Bibliocracy: Time to be careful and what? (Part 1)
Pastor Toks Oshokoya
Prophet Ezekiel was asked a question by Jehovah, the God of Israel at a time when everything looked gloomy.
Ezekiel 37: 1-3The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”
Why did Ezekiel call Him “Sovereign Lord”?
Sovereignty is defined as
the quality or state of being sovereign.
the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign; royalty.
supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community.
rightful status, independence, or prerogative.
a sovereign state, community, or political unit.
The Lord was addressed in this same capacity and awesomeness in many other instances in the Bible.
Acts 4: 24-26
When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God:
“O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
Vrs 31
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Deut 3: 24
“O Sovereign Lord, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do?” Moses
Joshua 7:
Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honour of your great name?” Joshua
Judges 6: 22-24
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day. Gideon
2Sam 7: 22-24
“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.
Psalm 140: 7-13
O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle. Lord, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape. Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent. But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor. Surely righteous people are praising your name; the godly will live in your presence.
Who is Sovereign?
a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.
a person who has supreme power or authority.
a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.
— adjective
belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.
having supreme rank, power, or authority.
supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.
greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.
being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.
efficacious; potent: a sovereign remedy.
A Supreme Ruler!
God is The Supreme Ruler over the entire universe.
There are many kinds of governance in the world today.
1. Fascism
A governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasising an aggressive nationalism and often racism. Referred to as the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism. A political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
There are certain social systems that equally make some other types of governmental set up to emerge.
2. Communism
A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. A system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party. the principles and practices of the Communist Party.
3. Socialism
A theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
4. We also have Capitalism as a type of economic system relating to a certain type of governmental order. It is an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, especially as contrasted to co-operatively or state-owned means of wealth.
The two forms of government that you and I can easily relate with.
Theocracy is defined as a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities. In another way, a system of government by priests claiming a divine commission. Israel of old was a commonwealth or state under such a form or system of government.
Whereas
Democracy is defined as a government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. A democracy is a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies. In other words, a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. An attempt at political or social equality; democratic spirit.
There is something fundamentally different between the two forms of government amongst others that caught my attention for this message.
Judging!
Please take a look at this:
Isaiah 33: 22 KJV
“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us”
NLT:
For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us”
Problem with other translations sometimes:
MSG.
“For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king. God runs this place and he’ll keep us safe”
In theocracy, the Judge is also the Ruler as in the case with God, the Sovereign Lord, and a judge is equally a ruler as in the persons in such offices.
Note: The Lord is the Judge = JUDICIARY
The Lord is the Law giver = LEGISLATURE
The Lord is the King. = EXECUTIVE (Presidency/Rulership)
In democracy, these three are referred to as “the three arms of government”.
The powers are deliberately not concentrated but split into three mutually independent functioning units but to act together theoretically to be as checks and balances to each other.
Why? Because man does not trust the judgement of men.
Psalm 82: 1 – 8
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness:
all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
The primary function of a Judge, as God ordained it, is what? To protect the righteous, the innocent, the disadvantaged and the weak. To ensure them of their rights, privileges and rewards. But in our day, we think that the primary function of judging is to punish! No!
Judging- Who is to judge? When? Why? and How?
One of the most difficult subjects to grasp in the Bible. Most Christians are in great disobedience and that is costing us too dearly. Partly through ignorance and partly through disobedience we often act contrary to scripture in either judging or not judging at all when we should.
Paradoxically there are seemingly colliding scriptures especially in the NT. What do we do then?
Scriptures against Judging:
Matt 7: 1 – 5
Jesus emphatically saying “do not judge, if you, it will come back to you”
Example and experience indicate that it will come back from 2 sources:
Human and Divine.
People will judge you as you judge them
God will judge you in accordance with the way you have judged people
Roman 2: 1-3
Religious people also as the Jews, here, are addressed. You often think that because you know what is right and can prove others wrong, then you automatically proved right yourself. Not so! Mostly those who often always judging others are usually wrong themselves.
Romans 14: 1 – 4, 10 – 13
1Cor 4: 1 – 4
Paul = I am not conscious of anything against me, I don’t think I am aware of any wrong that I have done. But I by this I am still not really justified o.
“He who judges me is the Lord……”
James 4: 11 – 12
Note! Speaking evil of another believer is judging that believer! This is wrong but we all do it. Very contrary to God’s word.
Scriptures Advocating Judging:
Jesus
John 7: 24
1Cor 5: 1 – 5 PAUL said I have already judged and wants the church of Corinthians to endorse his judgement. Very severe judgement – deliver to Satan!
1Cor 5: 11 – 13
Who are “those outside”?
1Cor 6: 1 -4, 6, 7
1. Wrong to take a fellow believer to court before non-believer judges
2. Christians required to settle internal disputes by judging between disagreeing parties who are fellow believers.
Matthew 18: 15 – 17
Dispute between believers. Step 1, to step 2 – the church then step 3
If the church can not give instruction to a man in dispute, he looses his right to be in fellowship.
How do we now solve this collision?
– Believers have the obligation to judge
– Do not judge
Note:
1. With God, Judging is a function of Ruling
2. Ruling is a dynamic privilege. It descends downward from God to man.
This is where my earlier discourse come in. Democracy by design separates judging from ruling. This is not what the bible teaches.
According to the Nigerian constitution as a democracy, judging is seen from a different point of view from God’s.
It all has to do with God’s nature and what He had imparted to us.
Israel history shows that God appointed men as judges. The judges are also rulers!
The book of Judges.
The period of Kings. Note that no other Supreme Court existed after the King’s judgement. No appeal. In the OT, judging and ruling go together.
The use of the word “Elohim”, which is also for God is applied to men who were judges.
Why? They function in God’s authority to rightly administer His law, take His place and judge the people.
Use of Elohim for human judges – sanctity and huge authority attached by God to the position of a judge.
Abraham and God example: Genesis 18: 25
The Judge of all the earth
The Ruler is also the Judge
Justice must NOT treat the righteous the same as the wicked
Contemporary Western culture has a negative attitude towards judging.
The culture has made people to be naturally resented to
1. Authority, 2. Law enforcement
Why? It assumed that the primary function of judging is punishing the wicked.
Note: Isaiah 33 and Psalm 82
“For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us”
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked”
True primary function is to protect the righteous!
See why the society by the systems they have adopted is designed to go up in ruins?
Perilous descent into chaos and tribulations.
Read Genesis 18: 25 again for cases of divorce as well.
God responded by implication to Abraham’s point of observation. I will not, never, depart from that principle.
Psalm 82 God is judging the “gods”. Who? The judges because they have been unjust.
The whole society structure is destabilized due wrong judgements.
Stability depends on just judgments.
Delegation:
1Peter 1: 17 Father God is the ultimate Judge of Everyman’s work
John 5: 22. Father God delegates the office to His son, Jesus Christ
Matthew 25: 31,32 Jesus’ Kingdom structure on earth at the close of the age.
Verse 32 = His place as Ruler on His throne, doing what? Judging
Note the transmission of the authority to judge. The Father remains the Ultimate Judge.
Two reasons
One, verse 23 = all should honor the Son as they honor the Father. Human race to note.
Remember in the legal system the highest honor is to the judge.
Two, He given authority to execute judgement because He is the Son of Man.
Hebrews 2: 10 – 18
Hebrews 4: 15
You can’t say to Him ” You don’t understand my situation…”
Further delegation:
John 12: 48 Final delegation of judgmental authority to the Word of God.
It is My word that judges!
Another careless error – judging without authority
We find ourselves tempted and doing it, by pronouncing judgement on people who are doing things they have no right to do. We must not step beyond our limits of authority to judge.
Lot in Sodom: Genesis 19: 9
You are just a visitor. You have no right to rule, instruct or judge. Legally the men of Sodom were right.
Moses in Egypt: Exodus 2: 13, 14
Moses had no such authority, he was not in such ruling position. He ran.
Jesus: Luke 12: 13, 14
Jesus here says I have no such authority so I can’t judge you. There are elders, there is a Sanhedrin. Although He was Son of God and God’s rep, He didn’t have authority in that area, so no judging. Wise.
So who judges?
As far is God’s, there is no separation between ruling and judging.
God’s own eternal nature as the Sovereign or Supreme Ruler and Supreme Judge
Same principle to human level.
If there is responsibility to rule, there must be responsibility given to judge.
Two things:
Responsibility and Authority. (Example of siblings in the home)
Note:
Responsibility without authority is ineffective
Authority without responsibility is despotism
Principle = Where we have the responsibility to rule, we also have the authority to judge.
Same as the reverse – no responsibility to rule, no authority to judge.
Who is authorized to judge?
Do we have unlimited authority to judge every issue that arises? Or is authority limited to certain defined areas?
What areas are we authorized to judge?
Whom are we authorized to judge?
What are the of fences that we are authorized to judge?
First what we are NOT responsible to judge!
The final evaluation of anyone’s character, including mine.
1 Cor 4: 1 – 4
The word STEWARD leads to thought of judging. A steward is answerable to the one he serves for the way and manner he conducts his stewardship.
Verse 3: this area of judgement is not left in our hands at all!
We are not required to judge or make a final evaluation of the absolute value of anybody, including ourselves.
Read verses 4 and 5
God’s ultimate purpose is not to condemn but to praise (commend) and reward us for all the good we have done.
The Judgement Seat of Christ: God’s exclusive right.
Romans 2: 16 here men = believers
Romans 8: 1
1 Peter 4: 17
2 Cor 5: 10
– “we must all manifest…”
– All will be brought out into awesome light of God’s countenance – no secrets, no alibis, no excuses, etc
– the terror of the Lord
– all our actions will fall into two categories “good or bad”
1 John 5: 17 ” all unrighteousness is sin” hence whatever is not positively righteous is sinful
Romans 14: 12, 13
Let us grasp the certainty and solemnity of manifesting before the judgment seat of Christ, hence we must be occupied now with serious preparation that we have little time in occupying ourselves with passing final judgment on other people.
Avoiding what will make others to stumble.
Matthew 18: 6
Be careful of motives!
What things we must and are responsible to judges:
1. Our personal conduct and relationships –
While we are not to make final evaluation of either ourselves or others, we are required to judge, not absolute evaluation of personal worth but essentially judgement of conduct. We are not to judge this by feelings, opinions of the society or our own estimate of ourselves. We are responsible to judge our conduct and relationships by the clear teaching and standards revealed in the Word of God.
1 Cor 11: 28 – 32
The Lord’s Supper celebration- examine myself
Judge ourselves!
1. Judge yourself and do not come under God’s judgement
2. Fail to judge yourself and come under God’s judgement, but let this prompt you to repentance.
3. Come under God’s judgement, fail to repent and be judged with the unbelievers.
Each must experience one of the 3 forms.
We must strive to always pre-empt God’s judgement. He will not judge us in those areas that have already correctly judged ourselves and repented.
My conduct, attitude and inner thoughts that drive my opinions, actions and comments about others. Harbor bitterness? Resentment in my heart? Evil speaking? Peace with my brethren? What do I say? Charitable or not charitable?
Avoid sicknesses and premature deaths amongst us.