Yes, We Can!Speaker: Rev. Shine Thomas
IntroductionToday, India is celebrating its 64th year of Independence. Many people have laid down their lives for the freedom we experience today. India now is the largest democracy of the world, the fastest growing country in terms of population, economy, and science. I am proud to be an Indian citizen. While I am a citizen of India I also have a citizenship of another country. I am a citizen of heaven. We have a dual citizenship; one in India and one in Heaven. How can we be a faithful citizen of both heaven and earth? Can we be or do we have to forsake one and take the other? Do we have to sacrifice our love of God for love of country or vice versa? Today we are going to see how we can be people whose love for God helps us to love our country. How we can be good citizens of heaven and earth at the same time? Romans 13:1 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. First of all we must understand that God is sovereign over the government. It does not mean that God appointed Saddam Hussain or Hitler and used them as puppets in his hands. It means that God has established the principle that government is needed to be in charge of our society. What type of government does God want on planet earth?Once theocracy (A government ruled by or subjected to religious authority) was the form of government in Israel. God was their ruler. God gave them laws. The prophets and priests were God’s spokesmen. As time passed by people began to desire a king to rule them as all the other countries. So God finally allowed them to have kings. Eventually people became unhappy about a kingly rule too. So the point is whatever the form of government Kingly, theocracy, presidential, or democratic God is still able to work in and through them to accomplish his will. Therefore, God wants his people to be submissive to their respective governments even though we may not always agree with them. The purpose of Government1. Government is here to do good to usRomans 13:3-4a 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. God has placed the government to do good to the society. 2. Government is to restrain evilRomans 13:4-5 4For Government is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. God has placed a government to control evil and to do good to its citizens. Illustration: You see a lot of police blockades in the ring road. If a policeman pulls me up a lot of questions go through my mind in a flash. Did I cross the speed limit? Is my vehicle insurance up-to-date? Have I brought my license? Is my emission test up-to-date? If everything is okay I breathe a sigh of relief. But I have broken any one law then I am afraid because the police have the power to punish me for my disobedience of the law. Nowadays the government we see if just the opposite. If the government is not good we cannot disrespect them anyways. It is God who placed our government and it is our duty to respect them. Romans 3:2 He who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. We are causing judgment on our selves if we rebel against the government. Romans 3:5-7 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Many times answers to the problems that we are struggling with are not always spiritual. The Bible says if you are not a good citizen of your country you can be judged by God. List of offences we usually do:
A good Christian is also always a good citizen. Let me move on - To become the best citizens of India we need to seek God’s continued grace upon our country. India is a superpower. We are advanced in technology, science, research, education and so on even though we are no where compared to some first world countries. The fact of the matter is that we all are employed and have a decent bit of salary or business from which we are earning. Our richness is firstly because of God, and the secondly because of the great country we are in. Therefore we need to seek God’s continued grace upon our country. Isaiah 40:15 15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. No matter how powerful or rich we seem to be or our country seems to be, in God’s hands we’re just a disaster or two away from destruction. And if God chose to do so, He could blow us away just as easily as the wind blows the dust. How really we can be a good citizen? 2 Chronicles 7:14 14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. This familiar passage of Scripture is not addressed to unbelievers, but to believers. And it is saying that we’re the ones who need to repent & turn our faces to God for healing if His grace is to continue on our nation. If our country needs riches and prosperity we are the answer. Illustration: I understand that you may not be happy with all the vote bank politics that is happening in our country. You may be very upset with the unscheduled power cuts we face in spite of heavy rains. We have bad roads and poor traffic management in our city. There is a lot of corruption. If a person is caught stealing someone’s purse he is arrested, beaten up, and put in prison. But the opposition in Karnataka claims the ruling party of robbery in Bellary amounting to thousands of Crores out in the daylight. The people alleged to be doing this is moving are around scot-free moreover handling law in Karnataka. These are all reasons for concern. I believe the answer for our nation is you and me, God’s people. I believe we can change the condition of our country, Yes We Can! We must make our faith apparent. If you and I can be the best citizens of India as per God’s word then we can be a great witness to the people around us. There is already a great awareness about Christianity in India. People from all religion prefer to send their children to Christian schools. People prefer Christian hospitals for treatment. People prefer Christians to rent out their homes. In the midst of this awareness all what we have to do is to be good citizens of India and be involved in taking the gospel to the nook and corner of India. If we can pray for our nation, if we can get involved in missions, and if we stand united I believe that there will be a great church growth in India. If the coming of Lord is tarried by another 15 years and if the church in India gets awakened, I believe by 2025 there will be more Christian parliamentarians in Lok Sabha. We can have Godly chief ministers and central cabinet ministers. We can have godly people who control our administration in IFS, IAS, and IPS positions. I believe then the government will do good, then the government will restrain from evil as mentioned in the Bible. Is it possible? Yes we can! I truly believe it is possible and the answer is you. Therefore what we can do best is to be good citizens and uphold our leaders in prayer. The Revival in Argentina came as the church prayed for the politicians and the national leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness Moving on, to become the best citizens of this world we must remember where our citizenship really is. Philippians 3:20-21 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Our citizenship is in heaven. I told you we have dual citizenships; one on this earth and one in heaven which is eternal. So what are we going to do in heaven? When you and I get to heaven and we spend eternity with Jesus, we are going to rule with Him. There will be a 1,000-year period of unprecedented blessing as Jesus establishes righteousness and prosperity, and restores the agriculture, atmosphere, and animal life to the conditions that were seen like in the Garden of Eden. Jesus as King of kings will personally govern a worldwide kingdom from Jerusalem. Jesus will rule in partnership with resurrected saints, you and me. Therefore if we are not able to be submissive to this government that God has placed before us how can we rule with God in His Kingdom? ConclusionToday is Independence Day of India, the day we got freedom. There is a saying that goes, “Freedom is never free.” You and I live in a country that cost men their lives to give us the freedom. The freedom fighters made the ultimate sacrifice and the Indian soldiers are still doing it for our country. Just like our freedom in this country was brought with the blood of our freedom fighters, so also our home in heaven has been purchased by Jesus who set us free. Jesus paid the price so you and I could be citizens of the heavenly kingdom. If you are truly a citizen of heaven you will be a law abiding citizen of this world too and we can make an impact in India. Let me ask you – Are you a citizen on heaven? If you die today will you go to heaven, would you have a home in heaven? The only way to become a citizen of heaven is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour. You cannot choose where you were born, but you can choose where you will spend eternity. Amen. God Bless India and God Bless You! This sermon belongs to the series Uncategorized. Other sermons in this series:
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