On GOVERNMENTS: 2023

Thursday, December 7, 2023

The SPIRITUAL government

Mark 6:1

King James Version

6 And he went out from thence,

and came into his own country;

and his disciples follow him.

How is the world being run today?

Are governments successful?

Are people happy?

Are people being served?

Observe how JESUS created His government.

With specific instructions, glorifying GOD alone.

This, in sharp contrast to how the world is being run.

Matthew 10:1

King James Version

10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples,

he gave them power against unclean spirits,

to cast them out,

and to heal all manner of sickness

and all manner of disease.

Matthew 10:5-6

King James Version

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth,

and commanded them, saying,

Go not into the way of the Gentiles,

and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:7

King James Version

7 And as ye go, preach, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:8

King James Version

8 Heal the sick,

cleanse the lepers,

raise the dead,

cast out devils:

freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:9-10

King James Version

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey,

neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves:

for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Matthew 10:11

King James Version

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter,

enquire who in it is worthy;

and there abide till ye go thence.

Matthew 10:12-13

King James Version

12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it:

but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Matthew 10:14-15

King James Version

14 And whosoever shall not receive you,

nor hear your words,

when ye depart out of that house or city,

shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you,

It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom

and Gomorrha in the day of judgment,

than for that city.

Matthew 10:16

King James Version

16 Behold,

I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:17-18

King James Version

17 But beware of men:

for they will deliver you up to the councils,

and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18 And ye shall be brought

before governors and kings for my sake,

for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:19-20

King James Version

19 But when they deliver you up,

take no thought how or what ye shall speak:

for it shall be given you in that same hour

what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak,

but the Spirit of your Father

which speaketh in you.

Matthew 10:22

King James Version

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:

but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 10:23

King James Version

23 But when they persecute you in this city,

flee ye into another:

for verily I say unto you,

Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel,

till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 10:27

King James Version

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light:

and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye

upon the housetops.

Matthew 10:26

King James Version

26 Fear them not therefore:

for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed;

and hid, that shall not be known.

Matthew 10:28

King James Version

28 And fear not them which kill the body,

but are not able to kill the soul:

but rather fear him which is able to destroy

both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:29-31

King James Version

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

and one of them shall not fall on the ground

without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore,

ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:32-33

King James Version

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father

which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men,

him will I also deny before my Father

which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:34-36

King James Version

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:

I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance

against his father,

and the daughter against her mother,

and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they

of his own household.

Matthew 10:37

King James Version

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me

is not worthy of me:

and he that loveth son or daughter more than me

is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:38

King James Version

38 And he that taketh not his cross,

and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:39

King James Version

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it:

and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:40

King James Version

40 He that receiveth you receiveth me,

and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Matthew 10:41

King James Version

41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet

shall receive a prophet's reward;

and he that receiveth a righteous man

in the name of a righteous man

shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Matthew 10:42

King James Version

42 And whosoever shall give to drink

unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water

only in the name of a disciple,

verily I say unto you,

he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Luke 24:45

King James Version

45 Then opened he their understanding,

that they might understand the scriptures,

Luke 24:46-48

King James Version

46 And said unto them,

Thus it is written,

and thus it behooved Christ to suffer,

and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins

should be preached in his name among all nations,

beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:49-50

King James Version

49 And, behold,

I send the promise of my Father upon you:

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,

until ye be endued with power from on high.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany,

and he lifted up his hands,

and blessed them.

The world's hope is in JESUS.

In having a spiritual government.

With the Triune GOD in it, of it, by it.

If we don't aspire to have such a government, then we'll keep having the governments we've been having.

It's really as simple as that.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

TRUST the permanent

Job 12:12-13

King James Version

12 With the ancient is wisdom;

and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength,

he hath counsel and understanding.

Who can we trust these days?

Especially in these days of chaos?

Where nothing seems to make sense anymore.

Where it seems everyone follows their own desires.

Are our governments trustworthy?

Who really cares for the everyday man?

What does Scripture say?

Psalm 146:3-4

King James Version

3 Put not your trust in princes,

nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His breath goeth forth,

he returneth to his earth;

in that very day his thoughts perish.

SPIRIT and Scripture is certain who we can trust.

On something definite, and permanent:

Psalm 146:5-10

King James Version

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,

whose hope is in the Lord his God:

6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea,

and all that therein is:

which keepeth truth for ever:

7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed:

which giveth food to the hungry.

The Lord looseth the prisoners:

8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind:

the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down:

the Lord loveth the righteous:

9 The Lord preserveth the strangers;

he relieveth the fatherless and widow:

but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10 The Lord shall reign for ever,

even thy God, O Zion,

unto all generations.

Praise ye the Lord.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

STATE of governments

2 Peter 2:17

King James Version

17 These are wells without water,

clouds that are carried with a tempest;

to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

What is your government like?

Would it be something like this?

2 Peter 2:2

King James Version

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways;

by reason of whom the way of truth

shall be evil spoken of.

2 Peter 2:3

King James Version

3 And through covetousness shall they

with feigned words

make merchandise of you:

whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not,

and their damnation slumbereth not.

2 Peter 2:8

King James Version

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them,

in seeing and hearing,

vexed his righteous soul from day to day

with their unlawful deeds;)

2 Peter 2:13

King James Version

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness,

as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

Spots they are and blemishes,

sporting themselves with their own deceivings

while they feast with you;

2 Peter 2:14

King James Version

14 Having eyes full of adultery,

and that cannot cease from sin;

beguiling unstable souls:

an heart they have exercised

with covetous practices;

cursed children:

2 Peter 2:15

King James Version

15 Which have forsaken the right way,

and are gone astray,

following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,

who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2 Peter 2:18

King James Version

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity,

they allure through the lusts of the flesh,

through much wantonness,

those that were clean

escaped from them who live in error.

2 Peter 2:19

King James Version

19 While they promise them liberty,

they themselves are the servants of corruption:

for of whom a man is overcome,

of the same is he brought in bondage.

If your government is like that, don't be surprised.

Such is the state of the world.

It reflects who we follow.

Who we have given our allegiance to.

Believers in JESUS, know how to live, love, and govern.

Unbelievers are ruled by a different god.

And with it, the resulting chaos.

2 Corinthians 4:4

King James Version

4 In whom the god of this world

hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,

who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ephesians 2:2

King James Version

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 6:12

King James Version

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8-9

King James Version

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,

walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished

in your brethren that are in the world.

1 John 2:16

King James Version

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

Revelation 12:12

King James Version

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens,

and ye that dwell in them.

Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!

for the devil is come down unto you,

having great wrath, because he knoweth

that he hath but a short time.

Of course, at any given moment, unbelievers can have a change of heart.

They just have to want it enough.

And be aware of the harm they do.

We started this blog, in the hope of creating GOD-filled governments.

We want to give you truth, through Scripture.

We want to give you hope, through JESUS.

We want to give you guidance, through SPIRIT.

We want to give you real solutions, through GOD.

Monday, December 4, 2023

On SELF-government

1 Corinthians 9:27

King James Version

27 But I keep under my body,

and bring it into subjection:

lest that by any means,

when I have preached to others,

I myself should be a castaway.

Why do governments fail?

Why are governments in chaos?

Why don't people believe in governments?

It's because governments say one thing, and do another.

It's because they are not true to their word.

It's because they enrich themselves.

It's because they have become corrupt.

It's because they don't consult the people.

Governments ignore GOD.

They do not want to follow His laws.

Well, if we are to have good governments, we must obey GOD.

JESUS reminds us Who GOD Is:

Mark 10:18

King James Version

18 And Jesus said unto him,

Why callest thou me good?

there is none good but one, that is, God.

Good governments.

Good governance.

We can achieve all that, through JESUS.

He commands we be perfect.

Matthew 5:48

King James Version

48 Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect.

GOD wants us to be holy.

Leviticus 19:1-2

King James Version

19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel,

and say unto them,

Ye shall be holy:

for I the Lord your God am holy.

For governments to govern well, we start with ourselves.

For us to govern well, we must govern ourselves well first.

Whether we be citizens, or policy makers.

It's all about SELF-government.

Discipline, devotion, deliverance, and demotion.

The first three will be for another post.

Here, we discuss demotion.

Demotion means voluntary humility.

That's the starting point for all change.

JESUS did say:

Matthew 20:16

King James Version

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.

John the Baptist lived to serve JESUS:

John 3:30

King James Version

30 He must increase,

but I must decrease.

Scripture has much to say about serving the LORD.

We cannot serve well, unless our hearts are right with the LORD.

JESUS tells us how:

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying,

The time is fulfilled,

and the kingdom of God is at hand:

repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Matthew 6:24

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one, and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 7:1-5

King James Version

7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge,

ye shall be judged:

and with what measure ye mete,

it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou

the mote that is in thy brother's eye,

but considerest not

the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,

Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;

and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite,

first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;

and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote

out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 18:1-7

King James Version

18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying,

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him,

and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said,

Verily I say unto you,

Except ye be converted,

and become as little children,

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself

as this little child,

the same is greatest

in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive

one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend

one of these little ones which believe in me,

it were better for him that a millstone were hanged

about his neck, and that he were drowned

in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences!

for it must needs be that offences come;

but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

John 3:5-8

King James Version

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Being good, perfect, holy, childlike, and born again, are not in the government's books.

Policy makers would rather be rich, famous, and powerful.

They are governed by intellect, rather than heart.

They are obsessed with vanity.

They want to be adored.

Well, only GOD must be worshiped.

Exodus 20:3-5

King James Version

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,

or that is in the earth beneath,

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,

nor serve them:

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children

unto the third and fourth generation

of them that hate me;

Leviticus 19:4

King James Version

4 Turn ye not unto idols,

nor make to yourselves molten gods:

I am the Lord your God.

Revelation 22:8-9

King James Version

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them.

And when I had heard and seen,

I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel

which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me,

See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant,

and of thy brethren the prophets,

and of them which keep the sayings of this book:

worship God.

To lead well, first, we serve GOD.

Believers are servants to the LORD.

Although JESUS also calls us friends.

John 15:14-15

King James Version

14 Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard of my Father

I have made known unto you.

The objective is to have a PURE heart.

Why else the call to perfection, and holiness?

Even king David prayed for such a heart:

Psalm 51:10-17

King James Version

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

thou God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips;

and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:

thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, thou wilt not despise.

JESUS blesses the pure in heart.

Matthew 5:8

King James Version

8 Blessed are the pure in heart:

for they shall see God.

Aspire to know the laws of GOD.

Aspire to obey His Will.

Aspire to be born again.

Aspire to worship GOD alone.

In the process, you can lead well.

You can create a GOD-centered government -- starting with self.

You can sleep good nights, knowing only GOD governs you.

Apostle Paul gives us a a guide to self-government:

Ephesians 4:14-32

King James Version

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together

and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying of itself in love.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,

that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,

in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened,

being alienated from the life of God

through the ignorance that is in them,

because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling

have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,

to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him,

and have been taught by him,

as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off

concerning the former conversation the old man,

which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man,

which after God

is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not:

let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands the thing which is good,

that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,

and clamour, and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake

hath forgiven you.

Master self -- through CHRIST -- and we can serve others well.

There will be no hypocrisy; only authenticity.

On GOVERNMENTS

Pages

Thursday, December 7, 2023

The SPIRITUAL government

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

TRUST the permanent

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

STATE of governments

Monday, December 4, 2023

On SELF-government

On GOVERNMENTAL perfection