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The answer is “Yes!” God…

“…controls the course of world events; he removes kings and

sets up other kings…”

-Daniel 2:21 (NLT)

God is with every good leader:

Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead

with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.

-Proverbs 8:15-16 (NLT)

Sadly, not every king was with God; some…

…did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him…He did more to

provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other

kings of Israel before him.

-1 Kings 16:30, 33 (NLT)

What are we supposed to do when we get a “bad” leader?

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority

have been placed there by God.

-Romans 8:1

Prayer is a powerful change agent:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for

kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by

godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.

- 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NLT)

God can change what we cannot:

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it

wherever he pleases.

- Proverbs 21:1 (NLT)

The purpose of human authorities:

For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.

For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those

who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish

accusations against you.

The purpose of human authorities:

For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an

excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters.

Fear God, and respect the king.

-I Peter 2:13-17

Respect and submit…even when it is hard:

You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all

respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.

-1 Peter 2:13-19 (NLT)

How Jesus taught us to respond:But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are

sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier

demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

- Matthew 5:39-41 (NLT)

The conclusion of the matter:

So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what

God has instituted, and they will be punished.

-Romans 13:2

If you aren’t doing anything wrong…

For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and

they will honor you.

-Romans 3:3

Governing authorities are God’s good servants?

But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of

punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to

avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

-Romans 13:4-5

We may not like it, but we have to do it!

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe

them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in

authority. -Romans 13:1-7 (NLT)

Pay whatever belongs to Caesar (and to God!):

“Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to

God what belongs to God.”

-Luke 20:24b-25 (NLT)

Question:So when is “civil disobedience”

warranted?

The Lord is in charge…not us:

This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed

you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, “I will never harm

the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one…”

The Lord is in charge…not us:

May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for

what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb

says, “From evil people come evil deeds.” So you can be sure I will never harm

you.”

-1 Samuel 24:10, 12-13 (NLT)

We are not God; we cannot see His ultimate intent:

Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended

it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many

people.

-Genesis 50:19-20 (NLT)

No king has more authority/power than God:

“Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given

to you from above.”

-John 19:10-11a (NLT)

Bad stuff happens…and sometimes it really is God’s will:

“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask

my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the

Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

-Matthew 26:52-54 (NLT)

A good reminder:“My thoughts are nothing like your

thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could

imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are

higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

-Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

A truth:It is our responsibility to submit to the

authorities that God has placed…UNLESS

they require us to do something that is IMMORAL, ILLEGAL, or

AGAINST THE LAWS of GOD

Civil disobedience for life:When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If

the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live. But because the midwives

feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to

live, too.

-Exodus 1:16-17 (NLT)

Civil disobedience for worship:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power,

Your Majesty.”

Civil disobedience for worship:

“But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will

never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

-Daniel 3:16-18 (NLT)

Civil disobedience for worship:

When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt

down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

-Daniel 6:10 (NLT)

Civil disobedience for evangelism:

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you

rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have

seen and heard.”

-Acts 4:19-20 (NLT)