith is even greater because we still believe even when we have not seen Jesus with our own natural eyes.

“Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””  John 20:29 NASB2020

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“When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. Then he approached the altar and ascended it. He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar. He took the bronze altar that was before the Lord in front of the temple between his altar and the Lord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar.”  2 Kings 16:12-14 HCSB

The above scriptures are a part of the story of King Ahaz.  King Ahaz had seen an altar when he was in Damascus.  He had the priest Uriah build a replica of this altar.  Once King Ahaz’s altar was built he had the offerings offered on this altar instead of the altar for God.  Then King Ahaz took the Lord’s Altar and brought it out from the temple to put near his altar.  He only wanted the Lord’s altar for when he wanted to seek guidance from the Lord.

This was an abomination to God.  King Ahaz did other detestable things in regard to removing items from the temple and worshipping other gods.  King Ahaz had no regard for the Holy items set aside for the offerings and worship of God.

We can learn so much from this story.  In Revelation there is a warning at the end of the book that if anyone adds or subtracts from God’s word will suffer the consequences.  As Christians we should view the Bible as sacred and treat the Bible with utmost reverence and respect.  It is not just merely a book.  However, like King Ahaz many just see the Bible as a book of guidance and nothing more.  Instead, our true worship is giving to idols.

The USA Bible contains the King James Version and various US government documents including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of allegiance.  The KJV is also considered public domain so you can do what you like with this version of the Bible without violating any copyright laws.

How can we combine man made documents with the Bible?  First the gospel is not just an American gospel.  The US documents helped to establish the USA as a nation, but the Bible shows us that no nation is everlasting, only the Kingdom of God will endure for all eternity. 

Many Christians see these US documents as sacred texts but even the men that founded this nation left room for these documents to be amended or changed.  It was not to be forever.  The Bible – God’s word remains forever.  Unfortunately, there are Christians who value these documents over the Bible.  Some are willing to die to preserve these government texts.

In his address in Gettysburg, Lincoln makes a profound statement about the USA –  that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Here is what John says in the Gospel of John about Jesus:

“All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:3-5, 10-14 HCSB

As Christian’s our lives belong to Jesus.  Jesus bought us for a price.  It is an abomination to Jesus to take texts created by men and put them in the same framework as the Bible.  We cannot serve two masters.  We cannot give allegiance to two different entities.  We cannot serve God and mammon.

If we died with Christ, then we will be raised with Him on the last day.  We have been adopted into God’s kingdom and we eagerly wait for Jesus’ return.  For this reason, how could we hold any text apart from the Bible as sacred?

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