Message Title: God Versus the Evil Empire!

Message Text: Daniel 1

• MP3: 5 God Versus the Evil Empire : Daniel 1 : ffc : dave scott : 092015 AM
• WMA: 5 God Versus the Evil Empire : Daniel 1 : ffc : dave scott : 092015 AM

God and country!

An example: The expanse of the farmland of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. I still remember my professor in a college geography class telling us that there is no area in the world for agriculture that matches the combined area of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. The size, the climate, the productivity. Nothing like it.

Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-3 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. Nothing like them. No more fertile ground in all of Scripture that matches the clarity and relevance of these texts in speaking to our relationship to government. Nothing comes close.

• (Romans 13:1) Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.
• (Titus 3:1) Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
• (1 Peter 2:13) Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor [or president]. He holds the highest position of authority.

But even a corrupt government? An immoral government? An unfair government? A pagan government?

Yes. And yes again. And we have examples. Case studies so to speak.

Enter Daniel.

Daniel was faithful to God and country for over 65 years. Sounds good but the thing is that the country he served faithfully for almost seven decades was a cruel, pagan nation that had ruthlessly conquered his homeland and carried him nine hundred miles away as a prisoner of war when he was a teenager.

So how did he do it? Here are two things that Daniel knew that not only got him through but allowed him to prosper. 1) He knew that his God was God Most High who rules the kingdom of men. And, 2) He knew that his God would honor his word.

It did not matter the historical setting, the geographical location, the country, the government, the morals, the economy, the political party or the social structure.

What mattered was the God! Daniel knew this. And Daniel’s God was God Most High, who rules over the kingdom of men.