Order #2

Second part of order now, and we want to deal with this concept of how does order work with

grace? And we touched on it last year. When it comes to order and grace, God has set up

two systems in the universe. God has set up two systems in the universe. One is a system

of grace and the other is a system of order. Another word for order is government. God

has set up two systems on the face of the earth, order and government. And when it comes to order

and government, we see that when it comes to, sorry, when it comes to order and grace, we see

that in grace all relationships are equal. I'll explain that. All relationships are equal. There

are no limitations, no boundaries. There are no limitations, no boundaries. As in, doesn't matter

who you are and what you've done, there's grace. Doesn't matter the extent to which you pushed it,

there's grace. Doesn't matter how far away or how close you are, there are no boundaries. Grace

just extends. There is no boundary. But when it comes to order, there's divine arrangement, as in,

we talked about this last time, as in rank, function, place, and there are responsibilities,

and there are boundaries. Ha! That's one thing taken care of for Saturday. There are boundaries.

So when it comes to order, there is a divine arrangement of things. There is rank. There is

a proper place that has been given to us to fulfill functions we are supposed to fulfill.

There are responsibilities. With order comes responsibilities. And there are boundaries,

which we are not supposed to cross. See, in Jesus, order and grace come together. Government and grace

come together. So Jesus was sent as the Savior of the world to provide grace to everybody without

limit, past any known human boundary. Everybody is equal. He died for all mankind. And yet,

in Him, there is government, which is what we hear of in Isaiah 9, 6, where it says,

of His government there shall be no end, in the sense that in Christ is also this thing called,

I have come to set up a kingdom. And in the kingdom, there is a code by which we need to live.

So let me put it this way, guys. Under the order of God, you and I cannot walk away or out of bounds

as we please. But in the grace of God, should we walk beyond boundaries, the grace of God covers

us. Let me say that again. In the order of God, there are places that we are supposed to operate

in. And if we cross those bounds, we are out of order. But in the grace of God, when we cross

those bounds and are out of order, God's grace comes and brings us back. Happened with Adam.

There were things that Adam had to follow in terms of order God had placed. When he broke that order,

there were consequences. He was out of order. But then along comes the seed who restores the Adam

who is out of order back into order. Same with Paul and Barnabas and Mark. Mark had to stay in

order while they were on a mission trip. What did he do? He broke away and he left. What does grace

do? In the letter to Philemon, or Titus. In which book is Mark restored? He is restored back. Mark

is restored in one of the epistles that Paul writes. So what happens then, guys, is you can break

order and there are consequences. But there is grace to restore you back to where you need to be.

So don't take advantage of grace by breaking order. But know that should you break order,

there is grace to cover you. We talked about this last time. Go listen to the CD from last time.

I'll be putting it up on the website too. I'm stopping at the 69th minute of the CD because

I've got names and nations mentioned after that which I don't want people to hear. But you will

hear there what we talked last week. There are boundaries, there are limits. Remember the

definition for order in case some of you weren't here. Order, not the definition, the description.

Order is equal to origin. These are the things you have to look for. Plus purpose, plus function,

plus proper place. All order, especially when it's from God, all order will have its origin in God.

Order has its origin in God. It can be traced back to its origin in God. Secondly, order has purpose.

God arranged things a certain way because he had a purpose that he wanted to fulfill. Sometimes you

can understand the purpose, other times you can't understand it. Your lack of understanding of God's

purpose does not nullify it and does not give you reason to walk out of it. Many times we don't like

the arrangement of things that God has established so we say, nah, because you don't like it or don't

understand it doesn't nullify it. You may not like gravity. Don't try doing anything that is

anti-gravity. You may not understand how you fall at 9.8 meters per second square. Who the heck cares?

Don't jump off a building. And after purpose comes function. In God's purpose, he has ordered things

a certain way. Now that he has ordered things a certain way, he expects each person to fulfill a

function so that his purpose may come to pass. And for you to function, he will put you in a

proper place because without being in that proper place, you will not be able to function the way

you're supposed to. And that proper place can change. As you show yourself faithful in the

proper place allotted to you now, you will find that the proper place will change, your function

will change, the purpose remains constant and the origin of order is forever. It's awesome what God

has done. Therefore with Christ, even though the Father, Son and Spirit are co-equal, there was an

order that came out of the Godhead. The origin is in the Godhead. What is the purpose? The purpose

was to set up our kingdom here on earth and to sacrifice the Son for the sins of the world. That

was the purpose. What was the function? The function was the King of the universe, the creator of the

universe, now had to come down to lay his life down to establish his kingdom. What was the proper

place? The proper place was that of a bond servant. I'm just giving you one aspect of Christ's living.

He was many other things in terms of proper place. At any point if Christ says, now proper place,

this don't fit me. That's how you, it's a transliteration of Hebrew, this don't fit me. And if he did that,

it wouldn't work man. Okay, let's assume that in a church authority, let's take a family, in a

family or in a church authority, which one do you want to take? Church, family, church, family,

quickly, quickly, quickly, quickly. Both? In a church, God's authority or order comes from the origin,

meaning God. Whose house it is? Is it his house? So he has the right to have origin in terms of

order. What is his purpose? That we be built together into a temple for the Spirit of God,

that we become kingdom people here on earth. What is the function? That we represent Christ accurately,

that each of us be built up as a body, muscle, tendons, ligaments coming together. Therefore,

people will be put in proper place to equip, to minister, to encourage, to provide whatever is

required for the body to come into fullness. Go to the family. All families on the face of the earth,

according to the book of James, get their fatherhood from God. The origin or the order is from God.

What is the purpose? So that a family may one replenish the earth, two begin to nurture ones

into fullness, three that husband and wife may be co-equal and begin to function as emissaries of

God here, four that they are made complete together. Go easy on the fourth point. So for this function

to be fulfilled, proper place has to come in. And in the proper place, like it or not, believe it or

not, even though husband and wife are co-equal, the husband is first among equals. Which brings

in a whole host of responsibilities. Oh my, guys, just remember this. If you are first among equals

in any situation, know that the responsibilities upon you are multiplied. And the first one to be

held accountable will be the one who has been given that position of first among equals. You

will be held responsible. In this church, no one will be held to greater accountability or greater

responsibility than me. And I'm talking about not in the sweet buy and buy. I'm talking about

here in the now and now. I'm talking about here. Any questions? Just one point and then you can ask.

Guys, order has to be embraced by Christians with not just in actions but with willingness. In the

world, how we do it is we act out our submission to order because we may lose our job, we may lose

our wages, we may lose favor with the boss or wherever we work. But as Christians, we have to

come into order because we embrace it both willingly and obediently. So Isaiah 1.12 or 1.14 kicks in.

You will eat the good of the land when you are both willing and obedient. It's both. It's not just

actions, it's a willingness. It's a willingness. Okay, go ahead Diana. It deals with roles, rank,

location. Yeah, yeah. 27 minutes 32 seconds. 15 minutes is a math special. It's a discounted

thing. Yeah, not everybody else gets what you get, man. You're special. Okay, guys, the heavens may

cover, the heavens may cover but will not rule in the areas of your life here on earth where you're

out of order. The heavens may cover, meaning they'll provide a shade as in cloud, as in grace. The

heavens may cover but the heavens will not rule in the areas of your life here on earth that you're

out of order. Remember, Eddie talked about the heavens invading the earth, meaning the ways of

God invading your ways in different areas, bringing amazing results will not be possible. Heavens will

not rule in the areas of my life where I choose not to walk in order. The grace of God may cover

me but it will not, the heavens will not rule in those areas. Do you see why in the situation of

a church that does not have its origin in godly order, does not have these things flowing in it,

the grace of God will prevail there but it is impossible for the heavens to rule here on earth

if order is not there. Not possible. Same in a family, same in your own individual lives.

Okay, let's talk about order and the spirit realm. Order and the spirit realm.

No, no. Order is the way God has arranged things for us to function in.

Obedience is only a part of it. We have to understand the divine arrangement of things

in every area of our lives and we'll talk about some of the areas today. Guys, when it comes to

order and the spirit realm, the first thing I want to look at is how God first after the flood

started replenishing the earth with peoples and nations. So go to Genesis 1032 because I want to

show you something progressively. Genesis 1032. So when you go to Genesis 1032 and this is after

the flood, before Babel but after the flood, Genesis 1032 says, these are the clans of Noah's sons

according to their lines of descent within their nations. From these the nations spread out over

the earth after the flood. In another version it says, this is a family tree of the sons of Noah

as they developed into nations. From them, nations developed all across the earth after the flood.

I want to go to another scripture now. Deuteronomy 32. And you may have to make a correction in your

Bible version and correction as in you may have to write this. I'm not saying cross out anything,

I'm just saying write this on the side because this is one scripture that unfortunately based

on the understanding of some biblical scholars is either diluted or left in a way that doesn't

really give it its original sense. Go to Deuteronomy 32. Deuteronomy 32. NIV says,

when the Most High gave nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind,

he set up boundaries for the people according to the numbers of the sons of Israel. It should

actually read when the Most High God gave the nations their stake or their inheritance or gave

them their place on earth, he put each of the peoples within boundaries under the care not

of the sons of Israel but under the care of divine guardians. Under the care of divine guardians.

That is how it should read. Jacob, is that something you've just decided because you

want to preach this message? No. I went and actually have notes on why this was interpreted

wrongly and why this is the correct interpretation. So this isn't something that I pulled out this

week and not for this message. Okay, there you go. So what you have to change is that

instead of the sons of Israel, you have to put in the word divine guardians. I'm not saying cross

out something. I'm just saying write it on the side. Crossing out something seems a little,

in my mind it seems a little radical. So just write it on the side. So let me read that verse

again then. Deuteronomy 32. When the Most High God gave the nations their inheritance, when he

divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of divine

guardians. Let me read it from another version which makes it even simpler. When the High God

gave the nations their inheritance, gave them their place on earth, he put each of the peoples

within boundaries under the care of divine guardians. I'm just going to write that down. He put each

of the peoples within boundaries under the care of divine guardians.

Okay, this is what we see played out in Daniel chapter 12, verse 1 and Daniel chapter 10,

Daniel 12:1 Daniel 10:21

verse 21. Go to Daniel 12. Daniel 12.1. Daniel 12.1 says, At that time, Michael, the great prince

who protects your people will arise. Michael here is the archangel. Michael. Michael, your great

prince will arise. Go to 1021. This is again Gabriel speaking to Daniel and this is what he says to

Daniel. But first I will tell you what is written in the book of truth and then he says, No one

supports me against them except Michael your prince. Guys, God when he divided peoples and

appointed them to nations, placed them under the care of divine guardians as in divine angelic

entities. When it comes to Israel, the one that acts as or overlooks Israel as divine guardian is

this angelic prince called? Michael. But here's the thing, as much as God did this with peoples,

the enemy has done the same thing in terms of a counterfeit. Satan is not creative but he is

an amazing forger in that sense, in the sense that he counterfeits what God sets up. God set up nations

and peoples that could now be under the care of divine guardians and so here's what the enemy does

and you see that in Daniel 10, verse 13. Daniel 10, 13. Let me start at Daniel 10, 12. Ready? Then

Daniel 10:13

he continued, Do not be afraid Daniel since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding

and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I've come in response to them. But

the prince of Persia, prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief

princes came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Then go to verse 20. So he

said, Do you know why I have come to you so soon? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of

Persia. When I go the prince of Greece will come. So just as God has appointed divine guardians over

peoples and nations, there is a counterfeit where the enemy tries to preside over people through

the appointment of demonic principalities or entities that can begin to infuse, infect, affect

the culture of a people. How does he do it? Very simple. He offers a people the choice to pledge

allegiance to forms that he establishes or to stay with the God who is creator. And the moment of

people begin to pledge allegiance to forms that the enemy has created, now they are presided over

by guardians that come from the spiritual. Because when the nations were first divided and the

boundaries were set, God appointed divine guardians. But somewhere along the process, nations have

chosen to pledge allegiance not to the creator but to things that are created, forms of worship

established here on earth by the devil. And once you begin to pledge, once a people begin to pledge

allegiance to forms here on earth that have nothing to do with the creator but have to do with the

creator, suddenly a people have exchanged divine guardianship through angelic hosts for a counterfeit

guardianship that then begins to infuse, infect, affect and completely permeate their culture. For

very long, we thought these were territorial spirits. And the moment you use the word territory,

you think geography. But God has appointed divine guardians over peoples, not over geographical

boundaries. Israel had Michael guard them regardless of whether they were in exile or whether they were

in Jerusalem. Which then means that even when we look at a counterfeit, when a people, be it Persia,

Greece, Germany or Canada, begin to pledge allegiance to a counterfeit that now has guardianship

over them, it doesn't matter where they go, they still carry with them mindsets and cultural forms

that are anti-God or sheerly demonic regardless of where they go. It's not limited to geographical

territory. So you can't really call them territorial spirits. It's not genetic. It is something, we'll

talk about that in less than four minutes. It is not genetic. But understand that there is almost

nothing in the physical realm that is not really affected by your connection in the spiritual realm.

Either it is through what God does in my life or it is through the enemy. This is what Eddie was

talking about when he said, Jacob, in your mind, there are two gateways. One gateway allows earthly

thoughts and the thoughts that are provoked by the enemy and the other gateway provides godly

thoughts that are from God. This is what happened to Peter. Two gateways in Peter's mind. One gateway

said, you are Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, this revelation has

not come from anybody else but the father. Shortly after, four verses after, another gateway opens

when he says to Jesus, you shall not go to the cross. This is not what you're called for. And Jesus

turns around to the same man who received a revelation from God and says to him, get thee

behind me, Satan. You have no idea how it affects the way we think. This brings up a few things that

we need to then deal with. First, given that people groups are under some form of divine guardianship

or the other. Just think of this. Most people groups or all people groups are under some form

of divine guardianship or other. Which would mean then that when a church engages people that they

are sent to, make sure that you go to people who God sends you to not according to your qualifications,

not according to the resources you have, not according to your abilities. I love Galatians 2, 7 to 9.

Paul is, it's not in Galatians 2, 7 to 9 that he talks about it, but it's made evident there too.

Paul is quite sure that given the fact that he was the Jew of Jews, that he would best serve God by

being sent to the Jews. And yet God had specifically crafted for him ministry to the Gentiles,

to the non-Jews. It fell outside of Paul's purvey. All his expertise would have better help with the

Jews. But he was sent to the Gentiles. One of the things we need to understand when we are sent is,

Oh God show us the peoples we are sent to so that we go where we are supposed to go. To go to a place

where we are not supposed to go then brings us into a conflict that we are not supposed to be in.

Go where you are sent because you will have less, you will have conflict but it will be conflict

that you will overcome. It won't be conflict that will prevent. Secondly, if you take on mandates

that God has ordered, then know that angelic hosts will engage hostile forces over that people's

because that's their assignment now to serve you. Many times Christian missionaries and churches go

into areas and God has to send angels to rescue them not to serve them. We got to have angels

assigned to serve us not to rescue us. If Shillong is a place that God has ordained for us, let's

assume that our peoples of Shillong are a people that we're being sent to. Then know this, oh and

this because I've seen it. There is a guardianship, a hostile guardianship over Shillong. You will

see it in physical form in all kinds of animistic behavior of a people that for 150 years have been

exposed to Presbyterian evangelism and yet tons of animism exists, matriarchal societies exist.

Now if we are sent to a people like that and if that is the people that God wants us to go to,

when we go there know suddenly that angelic forces of God now begin to engage with hostile

forces over that place or peoples because we are now sent on a mandate from God. When you go into

a place where that is not the case then most of the angels have to engage in rescue missions

because you're in the wrong place and you need to be rescued. Forget Shillong and Canada, now

bring it down to nitty-gritty our own Vancouver things. Try and figure out father where are you

sending me to? Who are you sending me to? Should I go or should I not go? Because depending on that,

you either have to confront things that are beyond your ability or have the power of God,

angelic hosts, engaging that which needs to be engaged so that while things are being taken

care of in the spiritual realm you begin to function here on earth. Fourthly, you know guys,

thirdly, thirdly, God against taking on the ways and mindsets of the people that you're sent to,

God against taking on the ways and mindsets of the people that you're sent to. Oh I can't tell you

how important this is. God against taking on the mindsets and the ways of the people that you are

sent to. It's a Trojan gateway. When I say what I mean by a Trojan gateway, remember when they

brought that horse and it was full of soldiers and they brought it into Troy? Yeah and the city

was taken. God against taking on the ways and mindsets of people that you're sent to. It happened

in Numbers 31, 16 and Numbers 25, 1. Here's what happened. Balaam tried to curse Israel, it did not

work. So Israel arrives at a point near the promised land and guess what Balaam does? He now

sends Midianite and Amalekite women to say hello to the Israelites and they come and they say hello

in a way that gets these Israelites into bed and the same curse that they avoided through Balaam

because God said the curse shall be turned into a blessing now began to hit them as a plague because

instead of guarding the ways of the people that they were going to take over, they accepted the

ways and immediately the same plague that was avoided through Balaam now hits them. Balaam was

the architect in both cases. There it was an outright curse that didn't work. Here it was a subtle

deception that worked. One of the things I do when I go into nations is I try to decipher certain ways

and patterns that are ungodly, that are prevalent among the peoples that I'm going to minister to

and then I build up fences saying Jacob you've realized this now in these areas make sure that

you guard yourself. Certain nations may have money issues. Money issues are a little easier.

Certain nations have strong sexually immoral situations that you have to guard against

fiercely otherwise you end up being caught in the very same thing that you're ministering to.

Yeah. Hey this operates on common levels man. I am not at liberty to share things that I know

because it is deeply disturbing and it is horrible that is happening in this very city

where people have gone out to minister and they have been completely rendered

worse than you would find in a nightclub in Vancouver talking about strong Christian pastors.

Guard against taking on the ways and mindsets of the people that you're sent to

and this means any situation that you go into.

If there is a place that you're going into that brims with control, guard against it. Hey tomorrow

if one of you gets a job in a church somewhere in Vancouver guard against the prevalent ways of the

people in that church because one of two things will happen. Either you will stand with a forehead

like flint against them or they will run over you and you will become like they are.

That's assuming that it is a church that does not understand order.

It can be godly but you still can not understand order.

Firstly a church must have kingdom culture proceed over every other culture you belong to.

In this church the only culture that you should have primarily before anything else. I don't care

where I come from. If Jacob's primary culture is not kingdom culture, if that is not what takes

precedence over his Indian-ness, over his South Indian-ness,

then it's terrible man. It's terrible.

Don't for a moment assume that any of us here are without baggage from our background and from the

peoples that we have come from. East Indians have it, the Brits have it, the Persians have it,

the Canadians have it, the Sri Lankans have it, all of us have it, the Germans have it.

The people who are in the background are the ones who are in the background.

The people who are in the background have it, the Sri Lankans have it, all of us have it, the Germans have it.

The Chinese have it, Pakistanis have it. Hope I've covered most.

The Vietnamese definitely have it. Nick was feeling happy that I left him out.

We come from a people who have been influenced by

things in the spiritual. And when you come into a church, one of the first things that has to happen,

oh the Aussies have it too. So do the Jamaicans and the Trinidadians.

Persians, yeah. So guys, the point being that you have to then deliberately go down a path of

I've got to let kingdom culture take precedence, which simply means that there is nothing in my life

that I will give precedence to. I will not give my Persian or East Indian culture any precedence

when it comes to making decisions. It will take its position only after the kingdom has precedence.

What the kingdom value is, that will prevail over what my East Indian value is. If there is a clash,

it will always be under kingdom value.

Most of it is affected by the peoples we come from, man.

Sorry? No, I'm not talking about personal experience.

Yeah. Guys, don't feel hurt. I'm going to say stuff that will affect our national pride, but so be it.

East Indians and Chinese may be clannish.

We may have a greater degree of legalism. Yeah, we may have greater degree of legalism than perhaps

some other cultures. German culture may be nationalistic. Persian culture may be proud.

Vietnamese culture may be self-made, as in I've got to stand on my own and make it.

Canadian and North American culture may be loose and immoral.

The opposite of legalistic.

Certain cultures are matriarchal. Certain cultures are patriarchal. The British culture may be a little

snobbish. I'm putting a little there so that you're not too deeply offended.

But I think generally everybody's found the thinking that you're such a good thing to be, or you're not.

I don't. No, I mean neither do you really.

Kingdom culture has to precede these values.

Has to precede these values.

Can't have matriarchal, denominational, national values that override kingdom values. Cannot have it.

Because in every culture there are things that are redeemable or that are good.

So don't think that everything is bad. That's why I said kingdom culture has to take precedence.

At least with some of us it's a little easier. They know I'm not from Canada.

In the sense of being Caucasian because somehow this thing got tanned.

But yeah, that's the first thing they ask. And there is affinity that is immediately established

based on where you come from, which is okay. There are things that will be common.

But it should never come to a point. Can you imagine if this church was all Indian men?

If this church was East Indian because I'm East Indian. That'd be terrible.

Because that is exactly what the Bible says should not happen.

Yeah, and that is exactly what the Bible says should not happen. Of many tribes, tongues, nations.

Like I've always said, the only reason for a mono-ethnic church is that you don't know the language.

That is the only reason for its existence.

And as I've said before, the first church to die in the New Testament was a church in Jerusalem.

The church that was doing quite well, both outwardly and inwardly, was the church of Antioch.

Acts 13 gives you a glimpse of why. Because there were people from Nigeria, from Asia, from Jerusalem, from all over the place.

Fifthly, guys, understand that the demonic is able to maintain ground in the lives of Christians through mindsets and strongholds.

The demonic is able to maintain ground in the lives of Christians through mindsets and strongholds.

If I have a certain mindset or stronghold, I'm not going to go to the church.

If I have a certain mindset or stronghold, it becomes a hiding place for demons.

If I have a certain mindset or a stronghold, it becomes a hiding place for demons.

After that, you can go to as many seminars as you want and have as many deliverances as you want.

But if Jacob refuses to break down that particular way of thinking, which often can be cultural,

then it is impossible to be set free from the bondage that the enemy brings into my life.

Because every time I listen to a teaching or a seminar, every time I go for deliverance,

what happens is the demons, all they have to do is regress back to my old way of thinking and hide there till things are fine.

Just think of that. A stronghold in your mind becomes a hideout for the devil.

All they have to go is that is a safe place because that is one place you will not allow change.

That's a safe place to hide.

Go ahead.

Second Corinthians 10 verses 5 onwards.

2 Corinthians 10:5

The weapons of our warfare are mighty for pulling down strongholds, philosophies and every high and lofty thing that raises up itself against the knowledge of God.

The weapons of our warfare are mighty for pulling down strongholds, philosophies and every high and lofty thing that raises up itself against the knowledge of God.

So what then I need to do is in a certain area when I have a stronghold, I've got to now go and pull it down.

How do I pull it down?

Two ways. One by being willing to accept that this is a pattern that you've lived with for the last 25 years as a Christian.

And it is a false pattern.

It is built on faulty unbiblical ground.

Do you want to tear it or do you want it to prevail?

If you come to a place where you can choose that I will tear it down.

Now you tear it.

Yes, by calling it what it is, but tearing it alone is not enough.

Now it has to be replaced by another stronghold that is from the word.

Thought patterns in your life will be evident in your conduct.

Guaranteed.

The only person who probably won't see it is you.

This is where the rest of the body helps.

Let's say your problem is when you're alone, you're at home, you're at work and the body's not there and then nobody sees it.

We're not talking about sicknesses and diseases here.

We're talking about ways of thinking.

My way of thinking will show in my way of living.

The only guy who can't see it is me because I've got blind spots.

Problem in a church this small is most people know you and they'll point out your blind spot.

If you want to escape blind spots being identified, go into a church of 700-800 people, you're safe.

You're safe from your blind spots being pointed out because nobody wants to come up to you and say,

Hey, Jacob, you've got a big nose.

Nobody will say that.

We've got massive problems with anger against injustice and then rallying the world and stuff.

I know that.

Matt, we've talked about it.

Matt, may I interrupt you by saying we've talked about it and we've discussed as to how to go about it by starting with one particular thing.

We can talk about it again after we're done.

Strongholds can be demolished bit by bit.

But then the Berlin wall came down.

They didn't nuke it.

They took hammers and began to chip it down bit by bit and suddenly the whole thing crumbled.

But that wall no longer exists.

I don't know whether you have to do it 32 times or 51 times or 101 days.

Depends on who you listen to in terms of destroying a habit.

When God sees that Jacob is actually willing to call a pattern in his life defective and is actually willing to be open to change,

then again, all of heaven begins to back me on it.

You take it a brick at a time.

Knock out a few bricks and the wall begins to shake.

You know when you throw that ball to break that pyramid thingy that you have with those tins?

You don't want to aim at the one on the top.

You keep throwing it somewhere in the center so that the whole thing collapses.

Gutter balls will never break down the pins, man.

But one by one you chip away and it happens.

Living under order.

Living under order.

Guys, God is emphatic about us living under order.

He's emphatic about it.

He's so into Jacob, I need you to live under order here on earth.

I have ordained it so.

I mean, it applies to government.

Look at Romans 13.1.

Stay with me on this one.

It's 5 o'clock, but stay with me, please.

Romans 13.1.

Fascinating reading.

Romans 13.1.

Ready?

Ready or not?

Everyone must submit himself to governing authorities.

For there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Just in case we didn't get it the first time, he repeats the same thing the second time.

He rebels against the authority.

He's rebelling against what God has instituted.

And those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Very clear, the consequence of breaking order.

Grace covers, but there are consequences to breaking order.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.

Do you want to be free from the fear of one in authority?

Then do what is right and he will commend you.

For he 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.

Therefore it is necessary to submit to authorities not only because of possible punishment,

but also because of conscience.

Again it comes back to willing and obedient.

This is also why you pay taxes.

For the authorities are God's servant who give their full time to governing.

Give everyone what you owe him.

If you owe taxes, pay taxes.

If revenue, then revenue.

If respect, then respect.

If honor, then honor.

Guys, this is written by Paul who is living under an oppressive system called the Roman government

and isn't in the best, most democratic nation in the world.

So just keep that in mind and we'll come back because you're already thinking of exceptions.

Hold on to your exceptions for a little longer.

Colossians 3, let's look at employment.

Colossians 3.

Colossians 3.

Verse 22.

I'm going to change the word slaves to employees.

Colossians 3.22

Employees obey your earthly employers in everything and do it not only when their eye is on you

and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Colossians 4.1

Employers provide your employees with what is right and fair because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Let's go look at marriage.

Colossians 3.18 and 19.

Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

If you have any question about this husband wife thing, go listen to the teaching Jason did some months ago

on why prayers are hindered between husband and wives and how the person in authority or power

or first among equal in the order needs to function.

Go listen to that.

It will be really helpful.

Family, Ephesians 6.1-4

Ephesians 6.1-4

Ephesians 6.1-4

Ephesians 6.1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment

with a promise that it may go well with you that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children.

Instead bring them up in the training and the instruction of the Lord.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children.

Let's look at church.

1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5

Just keep turning pages and it's after Hebrews.

Keep turning pages to your left.

1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5

5

and then verses 1-3

Young men, be submissive to those who are older.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another.

Verses 1-3

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,

a witness of Christ's sufferings

and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed.

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,

serving as overseers, not because you must,

but because you are willing as God wants you to be.

Not greedy for money, but eager to serve.

Not lording it over those entrusted to you,

but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory

and that will never fade away.

1 Corinthians 12

We won't go there because we went there last time.

Want to look at another scripture.

1 Peter 2, verse 13-15

1 Peter 2:13–15

1 Peter 2, verse 13-15

1 Peter 2:13–15

Again it comes back to the whole government thing.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake.

Whose sake? For the Lord's sake.

To every authority instituted among men.

Whether to the king as a supreme authority

or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong

and to commend those who do right.

For it is God's will that by doing good

you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom

as a cover up for evil.

Live as servants of God.

Show proper respect to everyone.

Love and respect to all who are in your midst.

Show proper respect to everyone.

Love the brotherhood of believers.

Fear God, honor the king.

Last scripture, Titus 3-1

Flip to the right.

Titus 3-1

Flip to the right, goes past Hebrews, Philemon

and then comes to Titus 3-1

When you go to the right, I will go to the right

You know that song?

You are such an old timer song guy.

Titus 3-1

You are really grooving with God is good today.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers,

authorities and to be obedient,

to be ready to do whatever is good.

To slander no one,

to be peaceable and considerate

and to show true humility towards all men.

Okay, all those scriptures just solidify

this whole thing about order.

So guys, Titus 3-1

It's after Timothy, after Paul, after Philemon.

It's depending on which way you are traveling,

it's after Timothy or before Philemon.

Guys, much sifting, much distress,

much confusion and much affliction

is the result of breaking the hedge

in these areas that the Bible instructs us to follow.

Much sifting, much confusion,

much distress, much affliction

is the result of breaking the hedge.

Ecclesiastes 10-8, we talked about it last time.

Break the hedge and the serpent will bite you.

Much sifting and unnecessary confusion and distress

comes when these things that God has ordained here on earth

and has asked us to be under order in is broken.

So let's go back to Romans 13-1

and here it is.

Romans 13-1

Here's where,

Romans 13-1

Romans 13-1

Do I have to repeat something?

Ok, Romans 13-1

How can God make a statement like this?

That there is no authority except that

which God has established.

That's a tough thing to swallow.

I mean,

you look around the world

and you think to yourself, how can it be?

Romans 13-1 says,

Everyone must submit himself

to the governing authorities,

for there is no authority

except that which God has established.

So how do you grasp that?

The thing is,

the moment Adam rejected

the direct rule of God,

God set up authority structures here on earth

to restore peace,

justice on earth.

The moment Adam

rejected God's direct rule,

that is when God

began to establish authority structures

here on earth to restore peace

and justice that had been lost.

Israel was given this opportunity,

you know, in 1 Samuel 8 or so.

Here's what happens.

Israel is told

that God will be king

and what does Israel say?

We want a king like every other nation.

Again, God gives into the request

but authority structures

came to the earth when

man rejected the direct rule of God.

Just remember that.

But how can we accept the statement

in Romans 13-1, which says everyone

must submit himself to governing authority

for all authority is established by God.

To understand Romans 13-1,

you've got to look at Romans 13-4.

Look at 13-4 first.

Look at 13-4.

Guys,

when God institutes authority

on earth, this is his primary purpose.

For any authority

on earth is God's servant

to do you good.

That is where you begin.

Authority on earth

is God's

servant

to do

you good.

This is the origin.

This is the purpose.

This is the function.

And this is

the place given to

the authorities that are placed over us.

Unfortunately, even though

this is the case,

ones that are supposed to be in authority

and be God's

servant to do us good, now do not function in it.

That does not, however, take away the fact

that when God places them, he places us

as his servants to do us good.

So, take for instance the fact

that God has placed me here

in authority, in this church,

as set man to do you good.

That was his origin, that was his purpose,

that was a function appointed to me,

and that is the place he has given me in this church.

Do you realize that tomorrow I could change completely?

Does that mean God did not establish his authority?

No, he established his authority.

But does that mean I will live by it?

Thank God, thus far.

But tomorrow, if I turn into a tyrant,

Romans 13, 1

is based on Romans 13, 4.

That those in authority violate their power

is separate from the origin, purpose,

function and proper place they were given.

This is why those that are placed in authority

will be accountable and will have to

really face consequences before

God here on earth leave alone in it.

After.

So guys, here's the thing, civil government

I'm not talking about, you know some dictatorships

are better than democracies in certain cases

but I'm not endorsing

one form over the other.

I'm just saying that civil government

is established for our good

and therefore God now says

Jacob, you are now required

to stay in order

and give to the civil government

the respect and the honor

that is due to them

because at the end of the day

I am the one who has established order here on earth.

We'll talk about the exceptions.

Hey, Jesus paid taxes

Jesus paid taxes

to an abusive Roman government.

Jesus

submitted

to corrupt religious authorities.

This is the ultimate lawgiver

the one in whom all justice and peace exist

paid taxes to the abusive Roman government

and submitted himself to corrupt Jewish leaders.

And when it came to the point where they were going to hang him

what did they do?

He entrusted himself

to the one who judges righteously.

So now let's talk about the exceptions, having said all that.

You know, while I was doing this

I was clearing out

things in my store room

and there was this broken laptop

the screen doesn't exist anymore

I don't even know where the screen went

the rest of the laptop is there

and there was an external

CD drive and all that stuff

and so while I was preparing these notes

I was going down to do some laundry

so I thought take this and throw it

so I take it and put it in a bag and I went down

and as I'm going to throw it in the garbage

there's these bold letters on the

things banned from this

garbage container

laptop, laptop, laptop and I'm thinking about

done. When I'm teaching

an authority even though there's nobody around

and I can easily slip this laptop

into this thing, can't do it man.

There is order

there are things that have been specified by

the law of the land

so I took my computer bag and put it back in the store room.

I'll give it to you.

I know

I drive by it every Sunday

but the point is

you may think Jacob this is being too finicky

hey

I've never seen you being finicky about gravity

okay so here are some

by the way one of the things I really like

about acts 29 is

we seem to have understood order without

there being rules

that's why it surprises me

when occasionally you see

disorder as in not following order

disorder I don't mean disorder as in confusion

but breaking of order rarely happens

and yet we don't have rules and everyone seems

to know order. That's wonderful

that's how a Christian people should be

order without rules

fascinating how it works

well done man

okay here are some exceptions we've got to look at

guys when submission to one authority

conflicts with submission to another

what do you do?

it can happen at work

sometimes it happens at home

sometimes it happens in church

when

when submission to one authority

conflicts with one authority

conflicts with submission to another

what do you do?

you always

you always defer or submit

to the higher authority

so

in families learn this

that

if the child comes

and the mom says

one thing and the dad says one thing

immediately

at least at that time

at that time

defer to what the dad says

they'll sort it out later and they can come and talk to you

but defer to what the dad says

thank god they can't see that I'm looking at you on the CD

so when it comes to let's say the church

let's say Heidi says something while I'm away

that seems to

contravene what I have said

is the order of the house

then you defer

then to the higher authority

at the end of the day then you take that one step further

and who is the ultimate authority?

god

so the highest authority is god

so when authority seeks

to compel you to act contrary to the word of god

you'll have to respond like peter did

on one hand peter is saying

submit to all authorities

on the other hand in acts chapter 5

Acts 5 · chapter mention

when the jewish authorities call and say to him

you will not preach anymore

you know what peter says?

that is fine that you are saying so

but I'm very sorry to say that

I'll have to listen to a higher authority called

god go to acts 5 28-30

acts 5

28-30

acts 5 28-30

27-30

having brought the apostles and made them appear before the sanhedrin

to be questioned by the high priest

we gave you strict orders not to teach

in this name

yet you have filled jerusalem with your teaching

and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood

peter and the other apostles replied

we must obey god rather than men

the god of our fathers raised jesus

from the dead and then he goes on to explain it

so the saint peter who says

submit to all authority

all institutions here on earth that are authoritative

submit to them the saint peter then says no

because at the end of the day

when you are compelled to do something contrary

to the higher authority

you have to choose to say no

guys

in situations like this

disobedience cannot be equated with

submission

in situations like this

you now disobey

but you don't do

ungodly things in your disobedience

so here's what happened to peter

peter disobeys and so you know what they do

they beat the guy up

and he takes the beating

he does not revere

he does not respect

he does not rebel

what happens with us

is when we get a command that is contrary

to the commands of god

instead of disobeying it and taking

whatever the consequences be

of disobedience we begin to rebel

and in

rebellion you suddenly knock yourself

out of order

what you need to do

is disobey because in situations like this

disobedience is not

something

you are called not to do

it's ok to disobey but you don't go into anything

ungodly

it's not fighting off the beating that is rebellion

it is the fact that now you don't begin to raise

take for instance

the fact that I say something here that is contrary

to the word of god

and ask you to follow it

you have one of two choices

you can either disobey saying Jacob

this does not matter with what god is saying

or you can go around

creating sufficient

distress in this house

and raise people against me for saying

something that is contrary

one spills into rebellion

the other is just disobedience

because you have chosen

to honor god before you honor me

what happens in churches often

is when such situations happen

you begin to have factions that begin to rise up in

rebellion

remember do not touch the arc

if you are not called to carry it

ungodly commands

don't need to be obeyed

but don't become ungodly in rebellion

either

guys leave rather than rebel

leave the church but don't rebel

it's safer and you are better off

and you are blessed

because you chose to honor god and disobeyed

what was ungodly and you left

but choose not to rebel

because the moment you rebel you are out of order

and when you break the head a serpent bites you

so what about the guy who gave me a wrong command

hey, trust me man

god will deal with

anybody who is an authority that

contaminates, corrupts, abuses

authority

the other thing we need to recognize

is that submission can happen at different

at two levels at the same time

what did they do when they came to Jesus

they came to Jesus and said

who should we pay our taxes

should we pay Caesar

or should we pay god

and Jesus said give to Caesar what is

Caesar and give to god what is gods

so there are times

when you can at the same time

obey

two authorities

recognize that submission

can be carried out on more than

one level at a time

the Pharisees assumed

that you could not submit to Caesar and god

at the same time

Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesar

give to god what is gods

there is no clash there

so remember that as a point

which will come up in life at some point

another woman that I really like

who showed tremendous skill

was Abigail

here is Abigail's problem in 1 Samuel 25

on one hand she has to honor her husband

Nabal who was acting like a fool

then there is David

who she has heard is going to be

the king of the land

so she has got to honor David

and then she also has to make sure

that in the whole process she submitted

and honoring god

she has got three things man

and she has to honor David

three things man

and she does so well

you should go home and read 1 Samuel 25

this woman has the ability

to honor Nabal her husband

and therefore Nabal doesn't lose his life

he lives a few more days

guy was foolish enough to get himself killed after two weeks

but he lives a few more days

because she honored him

said Nabal let's do it this way

went and spoke to him and did things the right way

Nabal was preserved

and she knows David is the future king

and she goes to David

and she talks to him and she prevents

David from shedding

blood before he becomes king

and in the process she also honors

god

so on one hand

she

spared her husband's life in spite of his foolishness

then she spared David from acting

in a way that would be detrimental

to his reign and in both cases

she turned both these men away

from the intended course of action

and yet did not violate any principle

with god

guys exert wisdom in submission

you will help those that are in authority then

you will help those

that are in authority

when you see

Jacob going down a path

and I hope it isn't too often

where there is a possibility that

something may go wrong and you have the wisdom

not a fancy thought

but wisdom, godly wisdom

come and say Jacob how about doing it this way

it will save me trouble

it will save the person I am going to cause trouble to

and yet you are submitted to me

and you are also submitted to the person and you haven't violated

things of god

finally guys

when submission we desire

is not obtained

don't forcefully

try to bring about submission

when submission that I desire

is not obtained

don't force it

don't try to force submission

there will be times when

what you are saying is right and

you have proper place

your authority is from god

you are functioning correctly

the purposes are right and yet there will be

those that choose

not to submit

to order and to authority

when they don't recognize that it is always

going to be a voluntary act

it is a voluntary act of obedience

it is a voluntary act of faith

many times for women in a

marriage it is not just a voluntary

act of obedience

it is a voluntary act of faith because they are thinking

to themselves how the heck can I trust this

man and yet you have to step out

in faith and say yeah I will because

god will give him wisdom

you can't forcefully bring about submission

hey when was the last time christ

compelled you to submit

in fact he served those

who weren't submitting to him

that's even more frightening that's taking

in one extra level he served

those who were not submitting to him

and so to use means of

manipulation to use

guilt

to use physical or

verbal threats

is abuse

he wasn't asking anyone to submit

he was clearing his father's house

no he was driving them out

why is it that

you can choose who stays in your house or not

it's not a question of submission

it's a question of your domain

I mean you

you may not allow

us to come to your house yet you allow your cat to live there

yeah so

it's different when it comes to your domain

that's a different

we are looking at it

she'll be providing you anti-cat pills

for the next bible study

to use means of manipulation

guilt physical or verbal threats

is an abuse

and god will hold responsible anybody who

abuses one's

authority like that

so please don't be foolish in this

guys at the end of the day

learn to live in order

and it'll be fascinating

how the kingdom of god

will break into different areas

in your life that you're living under

order in

the kingdom of god will break into your driving

if you live under order

the kingdom of god will break

into your finances if you

live under order in your finances

the kingdom of god will break into your marriage

if order is correct

the kingdom of god will break into the church

when order is correct

the kingdom of god will break into

your livelihood in this land. This land will rise and bless you when you follow order.

The heavens above and the the heavens will pour down rain and the earth will give you honey.

The rocks will break and give you honey when you live under order.

The place of your business begins to prosper in itself and in its prosperity

you will prosper too when you live under order.

By the same token, there's confusion, distress, affliction

when there's a breaking of order because when you break the hedge the serpent bites.

Questions, comments?

Like I said 18 minutes 23 seconds ago, it applies to government, employment,

marriage, family, church, covers every area.

If the government insists for instance that anybody who is a minister of religion has now got to marry

those that are not just man and woman but same-sex couples then now Jacob has a choice either he can

give up his minister of religion authority and title or if they insist that it's been given to

you and you have to do it then you have to count the cost and say no because now you obey a higher

authority.

Then you voice what you believe is the godly precedence and guys can you you can turn it off now.