Jeremiah 29:5-7 ESV

5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

• Today’s focus… How should followers of Jesus Christ vote for the welfare of their nation according to the Bible?

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

1) The Bible is full of political situations

2) If the church won’t disciple people, the world will.

3) I am here on behalf of God to speak from HIs Word.

WOULD JESUS VOTE?

• God established three main institutions: Family, Church, & State

Romans 13:1 NIV

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

• God allows the nations to elect their ruler, but He establishes them.

1 Samuel 8:7 ESV

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

1 Samuel 8:18 ESV

And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

Whatever God creates, Satan tries to capture.

FAMILY

• If husbands won’t lead their family, Satan will.

CHURCH

• If pastors won’t lead their church, Satan will.

STATE

• If Godly people won’t lead their nation through voting, Godless people will.

Proverbs 29:2 NKJV

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

WHAT VOTING IS NOT

1) Voting is not a Valentine

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

2) Voting is not to make a Point but to make a Difference

3) Voting is not selecting a spiritual leader

3 KINDS OF LEADERS

1) JOSIAH = Righteous people who promote righteous things

• Josiah, a great king who cleaned out the house of God and rediscovered His Word and brought it back to the people.

2) JEZEBEL & AHAB = Unrighteous people who promote wicked things

• They lead Israel to idolatry, worship of Baal, Moloc, and Ishtar. They persecuted the Bible teachers and closed the churches. They murdered innocent people. They stole from citizens. Ahab was a passive weak man who was lead by the emotions his wife Jezebel. Jezebel was a promiscuous manipulative woman who controlled his husband.

3) JEHU = Flawed people used for good things

• Jehu was an outsider, a controversial outspoken person. But he was a flawed man that tolerated some idolatry. He allowed golden calves to be worship.

WHAT IS VOTING?

• Voting is your power to pick the best available path towards the welfare of the people.

Matthew 5:13a NLT

“You are the salt of the earth…

Matthew 5:14 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

• When we are being the salt & the light of the earth, we are helping to slow down the decaying of our society/culture.
• When you vote, you are voting for the policies which help slow down the societal decaying.

HOW WOULD GOD VOTE?

Joshua 5:13 ESV

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”

Joshua 5:14 ESV

And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

• God is a Kingdom-Independent.

HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE THE ELECTIONS?

1) Republicans vs Democrats

2) God’s Kingdom is Independent

• Who’s in the White House is less important than who’s on the throne in Heaven.
• Our hope is not in a political party.
• The advancement of the gospel does not rely at all upon who’s president.

Psalm 145:13 ESV

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

We do not need a political reform to see a spiritual revival.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

3) Never turn the mission field into your enemy

John 3:17 ESV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Matthew 5:44 NLT

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

4) Christ Over Politics

• Christians should be known more for Christ than politics

Colossians 3:17 NLT

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.