From: allan-sv@algonet.se   
      
                                      Jesus is the Lord   
      
   "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt   
   believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou   
   shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9. We do not become saved only because   
   we say that we are saved. There are many apostates who say they are   
   saved (Christians), they have a reputation of being alive, but they are   
   dead. Rev. 3:1-3, 14-18. But if you confess that Jesus is the Lord   
   and stand for this conviction whatever it may cost, then you will be   
   saved.   
      
   We need perseverance to receive what God has promised. If anyone   
   draws back, the Lord has no pleasure in him. Hebr. 10:35-39.   
      
   Is Jesus really your Lord, or is any other lord your lord? Perhaps   
   any pastor or any priest in the Church wants to be your lord?   
   They have no authority for that. Perhaps the TV or the Computer   
   has been a lord over you?   
      
   "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in   
   wickedness." 1 John 5:19. The whole earth is occupied by the   
   devil as we can see. But we that belong to Jesus shall not   
   subordinate us under this occupying power. We shall resist the   
   devil and frank confess that Jesus Christ is the real Lord and   
   King of the earth. James 4:7. Col. 1:14-17. And when we serve   
   Jesus and proclaim his gospel, we may not let us be cheated of   
   any rules and prohibitions of the Antichrist. Jesus Christ is our   
   Lord, and we shall obey him.   
      
   Preaching gospel and give people God's word is always allowed.   
   We do not need permission of governments. Jesus' first disciples   
   did not go to the governments and asked for permission to preach   
   gospel. No, on the command of the Lord they went and taught the   
   people. Please, read Acts 4th and 5th chapters.   
      
   The missions-command of Jesus in Matt. 28:18-20 is permission   
   enough. Consider, if we become judged and must pay a fine,   
   or come in prison? That could Peter also have said. Shall we not   
   be obedient to the authorities? Rom. 13:1-7. Yes, but if the   
   authorities set themselves up against God and abusing their   
   authority and execute rules and prohibition that are against God's   
   words, then we must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29.   
      
   If we want to follow Jesus and serve him that we decide actual.   
   Mark 8:34-38. But then we must also take into account the cost   
   and take the consequences of our faith. The apostles had to do it.   
   They became both put in prison and maltreated, but when they   
   came free they continued to teach the people.   
      
   Because of Rom. 13:1-7 many mean that our Christians have the   
   obligation to do military service. But the armed forces are not any   
   such authorities intended in this biblical quotation. The authorities   
   appointed by God are to horror, not for them that make what good   
   is, but for them that make what is evil. For being free from fear of   
   the authority, then do what is good and you will be commended of   
   it. How can this agree with the armed forces? Are the military   
   armaments to horror only for them that make what is evil? Do the   
   armed forces praise those who do what is good? No, in the military   
   it is on the contrary. Those who refuse to learn to handle murder   
   weapons run the risk of to be put in prison.   
      
   We must distinguish between the authorities appointed by God,   
   and the false so-called authorities appointed by ungodly people   
   that trust more on theirs machine-guns and cannons than in God.   
   The military armaments have people of the world been forced to   
   obtain because of their own unbelief. They have left God and his   
   authority entirely out of account. Therefore, they cannot maintain   
   "the peace" without this military balance of power. When they do   
   not want to believe in God, they may not think that they shall   
   get help of him. James 1:6-7.   
      
   God has given us a free will so that we can choose whom we want   
   to serve, God or the devil. But we cannot be neutral. Those who   
   do not want to subordinate them to God and serve him, become   
   slaves to the sin and the devil and must subordinate them to the   
   "authorities" that they have provided. Please, read 1 Sam. 8:4-22!   
      
   When God created the people, he gave them authority to replenish   
   the earth, and subdue it. Genesis 1:26-28. But now it is not so.   
   Now it is the devil that has this authority to subdue and rule all   
   over the earth, and he has become the god of this age. 2 Cor. 4:4.   
   It is not God that has given the devil this authority. God gave it to   
   the people. After that have the people through their sin conveyed   
   it to the devil, and become his slaves. Everyone who sins is a   
   slave to sin. John 8:32-36.   
      
   Consider, if all nations of the world understood that. But instead   
   of put on the full armour of God and defend themselves against   
   the common enemy the devil, they attack each other. Ef. 6:10-18.   
   It is so the devil want to have it. Accordingly, they serve the   
   occupying power and come consequently to fall under the same   
   judgement.   
      
   Our worst enemies are not those who, with by force of arms, want   
   to cause us damage, but those who want to make us evil. And our   
   only possibility of defending us, is to hold us to the Lord and trust   
   in him. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our   
   Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Cor. 15:57. 2 Cor. 2:14. Please, read   
   Psalm 91.   
      
   When the devil was tempting Jesus in the desert, he showed him in   
   an instant all the kingdoms of the world, and he said to Jesus:   
   "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is   
   delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it." Luke 4:6.   
   Jesus did not accept the devil's "offering", but neither he denied   
   that the power over all the kingdoms in the world had become   
   conveyed to the devil.   
      
   Jesus knew how he would take the authority from the devil. The   
   Father had promised Jesus an eternal Kingdom that not can perish.   
   Daniel 7:9-18. In Matt. 28:18 Jesus says: "All authority in heaven   
   and on earth has been given to me."   
      
   And in Matt. 24:27-31, Jesus says: "For as the lightning cometh   
   out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the   
   coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is,   
   there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the   
   tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon   
   shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and   
   the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear   
   the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes   
   of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in   
   the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall   
   send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall   
   gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of   
   heaven to the other."   
   Please, compare Daniel 7:13-14.   
      
      
   Do you want to read the continuation of this article   
   or if you have any questions   
   Please, visit my Web Site   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)