This morning, we’re continuing our series entitled, “Unexpected” where we are going to recall the truly unexpected ways in which God worked in the past and some of the unexpected places and times where He showed up. 

These reminders of God’s faithfulness and miraculous power and authority will serve to encourage us in our present and give us hope toward our future.

Today, we celebrate the birth of American Independence!  On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence officially breaking the political ties between the 13 colonies of America and Great Britain.

We are truly blessed to dwell in a nation that grants us such incredible freedom, one that acknowledged from the beginning the true source of our rights, our Creator, God.

Within that Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned in a few simple words a powerful reality.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

Unlike most legal documents of today, the founding document that this new government would be formed upon was a simple four pages in length.  Although several amendments have been made to it, our nation still exists as a constitutional republic to this day with those simple pages as our foundation. 

Jacob Shallus wrote in a single sentence the entire purpose and function of our government.  “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

A union of people establishing a government to ensure justice, peace, safety, welfare, and freedom for themselves and the generations to follow them.

Now before we start setting off fireworks, yelling “‘Merica”, waving our flags, and singing patriotic songs together, let’s get back to what all of this has to do with God working in unexpected ways.

Governments are instituted among men by deriving their powers from the consent of the governed. 

A government only exists because individuals choose to subject themselves under the authority of other people.  The only reason that any government can exist and function is a result of the people being governed submitting to the overseeing government.

God is a god of order and not of chaos.  Both in Heaven and on earth, there is a hierarchy of authority.  We are always both under the authority of others and also in authority over others in some way.  This is by God’s design.  In fact, Heaven, itself, is a kingdom and has a form of government.  God’s word even teaches us to:

Romans 13:1-7

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full t