Reformation Hope Church Brookfield WI Dr Wayne Sedlak

Our Message by Dr. Wayne Sedlak is entitled Biblical Under-Girding: Plague... Quarantine... Famine. Join us live at 11:35.

The biblical doctrine of plague and its consequence, quarantine is, like so many other areas contained in the Law of the Lord, is underdeveloped by commentators, pastors, and theologians. One of the reasons for this reluctance to deal with these two issues (plague, quarantine) is that it is presumed the word of God is primitive – not medically and scientifically up-to-date – so as to be trusted with the subject. Tragically, it is the churches themselves that have helped foster that view. This is simply an area in which a person could have lived his entire life, never having heard even one sermon upon the subject!

When one studies this subject, there are quite a few surprises the Holy Spirit has interwoven throughout the subject’s theme (plague) as it is pursued in the Word of the Lord. Though the dual-subjects of plague and quarantine are heavily stressed in dealing with the disease group called “Leprosy” (Lev. 13), elsewhere the overall practice involved with plague and quarantine is invariably concerned with something considered by the word of God to be a sign of God’s consuming anger…

…famine.

Famine is repeatedly addressed in Scripture. When a nation is plagued – and that can be any one of a number of dangerous calamities – famine is the ONE consequence to such plagues about which the Church is to be most concerned. And it is famine the church must be equipped to handle, and to help our neighbors understand as well.

“Plague” is used as a term likened unto an invading army and incorporates all kinds of overwhelming calamities engulfing a nation, including, of course, pestilence and disease. So what is the biblical response? More importantly, what is it that the Lord is making us to understand concerning as Will?

This is yet another in an ongoing series from the Law of the Lord concerning Sound Economic training and principles, the Church, pastors vs. “hirelings,” biblical constitutionalism and governance, the civil laws of God, Second Amendment issues, Oath of Office, Political leadership, principles surrounding Quarantine, Lesser Magistrates, and other biblical topics relevant to the “situation and terrain” of the current social landscape].

OATHS

The American public is torn in their allegiance. The confusion within the churches only adds to the confusion in the streets. People in the churches, and certainly pastors and elders who lead them, run the gamut of opposing, conflicted opinions about the necessity of being “concerned” with issues surrounding the civil magistrate.

The Bible never taught that oaths increase the Truth and believability of a publicly sworn act. God’s Law teaches us the oath increases the SANCTIONS against the officer who breaks his oath, as in the historic persecution against the Huguenots who were deceived into trusting corrupt officials who successfully deceived them into a deadly sleep, figuratively and later, brutally literal!

The issue runs much deeper than public office… though, explaining the responsibilities of Romans 13:1 invariably leads us to consideration of the sacredness of the oath used to “install” public officials… and others. Ultimately, the oath defrauded leads us the biblical doctrine of Interposition of the Lesser Magistrates, a position expounded at length for over 40 years by Dr. Wayne Sedlak. (See this site, “Interposition: The Revolt of the Lesser Magistrates.”)

The Bible teaches us again in the Apostle Paul’s extremely perplexing statement concerning Ananias, the religio-political ruler of the Jews of the High Priestly office:

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

Then said Paul, I wist not [“I knew not], brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. –

How could Paul say, “I didn’t KNOW …he was the high priest”? Of course, he knew WHO Ananias was, as a person. Additionally, the High Priest also wore the clothing of office when he conducted Judicial inquiries, in which Paul was now placed. Paul, once one of the hierarchy of Jerusalem’s persecution of the churches, certainly understood the circumstances and individuals surrounding him. However, Paul wasn’t denying he knew WHO Ananias was. Paul was teaching us why he could refuse to acknowledge the Ruler’s authority to continue to prosecute his case. Paul was utilizing a set of precepts governing magistrates according to the Civil Laws of God… precepts no longer taught in the churches today!

Paul most emphatically gives us the focus from the Law of the Lord concerning God’s repudiation of a corrupt civil official. God is MUCH LESS tolerant of the perversely broken oath than we… as we will see herein, as Paul the Apostle speaks immediately and directly of God’s utter defrocking and condemnation of the civil magistrate who breaks his oath of office.

The prophet exclaimed “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?” The book of Psalms clearly builds on that theological understanding when it asks churches to understand:

“Can the throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee, they who frame perversity/trouble by law?” – Psalm 94:20

The oath of office is often the first signal God providentially uses to warn the people of the underlying nature of perversity and corruption in heart.

Call us if you want key biblical concepts sets in audio and/or video sets, pursued in depth in an ever-increasing number of social, theological, economic, and political topics drawn directly from the Word of God. Nowhere else will you find explanations on these topics as you will find here. If you DO find such explanations as herein presented elsewhere, let us know.

Sunday April 26 2020 Sermon Can also be viewed on YouTube Here https://youtu.be/jJk0heBVPXk

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

This sermon deals with the Christian basis for resisting Statism – Statism is the idolatry that sets the ruler above God’s Holy Law (1st Commandment) and is, therefore, idolatrous. The call for Interposition of the lesser magistrate is a biblically based doctrine of temporal redemption. The responsible and godly call to PROPERLY OBEY the Lord who, as King, commands in His Word ALL magistrates obey him (cf. Psalm 2: 10-12)…

Key to understanding this, and all aspects of our faith, is what is revealed in Scripture. Such understanding does NOT begin with government. It begins with Christ and how He reveals His Will in His Word. Thus, the High Priest represented Christ. With the gems of his breastplate and the holy insignia of his garments naming all the tribes of Israel…in the person of the High Priest, all Israel entered into the Holy of Holies (representatively). So do we with Christ Jesus, who has entered into the Holy sanctuary for us. Christ represents us as our High Priest and rules the world as King of kings over all nations. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.”

As such NO ONE person or world entity, has any right to forbid our worship of the Lord. Christ’s Body is His alone. No man, governor, President, Court, nor legislature may forbid the worship and obedience of the Lord. Such was the lesson taught to Pharaoh who would have forbidden the worship unto the Lord of the People of Israel. In his attempt to forbid the worship of the Lord, Pharaoh and all Egypt LOST THEIR WHOLE NATION in the righteous Judgment of God. NO ONE forbids the worship of the one True God.

God’s Word commands the obedience of the Civil magistrate who is COMMANDED to uphold the way of life so ordered by the Lord (cf. I Timothy 2: 1- 7). Furthermore, acting criminally draws the heat of God’s wrath (cf. Psalm 21: 8-9) for violating God’s Law (not given for salvation but for ordering society and individual ways of living (cf. Paul in Romans 7: 10, 12, note also vss. 22, 25). David in writing Psalm 21, was attempting to defend the righteousness and obedience to the Lord, as it was opposed even within Israel. So, Paul writes, “They are not all Israel which are of Israel.”

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?”

– Psalm 94: 20

The Hebrew of the word “mischief” of Psalm 94 (above) is much more serious than what the term means today. It is the word עָמָל ʻâmâl, aw-mawl' – turmoil, vexatious regulations increasing labor (unto poverty), misery and perversity of law.

Finally, the terror of the civil magistrate who acts as a law unto himself, is a mirror reflection of some in society who care little for righteousness and who want government to allow them to take from others to benefit for themselves. The civil magistrate has derived authority and is commanded by God to defend a way of life that protects uprightness (cf. I Timothy 2: 1ff).

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

This Message, entitled Teaching the people "The Goal of the Law" began with the powerful testimony of the Early Church- certainly one for us to emulate. The care the Christians showed during times of pestilence and plague, was a consistent kindness to all. They loved one another selflessly, often times to their own demise.

Genesis 28 speaks of the Precepts of the Law of God. It's not a RIGOR, but rather shows us the Promises of God, the Doctrines of God and certainly shows us His character.

So, how do we, in our Study of Luke 11, make "Thy Kingdom Come?" God will establish it! Check Genesis 28:20! He will prove it! Watch how Jacob "argues" God's promises back to Him.

As Christian people, we are Chosen; We are Holy; and we are Sacrificial. As His body we are called to offer sacrifices; called to be covenant keepers and call to holiness.

I Peter 2:4 tells us HOW God will establish His church here on earth. We are to walk like Kings, Intercede as Priest, Walk in the Spirit with a renewed mind. We are to be kind, even to our enemies.

We delved into Imputation, which is Foundational to our faith. Hebrews 7 says Levi paid tithes before he was born. How is that possible without imputation? Before the foundations of the world, we were chosen in Him.

So, as the Law gives us the tools, we lay all malice aside. Pray for your enemies. Take your stand with no hypocrisy. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7. Yes, the unjust will rise, just as it did in Jacob's life. Persevere! Invest now! Honor Mom and Dad! Reward not evil for evil. Be Holy, sacrifice and love the brethren. For His Son's nature is my nature. Laying all malice aside, live righteously for His Son's sake.

Amen