Sermon Romans Chapter 13

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[2] The title of the sermon today is “ROMANS CHAPTER 13.”

Present Your Body A Living Sacrifice

• In the last chapter, Romans Chapter 12, we learned that we should PRESENT our bodies to God as a LIVING sacrifice.

[3] Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• We do this for God because he has saved us and it’s a reasonable service that we can do for him.
• What else did we learn?
• We learned that we shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.
• We are to think soberly at all times no matter what our office is within the body of Christ.
• Different gifts are given to us by God, and we need to use them.

We learned to let love be without dissimulation. In other words, don’t let love be fake.

• In order to love, you MUST greatly hate that which is evil. That’s what God does, and he is love.
• God hates sin of all type, and we need to hate sin of all type too. A lie is a sin that God hates.
• To hate evil, we need to get away from it. We don’t repay evil with evil. That’s not love.
• CLEAVING or sticking to that which is good is true love.
• And that means telling someone the truth from God’s word no matter if it hurts or offends them.
• We are to do so with kindness. We aren’t to be lazy OR slothful BUT serve the Lord with a fervent spirit.
• We are to be excited about God and serving him because we realize what we have now.

We are to be patient. Instant in prayer. Hospitable to the saints and giving to them when needed.

• We are to bless the people who persecute us and not curse those people.
• Evil cannot be overcome with more evil. We overcome evil with good.
• We rejoice when we need to rejoice with each other. We weep when we need to weep with each other.
• We MUST be honest in the sight of all men. We don’t do things that don’t appear to be honest.
• As much as we can, we should live in peace one with another.
• Don’t let others bother you so much that you want revenge. God says, “Vengeance is mine!!!”

[4] Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

• And understand that no one can pay someone back better than God Almighty. He does it perfectly.
• So let it go because you can’t do a better job than God.
• With YOUR enemies, feed them when they’re hungry. Give them drink when they’re thirsty.
• Don’t let evil overcome you. You can do that by constantly reading the word of God. That’s one way.
• With that quick summary of Romans Chapter 12, let’s start there in verse 1 of Romans Chapter 13.

[5] Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

• Let every soul be SUBJECT unto the HIGHER POWERS. Subject means to be under the power of another.
• All of us are under the HIGHER POWERS of other things.
• But, let’s get this straight today because there’s false teaching that says we MUST do whatever the governor says, or whatever the police say, or whatever the President says.
• That’s false, and I’m going to show you with examples from the Bible.
• That’s not what Romans 13 verse 1 means.

Know The Chain Of Command

Obviously, there are different levels of the powers. For example, the police have a chain of command.

• The chief of police for that police department is the highest power.
• But, the chief of police works for the mayor and city officials.
• But the mayor doesn’t have the power to give commands to the police officers or the chief of police.
• But the mayor can fire the chief of police any time.
• The chief of police can choose to do what he/she thinks is right or choose to do what the mayor wants.

The United States military has a chain of command with higher powers.

• That chain gets very large and each lower power reports to the higher power.
• But, if the Secretary of Defense wants something, the next power implements it and so on.
• The command goes all the way down the line to the lowest ranking enlisted member.
• In our United States government, we have the legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch.

We have all of these people with powers, but then we have the constitution.

• The constitution is the SUPREME LAW of the United States. After God, the constitution is next for you.
• It is the source of all government powers and it protects our fundamental rights as citizens.
• When a governor attempts to create his or her own authority that goes against the constitution:
• We can choose to submit to that governor or submit to the HIGHER POWER of the constitution.
• The constitution is a higher power over a police officer, the chief of police, the mayor, the governor, the military, congress, or the President.
• It’s higher than all of those combined. Those people take OATHS to follow the constitution.

So, the constitution may be considered the supreme law of the United States, but GOD is the highest power of all.

• “For there is NO POWER but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God.”
• So, you have all these higher powers in your life. The law of the land is an example.
• You need to follow the law as it is a higher power. You need to submit to police or you can get shot.
• Now, if the police are asking you to do something against God’s law, what are you supposed to do?
• Well, you ask yourself, WHO IS THE HIGHER POWER? And that’s what you follow.
• Because you’re going to run into conflicts in your life. One power says to do this.
• Another says the opposite. You need to know which one to follow. Which is the higher power?

For example, the mayor of Shelbyville, KY is mayor with specific powers over the small town of Shelbyville, KY.

• The governor of Kentucky is governor with specific powers over the state of Kentucky.
• The President of the United States of America is president with specific powers over the United States.
• We have powers that balance the power in this country and it was designed that way for a reason.
• But, then you need to hear this today.

God Almighty Is The Most High

[6] Genesis 14:19-20 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

• God is “THE MOST HIGH.” He is the possessor of heaven and earth.
• “How does it feel to know you’re a child of the King? Your heavenly Father owns everything.”

[7] 2 Samuel 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

• GOD IS THE MOST HIGH POWER. There is none higher than God. That’s why he’s in heaven.
• He’s far above any other power so we MUST submit to his power when there’s a conflict.
• When there is no conflict with the law of God, we are to submit to the higher powers.
• When a new law is made that conflicts with the constitution, we are to follow the constitution.
• But, no matter what, when conflict arises with God’s law, GOD WINS!!!

[8] Acts 7:48-50 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

• In other words, God is the boss. He doesn’t dwell in fancy buildings made with hands.
• HEAVEN IS HIS THRONE and the earth is his footstool. So, all powers are beneath the MOST HIGH.
• When the Bible says to subject unto the higher powers, GOD IS THE HIGHEST POWER!!!
• If you submit to a earthly power and go against the heavenly power, you’ve broken that commandment.
• When conflict arises, God always wins that conflict you might be in.
• We follow the law of the land UNLESS it conflicts with God’s laws.

For example, if a new law was put in power that says all speed limits in Kentucky will be 25 miles per hour.

• This doesn’t conflict with the constitution of the United States.
• This doesn’t conflict with the Bible. So, we follow that law as an example.
• Romans Chapter 13 is telling us that GOD IS ALL POWERFUL. It’s not teaching us to submit to evil.
• “Well, the governor said to put all male babies to death. So, I’m going to do what the Bible says.”
• “I’m going to do what the governor says.” NO!!! That’s not what the Bible says!!!
• You’re going to see that today with all the examples from the Bible.

God didn’t put the evil kings of Israel and Judah in power. He didn’t choose those evil and wicked rulers.

• Now, he did choose leaders in the Bible. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua.
• He didn’t want kings as leaders. His way is perfect, but the people didn’t want that.
• Let’s keep going in Romans Chapter 13 verse 2.

[9] Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

• If a ruler aligns with God’s laws, do what he or she says. If not, Don’t resist the power and the ordinance of God.
• An ordinance is a rule or law. If a law goes against God’s law, then it’s not from God.
• And you aren’t resisting the ORDINANCE OF GOD.
• When you resist God’s law that says to believe what he says, you receive damnation.
• If you choose to follow a human law that conflicts with God’s law, do you think he’ll be happy?
• That’s not what this means. YOU ALWAYS SUBMIT TO THE HIGHER POWERS.
• God is the highest. That means if another law conflicts with his law, you choose to follow his law.

Calvinism Is An Evil Doctrine From Satan

Some so-called “Christian” false doctrines like CALVINISM teach that God chose everything.

• God chose all the rulers in this world and you must do whatever the rulers in this world tell you.
• They say that God chose all the evil rulers to do evil and wicked.
• They say God chose child molesters to do evil and wicked things.
• God didn’t ordain evil and wicked rulers like Satan. He is a ruler in this world.
• God won’t ordain the antichrist in the future. He didn’t choose the antichrist. SATAN does.
• God doesn’t tell you to do what the antichrist tells you. He will be THE TOP RULER in this world.
• Should you take the mark of the beast because the antichrist says so? NO!!!
• If you follow the false interpretation of Romans Chapter 13, then you would.

In this country today, we don’t live under a theocracy like they did in the time of Moses.

• GOD WAS THE KING OVER ISRAEL at that time. He was their leader on earth.
• He chose the judges and the other leaders. But then the people wanted a king.
• They didn’t want God as their king. And that’s when theocracy ended with God as king for them.
• When God was king over them on earth, they had to follow all his rules.
• In the United States now, we don’t have God as our earthly king. We have a government that rules.

When someone commits a sin worthy of death according to the Bible, we don’t put them to death.

• As individuals, we don’t put them to death. We follow the laws of the land here.
• We don’t take the law into our own hands and put people to death for specific sins.
• When God was the earthly king in the theocracy, they put people to death as God instructed.

[10] Numbers 15:32-34 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

• The man was breaking the LAW OF GOD that was punishable by death.

[11] Numbers 15:35-36 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

• We don’t do that today because there’s a law of the land. We can’t do that as a people.
• God isn’t the king over the United States. If he were, I guarantee you that the law would be kept.
• Our law doesn’t say that I can put someone to death on my own. The government can.
• Even in Numbers Chapter 15, the people or the congregation put the person to death.
• We the people are the United States of America. We don’t do things as individuals or groups.
• The higher powers can put people to death. You don’t take the law into your own hands.

When Jesus comes back for the 1,000 year reign, he will physically be king over the earth.

• And the law of the Lord will be the law of the land. There will be no conflicts.
• So, the entire earth will follow the law of the LORD just as Moses and the children of Israel did.

[12] Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

• Now, do you see where this is going? People take verse 1 and 2 and stop there.
• They say, “YOU MUST DO WHATEVER THE AUTHORITIES TELL YOU TO DO.”
• The rulers God ordains are not a terror to good works BUT to the evil. Do you see that?
• God doesn’t choose evil and wicked rulers.

[13] 2 Kings 11:1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

• Do you think God chose Athaliah to be the ruler over JUDAH? She ruled six years.
• Why? She killed all the children of the royal line. God didn’t choose her. She was wicked and evil.
• I want to read Romans 13 verses 3 and 4 again.

[14] Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

• God’s ordained rulers are a TERROR TO THE EVIL. I don’t see many rulers that do that today.
• Most of the rulers are EVIL themselves so they aren’t ordained of God.
• For example, do you think Andy Beshear who approves of murdering babies is chosen by God?
• He’s in the same category as Athaliah. He’s evil and wicked.
• When we do evil, we’re supposed to be afraid because of the rulers God has chosen.
• God put that ruler there to be a revenger for him and to execute wrath upon the evil and wicked people.

Sodomy Is A Choice And Is Not Natural

For example, sodomy is a great sin according to the Bible. This means you do get a choice.

• That’s how I know it’s a choice. God doesn’t make people that way.
• A good ruler will execute wrath upon those people.

[15] 1 Kings 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

• And if you think it’s okay, then you’re in direct opposition to God Almighty.
• You aren’t submitting to the higher powers. “Well, I think it’s okay.” Well, you aren’t God.
• People have choices to make. God doesn’t create people as abominations.

For example, people don’t get to choose their race. RACE DOESN’T MATTER.

• It doesn’t matter if someone is red, yellow, black, brown, or white. God doesn’t care.
• He chose that for someone, and when you think someone is lesser because of what God chose, that’s evil.
• But when it comes to CHOICES to sin, God didn’t make you do that.
• God didn’t make someone choose the same sex as their preference. He didn’t build that into you.
• God chose your gender. If you don’t like it, you’re in direct opposition to God.

And people are teaching these evil things.

• For example, some people think that black people are made to be evil. They don’t get a choice.
• No, they get a choice. And they aren’t evil. They can make choices just like I can to be evil.
• White supremacists are vile and wicked people that make me want to throw up. They’re trash.
• God didn’t make you better because of the color of your skin. It’s sickening.
• God doesn’t say it’s evil to be red, yellow, black, brown, or white. You don’t get a choice.
• But God does say that sodomy is wicked and evil. This means that you get a choice.

And you can submit to the higher powers or you can choose your own way.

• God is the HIGHEST POWER, and I will choose to believe that sodomy is wicked and evil like he says.
• Racism is a choice. Racism is evil and wicked. Don’t judge people by the color of their skin.
• You get that choice. If you treat people different because of their skin color, you’re evil. Don’t do it.
• And that goes both ways. If someone breaks the law, skin color doesn’t matter.
• They all get prosecuted the same way to the same extent and it shouldn’t be based on politics and games.

[16] Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

• We need to be subject to the higher powers not only for wrath, but for CONSCIENCE sake.
• If God chooses a good ruler, then we need to obey that ruler as he represents God.
• This is for your conscience sake. Don’t go up against God’s chosen rulers.

[17] Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

[18] Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

• For your conscience sake, don’t go up against God. Don’t sin against God. Live honestly for God and men.
• No matter what, we don’t repay evil with evil. Always do good in the sight of God.
• Now, if you’re following God and that offends man, then so be it. God is the higher power.
• For example, Daniel praying to God offended all of the other rulers.

[19] Daniel 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

• There was a law in effect that said Daniel couldn’t pray to God. Did Daniel follow that law?
• No, he didn’t. He was thrown into the lion’s den. Why did Daniel not follow that law?
• Daniel had respect to King Darius. BUT DANIEL submitted to the HIGHER POWERS. God is the most high.

[20] Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

• Daniel said, “O KING, I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO HURT YOU.”
• In other words, Daniel wasn’t doing anything wrong when he prayed to God.
• It doesn’t matter what the law of the land says. He went to his own private room and prayed to God.
• He didn’t force it on anyone else. He didn’t hurt the King by praying to God.
• We also shouldn’t force prayer on anyone else. God doesn’t. Don’t force your religion on others.
• Daniel never did. But he wasn’t going to allow a law to tell him that he couldn’t pray to God.

God Commands Us To Pray So Why Stop?

[21] 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

• God commands us to pray. Daniel prayed. The law of the land doesn’t diminish God’s laws.

[22] Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

• You don’t get to add to it. You don’t get to diminish from it.
• God didn’t say to go pray in public and make everyone else join in.
• Daniel didn’t do that. If he did, that would have added hurt to King Darius.
• God didn’t command Daniel to make a HUGE PUBLIC PRAYER.

[23] Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

• Jesus commands us to enter into thy closet, shut the door, and pray to the Father in secret.
• Daniel went into his room and prayed. He didn’t force it on anyone else.
• He broke the law of the land but kept God’s law and THAT is the most important.

[24] Romans 13:6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

• Pay your tribute to the rulers. Pay your taxes.
• It is the law of the land and God doesn’t say not to pay them.
• Your tax money goes to good things, and it goes to bad things. But you’re not deciding where they go.
• The rulers are deciding. If they use your tax money in an evil way, God knows.
• And remember, God owns everything. He’ll take care of it. He repays evil with evil. Not us.

[25] Matthew 17:24-26 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

• Jesus and Peter come to Capernaum.
• The tribute collectors come to Peter and say, “Is Jesus going to pay or not?”
• Let’s see what Jesus does. Is he going to pay this tribute?

[26] Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

• Jesus says, “I don’t want to offend them so we’ll pay.” It doesn’t hurt to pay the tribute.
• He wasn’t breaking one of God’s laws by paying the tribute. He got the money from a fish.

[27] Matthew 22:17-21 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

• Some people think it’s unconstitutional to pay taxes. Our powers have determined it’s not.
• You can argue that all day long, but the powers say that we must pay our tribute or our taxes.
• God is the highest power, and he also agrees. Pay your taxes. We use the money.
• We get paid with that money. We use the roads. We use the buildings. We use the services.

Pay Your Dues Is A Command From God

[28] Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

• We pay our dues. We pay our bills. When we owe someone, we take care of it.
• When we are to fear someone, we fear them because God put them in power.
• We don’t fear the evil rulers. We give honor to the good rulers who God ordained.

[29] 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

• They feared Samuel because was obviously chosen by God.

[30] Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• We have masters according to the flesh. I have many bosses at work.
• When they tell me to do something, I do it even if it doesn’t make sense to me.
• Sometimes they have another reason that I don’t know about.
• So I do what they ask as long as it doesn’t go against God’s word.

[31] Ephesians 6:6-8 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

• And I do what my managers tell me to do because God asked me to it that way.
• I don’t do it to please men but to please God. And then he takes care of everything else.
• Don’t always be rebellious and pushing back against the powers that are above you.
• Do what your boss needs you to do because God said so. Than, you’ll please God.
• Well, what if your boss isn’t a good boss? What if he or she doesn’t know what they’re doing?
• What if they get angry at you without a cause?

[32] 1 Peter 2:18-20 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

• So, if you’re doing a great job and working hard and you just can’t make your boss happy, take it.
• When they get angry at you, take it, and keep going. THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
• And you’re really working for God. Remember that in your life. Yes, it’s difficult.
• Take it from your boss. Get over it. And keep working hard with everything you have.
• Many of those managers will see that they were wrong without you letting them know.
• And then they will respect you more than ever and maybe even become your best friend.
• What other powers do we have? Children need to listen to this one.

[33] Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

• Fear your dad and your mom because God said so.
• Do what they ask as long as it doesn’t go against God’s commands.
• If it does, God’s laws ARE HIGH ABOVE the commands of your dad and mom.

[34] Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

• Never do evil for any reason. If I ask Callie to help me mow the grass, that’s not against God’s law.
• She should do what I ask. If Pam needs help cleaning, they should help.
• HONOR your parents if they deserve the honor. If they’re evil and wicked, they don’t deserve it.
• If they worship Satan, and they command you to worship him also. YOU DO NOT HONOR THAT.
• Same thing with wives and their husbands. Don’t do evil because your husband asks you to.

Your Husband Or Wife Is Not Above God

[35] Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

• Don’t always owe someone for something they’ve done for you. “I’ll pay you back.”
• And then you never pay them back. Don’t keep things over people either.
• “Well, I done this for you so now you owe me.” No, just help people and don’t expect something out of it.
• Instead, love one another. Pay what you owe when you owe it. Don’t let it go on and on.
• This creates problems. When you owe someone, pay it. LOVE is following God’s commandments.
• “For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Treat people right. Don’t do evil to people.
• What does that mean? FOLLOW THE LAWS OF GOD, and you automatically love people by doing so.

[36] Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

• If you love another man, you won’t take his wife. You won’t kill him. You won’t steal from him.
• You won’t lie about him, and you won’t want what he has.
• Every commandment is rolled into one: “THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.”
• It’s not fake love. You don’t love evil and wicked people either. If you accept child molesters, that’s evil.
• “Oh yeah, we love all people in this community. We welcome child molesters into our community.”
• No, that’s not loving to all the children around. That means you HATE the children and love the EVIL.
• Do you see the difference? You aren’t to love everyone no matter what.
• We are to cleave to that which is good and GREATLY HATE that which is evil.
• LOVE IS FOLLOWING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS.

[37] Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

• God himself calls that evil and wicked. You don’t love by accepting this into your life.
• You LOVE by rejecting evil and wicked things and the evil and wicked people too.
• If you love that sin, that’s evil the Bible says. We are to greatly hate evil.
• So, love thy neighbor as thyself doesn’t mean to love evil and support sin.
• “Well, my neighbor was doing heroin and asked me if I wanted to have some heroin too.”
• “So, I wanted to be a good neighbor and not offend them.” That’s not loving your neighbor.

Loving your neighbor would be giving them the GOSPEL and helping them get away from heroin.

• Loving your neighbor is telling them the truth. It’s not joining and approving of everything they do.
• For some reason, that’s what people in this world think that means. It’s not.

[38] 2 John 5-6 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

• I’m up here because I love you. I want you to know the truth in the Bible.
• I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for others. God commanded that we do this.
• LOVE is walking after God’s commandments.
• It’s not some fake love where I say, “I love you” and then lie to you to make you happy.
• When I lie to you, it’s not helping you at all. Telling you the truth is what God wants. That is a command.

[39] Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

• Following God’s law does not work ILL or BAD or EVIL to your neighbor.
• When the government puts a serial killer to death, that’s BEST for the citizens.
• If the government would put kidnappers to death like God’s law says, that’s best for all citizens.
• What’s the definition of love? “Therefore LOVE is the fulfilling of the law.”
• When rioters vandalize a store and steal from that store, that’s not loving at all.
• That’s breaking God’s laws. When someone murders someone, that’s not loving at all.
• Vandalizing, stealing, and murder are crimes. Murder is the greater crime, but the others are still crimes.

[40] Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

• We are in the last days. The last days are after God pours out his Spirit upon all flesh.
• That’s already happened so the DAY OF THE LORD is getting closer and closer.
• “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep.”
• We’re getting closer and closer to that exact moment of being saved.

Jesus Is Coming Quickly So Be Ready

[41] Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

• The Bible tells us that the time is short. Jesus is coming quickly. The last days are here.
• Once the tribulation begins, then we’ll know that the time is very near.

[42] Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

• In other words, you now see the light. Take the light and put that on each day. THE DAY IS AT HAND.

[43] 1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

• The darkness is past. Thank God. Let your true light now shine.
• “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

[44] Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

• WALK HONESTLY and in the light. Do not riot. Do not be drunk. Not in chambering.
• That’s the only time the word chambering is used in the Bible.
• Chambering is lewdness, lust, fornication, idolatry, shamelessness.
• Not in wantonness. This means you have no restraint of anything. You just do whatever you want.
• “Oh, I see a jewelry store. I’m going to break in and take what I want.”
• God says that you don’t get whatever you want. You must have restraint.
• Don’t walk in strife. Don’t be in opposition to everything. Don’t envy others for what they have.

Walk honestly as in the day. When you’re out at night, this is when evil happens.

• During the day, the light is shining. People can’t hide so easily while doing bad things.
• There’s no reason to be out late at night. There is darkness at night, and you can hide easier.
• Theft, burglaries, night clubs. They aren’t called day clubs. Things are done in darkness.
• People can’t see as good in the dark. You can hide much easier in the corners of a night club
• There’s little light. What you do isn’t out in the light for all to see.

[45] John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

[46] 1 Thessalonians 5:7 For they that sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

• You can be a drunk at night and no one would know because you don’t do it in the light of the day.
• The night helps people to hide who they really are from others.
• A thief can get away with things much easier in the night.

[47] Exodus 22:2-3 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

• If a thief is doing something at night, it’s very difficult to see what they’re doing.
• If someone is seen in the night attempting to break into a house or through a gate, it appears as evil.
• If someone smites that person because it appears they are a thief in the night, there is no punishment for the person who smote the so-called thief.
• Why is that? Most people aren’t going to break in secretly during the middle of the day.
• They are using the darkness to their advantage.

You Have The Right To Defend Yourself

If someone breaks into your house at night, you have no idea what they’re doing. But most likely, it’s not good.

• If you shoot and kill that person, the Bible says you have the right to do so.
• That’s because it’s very difficult to see what’s happening in the night.
• Wicked people love the darkness and love to come out at night. They love to devour each other.

[48] Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

• You don’t need to be out at night in the bars and night clubs. WICKED things are happening.
• People are devouring one another. They are all for themselves. It’s all about me.
• That’s what happens at night. There’s no reason to be out there in those wicked places at night.
• What’s the alternative?

[49] Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

• That’s a FAR GREATER alternative. Put on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You’ll hate the darkness.
• Don’t give into your flesh and what YOU WANT. We all know what that means.
• “Oh, I want that so bad!!!” That’s your flesh speaking. That’s lust.

[50] Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

• Living after the flesh leads to a horrible, horrible life. Night clubs equal a horrible life. It’s darkness.
• You might think you’re having fun in the night, but the next day is horrible.
• Then you get accustomed to living in the night, and you hate the light of the day. Not good.
• Stay in the light.

Let’s pray.