God’s Big Government
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
“Who’s government is it anyway?” the polite but irritated man asked. “Isn’t it the peoples government? Or does it just belong to the crooked politicians who do with it whatever they want?” To which the seasoned pastor responded, “Neither really, the Lord said the government really belongs to Him.”
Often when we think of government, or governing, we think of rules and policies set down by elected officials to help things stay in order, or to keep people from harming or abusing one another. God has the same desire. He wants conflict, chaos, and confusion to cease. He desires for people to live at peace with one another. He wants prosperity not poverty, health not sickness, freedom not slavery, and ultimately life and not death. In reality, all our desires for good and happiness to come among our citizens originates from Him. Our desires come from His heart and are born into ours. But peace and safety cannot come from rules or proper policy making. Rules and their corresponding consequences are of little value if a person does not want to keep them. If a criminal desires to steal from a fellow citizen, and is willing to take the risk of incurring the consequences, he or she will likely do it.
It is the heart that keeps us from doing evil and provokes us to do good. Not rules. Enter the Governor of governors—Jesus.
God’s government is different from ours. We begin at the hands and hope it eventually moves into the heart. God begins with the heart and knows that it will eventually move into the hands. God governs from the inside out. This is why it says “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,” because there will always be more room for His government to increase in our hearts. I like to tell our people (somewhat tongue in cheek), that this is the only place where we are in favor of “big government.”
I’d like to think God agrees with that.
“Lord, we pray, increase Your government over the State of Oregon, in Jesus name, amen”.
Jim Moore is Co-Founder and Pastor with Pray Oregon as well as Director for Salem House of Prayer. He lives in Salem with his wife, Linda. You can contact Jim and Linda Moore at Salem House of Prayer, www.salemhouseofprayer.org, or email them at: fivefoldmin@yahoo.com
