The Israel of God (the Body of Christ) cries out to the Lord, confesses to the Lord, waits for the Lord, hopes in the Lord, and seeks mercy and redemption from the Lord. There is only one Israel of God that receives forgiveness for all iniquities, and if it is not the Body of Christ, then it is not the true Israel of God.
Psalms 130:1 KJV A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
Psalms 130:2 KJV Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Psalms 130:3 KJV If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Psalms 130:4 KJV But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Psalms 130:5 KJV I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psalms 130:6 KJV My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Psalms 130:7 KJV Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
Psalms 130:8 KJV And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Subjection to the government does not include defiance of God. If the government ministers the goodness of God, it must be supported. If the government ministers evil, it must be resisted. Otherwise, every Christian would have simply renounced their faith and avoided martyrdom in the Colosseum in obedience to the government.
Romans 13:1 KJV 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.
Romans 13:2 KJV Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Romans 13:3 KJV 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:
Romans 13:4 KJV 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.
Romans 13:5 KJV Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Romans 13:6 KJV For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Romans 13:7 KJV Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Pay your debts, Christian. It is not very loving to stiff your neighbor.
Romans 13:8 KJV Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:9 KJV 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.
Romans 13:10 KJV Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Those who understand the time on the clock of eternity do not squander their days in drunkenness, sexual exploits, strife, envy, or the myriad lusts of the flesh. Instead, they live honestly and faithfully in Christ. If your clock does not reveal such time, get a new one from the Lord.
Romans 13:11 KJV 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.
Romans 13:12 KJV 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.
Romans 13:13 KJV Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Romans 13:14 KJV But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
What if you were called to serve as a soldier in an army that opposed God, such as the Roman army of antiquity? Be honest, content with your wages, and do not abuse your authority or mistreat prisoners. Fight and, if necessary, die for those you serve alongside, doing so with love.
Numbers 1:3 KJV From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Luke 3:14 KJV And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Has someone in this world committed an injustice against you? Justice will come either through the propitiation of Jesus Christ or at His judgment throne. Do not allow the injustices of this world to leave you with bitter, weak hands and feeble knees.
Isaiah 35:3 KJV Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isaiah 35:4 KJV Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
To which Zion are you marching?
Isaiah 35:10 KJV And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Father, we are marching to Your Zion! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
