Lordship vs.
Serving
Published in the Kingdom of heaven
Year of Our Lord, 1991
Scripture references are from New King James
Version
The moment I acknowledge the
lordship of the State over any area of my life, I cease to be a Christian.
"You say you don't
want a driver license anymore? What's your beef? What seems to be your problem? It doesn't
cost that much, just run down to Department of Motor Vehicles and spend maybe $15 or $20
for four years. It only costs about $5 a year - that isn't much to ask. I don't understand
you, Paul. Why can't you get in line with all the rest of us?" It's a good question.
What's my beef? Why don't
I do it if it's so simple? It ought to be simple. Look at all the people out there who
have a driver license. They've all taken the tests. First they take a written test. If
they pass 70 percent of the questions, they go on to the next stage. That's always
concerned me. What if one of the questions they missed was, "What do you do when you
see a sign that says STOP?" They ought to require that one hundred percent of the
answers be correct.1 James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. Whoever doesn't get one
hundred percent right isn't worthy of driving on those highways. The second test is
driving around town. If you pass that test, you pay fees and they issue a plastic card. |
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"It's not that
difficult, just go down and do it," everybody says. "Quit putting up a big fuss
about nothing! There is nothing holy, there is nothing scriptural about not obtaining a
driver license." At least that is what everybody tells me. Enough people have been
saying it, that I began to wonder myself, "Is there anything scriptural about not
obtaining a driver license? Or is there something in scripture commanding us to
obtain a driver license?" I know that we are not to cause derision, we're supposed to
love our neighbors as ourselves. If somebody wants you to do something, you ought to do
it, right?2 Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you,
live peaceably with all men.
I started checking out the
scripture to see if I was out on a limb. Did Jesus command us either not to obtain
a driver license or to obtain a driver license? I checked the Strong's Concordance
under the word "driver," and couldn't find any listings in the New Testament.
Then I looked in the Concordance for the word license and the word is not used by
Jesus or the Apostles. If I would have stopped there I would have assumed that Jesus said
nothing either way. He didn't say anything about driver and He said nothing about license.
Therefore, He must have left it to my own discretion. No, that is not an appropriate study
of the Bible. We need to take a look at what a driver license is and its usage and then go
to the Bible to see what Jesus has to say about it.3 2 Timothy 2:15 Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
Meaning of "driver" and "license"
There has been much study
on the term driver license. People want to know why we need a driver license
to move about in modern society. Why do we need to ask permission from somebody else to
use the highways? Originally the word driver was a commercial term. It was defined
in the statutes as someone who was hired to drive. Driver did not have the
general meaning of "any individual who was behind the controls of a car." It had
a specific meaning: "driver is someone hired to transport goods or
passengers." A taxi driver, as an example, was a driver. He served money and
money interests. Because he served money and not God, he was brought under commerce and
regulated. He was required to have a driver license or operator's license.
Let's take an example to
make this a little easier. When you use a telephone you pick it up, dial, talk with
someone, and then hang up. Does that make you a telephone operator? No. We've all known
that for a long time. Fortunately no one tried to profiteer by claiming telephone users
are telephone operators. Imagine if you needed a license just to use the telephone. Now
that I've suggested it, maybe that's right around the corner. Maybe somebody is saying,
"Wow! We didn't think of that one! Let's sponsor a bill making telephone users
telephone operators. We could create a whole new agency." If this bill passed,
bureaucrats could come into your home to regulate anyone using a telephone. Today,
we are not being regulated as telephone operators, but we are being regulated as
automobile operators or drivers - because we use a car.
Again, when automobiles
first appeared, the term driver was a commercial term used for those hired to haul
goods or passengers, but people were afraid of the automobile. It was a "newfangled
contraption," different from the horse and buggy. It was actually safer than a horse
and buggy, but because it was a new idea, people were afraid of it. There were men who
took advantage of this fear.4 2 Peter 2:3 By covetousness they will
exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and
their destruction does not slumber. These men started applying the term
driver toward everyone, whether they were engaged in commerce or not. Today if you
simply sit behind the controls, put your hands on the steering wheel and turn the key in
the ignition, you are a driver. Ask anybody. In common language, we are all drivers.
Anyone who sits behind the controls of a vehicle is a driver, it is not strictly a
commercial term. The States differentiate between a non-commercial driver license and a
commercial driver license or C.D.L.5 ORS 801.207 "Commercial
driver license." "Commercial driver license" means a driver license issued
by this State or any other jurisdiction that authorizes its holder to drive a commercial
motor vehicle if the holder also has any necessary indorsements to the license.>
Driving is a regulated area, whether you are engaged in commerce or not. According to the
statute books of Oregon, all "owners" and "operators," are granted the
"privilege of using the highways."6 ORS 801.050 Privilege
of motorist to use highways. Subject to compliance with the motor vehicle law of this
State, owners and operators of motor vehicles are granted the privilege of using the
highways of this State.> The granting of the privilege is via a "driver
license."7 ORS 801.245 "Driver License."
"Driver license" or "license" may have any or all of the meanings
provided for the terms under this section as required or appropriate under the section
referring to the term. The term "driver license" may be used interchangeably
with "license" and either term may be used in any or all of the following ways:
(1) It may refer to a document issued by this State or any other jurisdiction as evidence
of a grant of driving privileges. (2) It may refer to general driving privileges granted
by this State or another jurisdiction.>
5 ORS 801.207 "Commercial
driver license." "Commercial driver license" means a driver license issued
by this State or any other jurisdiction that authorizes its holder to drive a commercial
motor vehicle if the holder also has any necessary indorsements to the license.>
Driving is a regulated area, whether you are engaged in commerce or not. According to the
statute books of Oregon, all "owners" and "operators," are granted the
"privilege of using the highways."6 ORS 801.050 Privilege
of motorist to use highways. Subject to compliance with the motor vehicle law of this
State, owners and operators of motor vehicles are granted the privilege of using the
highways of this State.> The granting of the privilege is via a "driver
license."7 ORS 801.245 "Driver License."
"Driver license" or "license" may have any or all of the meanings
provided for the terms under this section as required or appropriate under the section
referring to the term. The term "driver license" may be used interchangeably
with "license" and either term may be used in any or all of the following ways:
(1) It may refer to a document issued by this State or any other jurisdiction as evidence
of a grant of driving privileges. (2) It may refer to general driving privileges granted
by this State or another jurisdiction.>
Now that we have seen how
the word driver is used, let's look at the word license. A license is
permission to do something that would otherwise be unlawful.8 LICENSE -
Permission by some competent authority to do some act which, without such permission,
would be illegal. Black's Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition. It is a granting
of authority to do some specified thing.9 LICENSE - Permission to do a
particular thing, to exercise a certain privilege or to carry on a particular business or
to pursue a certain occupation. Black's Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition. We
won't even deal with commerce, we'll just say a driver is one who is behind the
controls of an automobile. A license is the grant of permission to be behind
the controls of an automobile.10 LICENSE - Privilege from State or
sovereign. Black's Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition. We won't worry about how
the legislators, lawyers and judges define it. Who cares? Let's take the worst condition,
let's put it in their arena, where they want it. They want us all to be considered drivers
and they want us all to have a grant of permission from an appropriate jurisdiction. And
lo and behold, they have set up a monopoly. There is only one place where you can obtain a
license to drive, and, not surprisingly, it is from them.
They set up the
Department of Motor Vehicles to be your supervisor and lord.11 Revelation
13:15-17 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of
the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast
to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
And you can't go anywhere else for permission to drive. The Embassy of
Heaven Church members are currently being persecuted because they have elected to be under
the Lordship of the Church rather than the State. Lordship. That is what we are talking
about. The lordship of people over people - the nobility classes. The heightening of one
person over another. The taking of greater seats.12 Matthew 23:6
"They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues."
The imposing of heavy burdens upon others, while they themselves are not required to pick
them up with their little finger.13 Luke 11:46 And He said, "Woe
to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do
not touch the burdens with one of your fingers."
You say, "That is not
possible, everyone must have a driver license who sits behind the wheel of a car."
But have you ever thought about it? Do you see what is going on today? A police officer
must have a driver license. Yet, who is going to enforce it? Do you think he is going to
turn himself in? It is all for a pretense.14 Luke 20:46-47 "Beware
of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,
the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows'
houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater
condemnation." Who writes up the tickets? Who is lording over who?
Whose conscience are you being brought into subjection to?15 1
Corinthians 10:29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For
why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? Can you ever argue
whether your actions were prudent? Or whether you were working for the Lord? Or whether
God needs it or not? No, you find yourself in a position where they say, "It's the
law and you broke it!" The law becomes your accuser.16 John 19:7
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die,
because He made Himself the Son of God."
Licensing is lordship
Lordship is a salvationary
issue. It is not something to be talked about lightly.17 Luke 19:27
"But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and
slay them before me." It is the whole essence of the New Testament.18
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon." People say, "Paul, why are you making such a big deal
over a driver license? Where in the scripture does it say you can't obtain a driver
license?" I tell you I opened up the Book and found it from the beginning to the end.
It didn't use the word driver and it didn't use the word license. But it did
say we are not to be brought under the lordship of men - under the lordship of Caesar.19
1 Samuel 12:19-21 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the
LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a
king for ourselves." Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done
all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD
with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which
cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." And it said it from
the beginning to the end.20 Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty."
The first scripture that
comes to mind is at Matthew 21:20 and also is recorded at Luke 22:24. The Apostles were
becoming aware of Jesus' Last Will and Testament. He was preparing a Kingdom that they
were to inherit - the Kingdom of Heaven. And a strife arose among them. Do you know what
they argued about? They were disputing about who was going to be highest in the Kingdom.
What seats shall they take? And they were all scurrying to be in the foremost positions in
the Kingdom of Heaven.21 Luke 22:24 Now there was also a dispute among
them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. Jesus,
observing their strife, rebuked them strongly. He said, "The nations out there lord
it over one another, but it is not to be so with you. I want you to serve, not lord. For
those of you who want to be the greatest, I want you to be the least." In other
words, He was tearing down lordship.22 Luke 22:25-26 And He said to
them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise
authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he
who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who
serves."
How does this apply to the
Department of Motor Vehicles and a driver license? Does the Department of Motor Vehicles
do anything but lord it over others? They dictate whether you can use the highways or not.
And the criteria they use is not necessarily based on your driving skills. It may be
political. You may have offended the court. You may not have appeared when they said to
appear. You may have failed to obey one of the court's orders. Then they say you are
suspended - it is illegal for you to drive. Are not the courts also a form of lordship?
Who are these people to judge the Kingdom of Heaven? Who are they to judge a citizen of
Heaven? Who are they to judge someone else's servant? And yet that is exactly what they
are doing.23 Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his
own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make
him stand.
The Department of Motor
Vehicles is an agency of the State to lord over the highways. They control the use of
the highways, giving driving privileges to whom they choose and taking them from whom they
choose. It reminds me of the passage in Matthew, Chapter 4, in which Jesus was confronted
with Satan. Satan took Him up to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world
and said, "If you just bow down and worship me," or in other words, "If you
will fall under my lordship, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world." And
Jesus' response was simply this, "Get thee hence Satan! For there is only One whom we
shall worship, and that is God."24 Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil
took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will
fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it
is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
If you will just go down
and obtain a driver license, you can have all the highways of the world! "You can go
anywhere you want if you will just come down and worship us." Paying your fees to
the Department of Motor Vehicles is a form of worship. Obeying all of their statutes is a
form of worship. They say, "We are your lord. We will tell you
whether or not you can use the highways." Where is the place for God? Where is the
place for the Church?
What if Jesus says,
"Go upon the highways. Preach the Gospel. Baptize them in my name."25
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even
to the end of the age." Amen. And the State says, "But first you
must obtain a license from us." What if the teachings of Jesus are in opposition to
the State? Are you going to allow the State to license you before preaching His Gospel?
Are you going to allow that which you have been commanded to do from the Highest be
subject to regulation by men? What if the State says, "You've offended us, your
driver license is suspended. You can't drive anymore." Now there can be no more going
out on the highways preaching the gospel - at least without violating men's commands. Have
you not prevented yourself from doing the will of God by entangling yourself with men's
regulations?
Jesus said, "If you
love Me, then obey My commands."26 John 14:23 Jesus answered and
said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him and make Our home with him." He didn't say,
"Go out and obey the commands of the world." He said, "Obey My
commands!" Lordship. We are dealing with lordship. Open up the passages of scripture.
Take a look at them. The topic of lordship shows up constantly. Almost every page deals
with lordship.
How many masters can you
serve? Why are we concerned about masters? Because Jesus says you can only serve one.27
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon." Because we're dealing with lordship. How many lords can
you have? Can you obey two lords? Can you obey Jesus Christ and preach His Gospel and
also obey the Department of Motor Vehicles, a State agency that lords over men? Christ
wants us not to lord over others. You cannot have lordship in the Kingdom of Heaven,
because you have only one Lord and that is God. Amongst ourselves we are brethren, we are
brothers and sisters, we are not to lord it over one another.28 Matthew
23:8-12 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and
you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He
who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But
he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." If we are not to
lord it over one another, then neither should we be lorded over. If I participate in the
Department of Motor Vehicles and allow them to control my driving, have I not participated
in lordship? Most Christians believe we are not to lord over one another. But we are also
not to allow others to lord over us. The lording works both ways. To lord over others
and to allow others to lord over us are part of the same structure that Jesus is breaking
down. His remedy? Serve. Serve one another. Serving is another form of government - it
is Christ's way to replace lording over one another.29 Galatians
5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Forgiving others tears down lordship
Christ gives an example of
lording in his parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant owed much to his master and
the master demanded that it be paid. When the servant could not pay, the master ordered
that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold to pay the debt.30
Matthew 18:23-25 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted
to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was
brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his
master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that
payment be made." The servant fell on his knees before the master and
begged saying, "Have patience with me and I will pay you all." The master was
moved with compassion and forgave the servant all of his debt.31
Matthew 18:26-27 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have
patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with
compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt."
The servant, after being
set free, went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him money and demanded
payment. The fellow servant pleaded, "Please spare me," but the servant would
not. Instead, he had the man thrown in prison until he could pay off the debt. 32
Matthew 18:28-30 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who
owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,
'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,
'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him
into prison till he should pay the debt." When his master found out
what the unforgiving servant did, he said, "O wicked servant, I forgave you all your
debt, should you not have compassion on your fellow servant as I pitied you?" And in
his anger the master turned over the servant to the jailers until he paid all that he
owed.33 Matthew 18:31-34 "So when his fellow servants saw what had
been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you
all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your
fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to
the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him."
Jesus went on to say that
this is the way our Heavenly Father will treat us unless we forgive our brothers from the
heart.34 Matthew 18:35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you
if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
It is a parable about tearing down lordship. Here is a servant who was being lorded over
by his master and was also in a position of lording over his fellow servant. The servant's
mistake was in lording over his fellow servant, instead of forgiving him, as his master
had forgiven him. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, a peculiar government, lordship must be
torn down - lordship over one another will not be tolerated in the Kingdom.
People who did not
understand this principle of lording approached Jesus saying, "Good teacher," or
"Good Master." Jesus corrected them, "Why do you call me good? Only One is
good and that is God!"35 Matthew 19:17 So He said to him,
"Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to
enter into life, keep the commandments." Even Jesus Himself refused the
position of Lord.36 Luke 12:13-14 Then one from the crowd said to Him,
"Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to
him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" He kept
correcting His disciples, "I have come to serve and be an example to all."37
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many." He didn't come to be a King. He
didn't come to be a Lord. He came to serve. He came to be an example. He washed Peter's
feet. Does a King sit down and wash His people's feet?38 John 13:12-15
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,
"Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well,
for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to
wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you." Never in the history of the world. The Kings of the world
lord it over their subjects. But Jesus brought us a different form of government. A
government of serving, not a government of lordship.39 Mark 10:42 But
Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are
considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise
authority over them."
Man's government once served people
Look at the States? Do
they do anything besides exercise lordship? Possibly during the early stages of the United
States, the government served the people. The United States Constitution reflects that the
government is to serve. The government was given limited powers to set up a Post Office,
to set up Post Roads,40 Constitution of the United States of
America - Article 1, Section 8, The Congress shall have power . . . To establish post
offices and post roads.> to coin money and to establish equal weights and measures.41
Constitution of the United States of America - Article 1, Section 8, The Congress
shall have power . . . To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and
fix the standard of weights and measures.> These were services the people needed. These
services could be used by all the people, without the government entering into people's
beliefs.
What has the government
done now? They abolished the Post Office, it is now a private corporation. They abolished
the coining of money, it has been handed over to a private corporation. And money isn't
being coined - all we have left is paper. And the paper is not money, but that is another
topic. They destroyed the three separate branches of government. Now the courts are just
tools of the legislature. And Congress and the State legislatures don't serve the people,
they make laws compelling the people to do as they command. They have forgotten
that man is supposed to be directed from above, directed by God.42
Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk
in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
Power to lord in hands of mere men
The driver license is only
one little thing, but the world makes it into a big thing. Have you ever observed what
happens when Paul Revere goes out on the highways and is pulled over by a policeman? Do
you know what they do? Since Paul Revere does not have a driver license from the State and
doesn't recognize their institutions of violent government, they throw him in jail! And do
you know what they do to the car? The first thing they do is pull off the
"Heaven" license plates. The very first thing - even before they tow. Those
plates come off so fast that if you blink, you'll miss it! If they were dealer plates, the
police wouldn't think anything of it. But because they say "Heaven" and are a
reminder of the Kingdom of Heaven, they pull those plates off. That tells me we're right
on course. They're highly offended by the Kingdom of Heaven.43 2
Corinthians 2:15-16 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being
saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to
death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these
things? They cannot stand a Government of service because they do not
serve. They only want a government of lordship. They love a government of lordship because
they're in the higher seats.44 Mark 12:38-40 Then He said to them in His
teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love
greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at
feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will
receive greater condemnation."
Imagine being a police
officer for a day. You get to stop people, write them a citation and spoil their day. The
law is their accuser. You don't have to worry, you have all the immunity you need. The
entire court system protects you. And they believe everything you say, whether you say the
truth or not. The court says, "Yes, we know this police officer. He has been on the
force for ten years. We trust his word more than this other man we just met today."
What awesome power you would have as a police officer.45 Acts 8:3 As
for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and
women, committing them to prison.
Why is this power in the
hands of mere men? Man is an abuser of power. Jesus understood this.46
John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no
need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. That is
why He described the Kingdom of Heaven as a place where everyone serves.47
Matthew 23:11-12 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Serving tears down power. Leave the power in God's hands where it should be. No man
should rule over another man because man is not capable of handling this kind of power.48
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
In Matthew Chapter 23,
Jesus goes on a rampage. He's upset. He has His woes to the world - to the Pharisees and
Scribes. He instructs us, "Do not call another man teacher, for only One is our
teacher, only One is our master, that is Christ, and Christ is God." Do not lord it
over one another.49 Matthew 23:10 "And do not be called teachers;
for One is your Teacher, the Christ."
I saw lordship in action a
couple years ago and I was amazed. Someone sent me a $10 postal money order. I went down
to the post office to cash it. This particular postal money order was blank. It didn't say
who it was from or who it was for. I presented the postal money order to the clerk
expecting to receive $10. The woman said, "I'm sorry but this money order has no name
on it so I can't pay it." I took it back and wrote in the name Paul Revere and gave
it to her. Then she wanted to see identification. I was surprised, but pulled out the
Church picture identification card. She looked at it and said, "How do I know that
you're Paul Revere?"
All of a sudden I saw the
whole thing rolling out before me - the clerk was exercising lordship over me. And I had
to build a defense. There I was trying to convince her that I was somebody. I said,
"You can look in the phone book, or you can ask someone - just about everybody in
town knows me." Finally, she smiled, pulled out $10 and gave it to me. But I'll never
forget that day, because here was a clerk who seized an opportunity at lordship. And she
succeeded.
In Romans 13:8 Apostle
Paul says, "Owe no man anything but the continuing debt to love one another."
This passage is crucial. He was saying, "Do not lord it over one another. Leave no
debts outstanding." Settle your accounts by evening, leave nothing outstanding.50
Exodus 22:25-27 "If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you
shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. If you ever
take your neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes
down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep
in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious."
The only debt is love. And what is love but serving, doing to others as you would want to
have done to yourself, that is the entire message. Do not lord over one another. Do not
be in a position of lording, and do not be lorded over. Both of them are a part of
that form of government that is a sin according to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of
Heaven requires service. Serve one another. More specifically, give your entire allegiance
to the Kingdom of Heaven, to God, to His Son, and in like manner, serve one another. Love
one another.51 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from
the beginning, that we should love one another. I am not loving anybody by
going down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and obtaining a driver license and bringing
myself under servitude to the State of Oregon.52 1 Corinthians 7:23 You
were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Then I am required to
be obedient to manmade laws. I have violated the Kingdom of Heaven - my salvation is at
stake. Anyone who goes down and obtains a driver license is going to perish. They have
worshiped the beast. They have committed idolatry, they have worshiped another god, with a
small "g."53 Galatians 4:8-9 But then, indeed, when you did
not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known
God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly
elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
License is lordship under other gods
Why won't I obtain a
driver license? Because I'm going to hell!54 Revelation 14:9-11 Then a
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast
and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of
His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and
ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name." It's not just a simple plastic card
with a picture on it. It represents my loyalty to other gods. What will we be doing when
the Lord comes?55 Matthew 24:44- 51 "Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise
servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I
say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says
in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day
when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in
two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth." Will He see us standing for the Kingdom of Heaven? Will we
be working diligently evangelizing for the Kingdom of Heaven? Or will He find us
participating in lordship programs with other gods because we didn't think He was coming
back? No, I don't believe this is a small matter - the driver license is not a joke. The
driver license is prima facie evidence, for you legalists, of the relationship that you
have with other gods.56 Matthew 7:16 "You will know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?"
When you reach into your back pocket and pull out a driver license issued by Satan, don't
tell me you know the Kingdom of Heaven. I think someone caught you. I think they deceived
you. I think there was a lot of verbal abuse to convince even the elect,57
Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs
and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." that men
should rule over men and not be ruled over by God.58 1 Samuel 8:6-7 But
the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So
Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people
in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me,
that I should not reign over them." Why the statement, "We must
obey God rather than men?"59 Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other
apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Because that's the Kingdom of Heaven. In the kingdoms of the world, men rule over men.
That is why the city authorities are troubled.60 Acts 17:6-7 But when
they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city,
crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason
has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying
there is another king; Jesus." We are attacking the very heart of the
world - men ruling over men. If you take away men ruling over men, there is no place for
the city authorities. What would they find themselves doing? Serving one another. Isn't
that what they should have been doing in the first place? And isn't it interesting how
every single one of those cities, counties, states and nations started? They started by
serving.
They claim highways as their own
Then they changed. They
first gained acceptance from the people by serving the people. And as they gained power,
they changed their position from serving to lording. Jesus gives us a parable which
parallels this exact situation. It is the parable of the wicked husbandmen, Matthew 21:33.61
Matthew 21:33-41 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a
vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased
it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent
his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers
took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants,
more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to
them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said
among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So
they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner
of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him,
"He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other
vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." He
talks about a lord who had prepared a vineyard - it could be good old earth. And he set
servants over it to be caretakers. And these servants, at some point in time, decided the
vineyard was theirs. Since they claimed to own it, they could do whatever they wanted with
it. And when the lord of the vineyard sent his servants to reap the harvest, they were
forbidden to do so.62 Matthew 21:34-35 "Now when vintage-time drew
near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the
vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another."
Today we are sent to reap
the harvest. "My God sent me out to use the highways." And the servants are
saying, "No!" They claim the highways for themselves, they claim them as their
own. They do not recognize that the highways belong to God. And the parable goes on
to say that eventually the son of the lord was sent to partake of the vineyard. When they
saw his son they said, "Let's take him and kill him, and the vineyard will be our
inheritance."63 Matthew 21:38 "But when the vinedressers saw
the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize
his inheritance.'"
How many fathers do you
know who, upon finding out that his servants killed his son, would say, "Now that you
have killed my son, the inheritance is yours." No, it doesn't work that way. The
father is going to say, "I'm going to destroy you wicked, wicked servants! You did
not do as I instructed, and I will replace you with others who will render the fruits in
due season."64 Matthew 21:40-41 "Therefore, when the owner of
the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him,
"He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other
vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Is it
not about time? God is sending His Son. He is raising up children of God. And when these
people are beaten and killed over not obtaining a plastic card, then God will utterly
destroy those wicked servants who claimed the vineyard as their own and replace them with
others who will render the fruits at harvest time.
Jesus instructs us in the
ways of the Kingdom of Heaven, "Tear down lordship!"65 Mark
1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent,
and believe in the gospel." There were people in His time who wanted
their children to receive Jesus. But others tried to bar the children from coming to Him.
But Jesus said, "No, this is the Kingdom! Let the children come unto Me."66
Luke 18:15-17 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the
disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the
little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child
will by no means enter it." What do children represent? - The tearing
down of lordship! - He is no respecter of persons. "Let them all come unto Me! You
are all brothers and sisters." No earthly lords. No being lorded over. He goes on to
say, "You must leave all." He instructs us to leave everything. No lords. Your
wife will not lord. Your husband, your children, your property, even your very own life
will not be lord, but you shall serve.67 Matthew 19:24-30 "And
again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When His disciples heard it, they were greatly
astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said
to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.
Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you,
that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who
have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal
life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Nowhere
in your entire life will you be involved in lordship.
Again, what is lordship?
It is where you rule over another or somebody rules over you. The only Lord we have is God
Himself.68 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For even if there are so-called gods,
whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is
one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things, and through whom we live. That is the Kingdom
of Heaven - leaving all forms of lordship. What about the driver license? The scripture
says leave the driver license. Leave the agencies of the State. If the States wants to
serve, then let them serve, but they are not to lord. And as long as the States
continues to lord, I do not recognize their activities. I will not participate in any
capacity. I will not join their agencies to lord over others and I will not be involved in
putting myself under the control of these agencies.69 1 Corinthians
6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful
for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Kingdom of Heaven
is government of serving
The Kingdom of Heaven is
not made up of lordship. The Kingdom of Heaven is made up of serving. There is only
service in the Kingdom of Heaven.70 Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren,
have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another. You cannot serve both governments. You
cannot serve both a government of lordship, as the States are doing today, and the Kingdom
of Heaven, which is a government of service.
I always thought it was
strange to hear a police officer say, "I'm a Christian." He lords it over
others. He brings people under the lordship of the law - the laws of men. Then he turns
around and says, "I'm a servant of Christ, I'm of the Kingdom of Heaven." I say,
"HYPOCRISY!" He can't do both jobs. He can't be a police officer for the world,
and a servant in the Kingdom of Heaven. He does to others what he would not want done
to himself.71 Matthew 23:4 "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to
bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of
their fingers." The State and all of its institutions do the same.
The courts are the gateway of hell. Judges routinely do to others what they would not want
done to themselves. But they justify their actions. They even kill Christians. They take
the lives of Christians, locking them in jail, because the Christians wouldn't seek
permission from their god. They perform violence upon the Kingdom of Heaven.72
Zephaniah 3:3-4 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves
That leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her
priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.
Violence upon the children of God. Violence upon Christ's servants. Violence upon the
Gospel.73 Matthew 23:29-34 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the
righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been
partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Therefore you are witnesses against
yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the
measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the
condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some
of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues
and persecute from city to city."
I've written many letters
to the Governor of the State making them aware of their violent acts against the Church of
Jesus Christ.74 Matthew 23:37-39 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one
who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not
willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no
more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
I have never received one letter to date acknowledging or apologizing or correcting their
violence upon the Embassy of Heaven Church. What communion has light with darkness?75
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what
fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
The darkness is afraid of the light, and will not come to the light. The State will not
admit that it is a government of violence. Everyone I know involved with the State fears
the State because it is a government of violence, it is a government of lordship. Lordship
is the beginning stage of violence. If we are brothers and sisters in Christ, there is not
violence, but love - we help one another.76 Galatians 6:2 Bear one
another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. But if we practice
lordship it leads to violence, it leads to hardship, it leads to hate, it leads to
killing.77 James 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Now take this word and
look at your life. Take a look at what you worship. What governments do you participate
in? What governments do you flee from? Choose today whom you shall serve.78
Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for
me and my house, we will serve the LORD." You cannot serve both. You
will either serve the kingdoms of the world or you will serve the Kingdom of Heaven. And
the world will persecute heaven, but heaven will forgive the world.79
Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified
Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His
garments and cast lots. In His Name we pray. Amen.80
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which
is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven,
and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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