Pastor Babij examines the role of human government and the Christian’s responsibilities to that government. Pastor Babij explains that Christians are to obey the lawful orders even of tyrants if they do not conflict with God’s law and to pray for those rulers. Pastor Babij also gives some counsel regarding voting in the upcoming election.
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okay i’ like to remind everyone that next week is time change right so we are losing an hour and so be ready for that Saturday nights make sure you change your clocks and move them back one hour and uh you’ll be ready and on time next Sunday let’s pray Lord this morning as we again uh have the privilege to break open the bre of bread of life Lord I pray Lord as we look at it you would feed us with it you would teach us you would guide us and direct us Lord you would uh bring Glory To Your Name by the effectual power of the word of God in transforming us in our minds to know the good and acceptable and perfect will of God and that Lord we know that by the truth we are heart we are made holy and thank you for that this morning as we look at the word of God I pray you would help us to understand Lord some of the things that we’re responsible for as Christians even when it comes to our government I pray this in Christ’s name amen all right so this morning let’s turn to the gospel of Mark chap 12 I’ll not be parking here morning actually I’m going to use this kind of as a springboard so have your Bibles ready as we turn to some scripture today because I want to look at not only uh what is said here and where it kind of moves into but also some principles uh with regard to the Christian and government now there are multifaceted feelings that are expressed when the topics of politics and government and religion come up now as far as Government is concerned some are ambivalent some disgusted some apathetic and others are downright hostile people think politicians are unjust taxes are too high money is misused they see political leaders as dishonest corrupt immoral and power hungry but not all are more than possibly we we like are and some of course have wiped their hands clean of the whole political process Christians have concluded that allegiances to God and not man or not government so I’m not going to uh be concerned about it or get involved with it I’m going to remain neutral well let me say that from our passage last week in Mark 12: 16 And1 17 Jesus upset apple cart on this particular matter Jesus gave a masterly reply which amazed the opponents of Jesus and stopped the delegation that came against him in their tracks Jesus with really a innocent question entraps the ation and exposes their hypocrisy and their Satan likee craftiness and if you look right there in chapter 12 in verse 16 just take a glance again with me at the question and the delegation’s answer in verse 16 of Mark chapter 12 it says they brought one that’s one of the coins and he said to them whose likeness and his inscription is is this and he said to them Caesars of course Jesus unexpected response came a response that the well-coached delegation had never considered and what was that Jesus said listen Caesar’s likeness and in scripture is on this coin they did reply to him and so J said to them well then render Caesar the things that are Caesars and of course that’s representative of government this is the emperor’s coin then give him the obligation ations do him all right and of course uh that God’s image is stamped upon every human being and so therefore Jesus said also and render to God the things that are Gods you are created in God’s image then give him all the obligation do him so that means that Jesus place he places two obligations side by side and there’s really no CL between them they actually harmonize in jesus’ teaching here that paying Roman taxes was not in conflict with a person’s obligation to God in the providences of God the Jews and Gentiles are the emperor’s subjects and of course under a legitimate human government they are to render certain obligations the delegation of course their response to Jesus answered was in verse number 17 they were amazed him they didn’t figure on that response so they marveled at Jesus answered but that also means that they could not they could not use Jesus answer against him like they wanted to they could not go forward with their diabolical purposes and so that means for us and this is where I kind of end it last week that means for us that all true human governments are legitimate and we have all of us have a responsibility to obey as long as they do not violate God’s law we must give God what is rightfully his and we must give government what is rightfully his hers now let’s contemplate for a minute three principles with regard to Christian government and here’s the first principle the first thing to think about is this that human governments are ordained by God that means that God has put three institutions in the world he has ordained for the good of mankind the institution of the home the second institution would be that of human government and the third institution would be that of the local church so really to understand there are some guidelines that are Paramount for us as we go forward with the very thought that governments are ordained by God and here’s the first one that God establishes and he established the principle of maintaining Law and Order in society by means of the government or by means of the state that means that in scripture we find that God is is Sovereign in this matter now just without turning there I just want to just remind you that from a book like a old book like Daniel it tells us that God removes Kings and he establishes Kings in fact fact it says right out of Daniel it says he is who it is he who changes the times in epics he removes Kings and he establishes Kings he gives wisdom to wise men and not to Men of understanding so the bottom line would be that God is Sovereign over all governments and of course if you read through uh other Old Testament passages even in Psalms and Proverbs you’ll find that God is also Sovereign over military power also God gives Authority on the earth Proverbs 8 and verse1 15 it says again a similar Truth by me King Kings reign and rulers decree Justice by me prin Rule and Nobles all who judge rightly in other words that God give Authority to institutions and Le on this Earth for our own good purposes and then thing would be that if God did not give authority to governments they would possess none in fact when John or when Jesus responded and go and the go go excuse me the Apostle John records jesus’ answer to the people who said that listen I have the power to do this Jesus responded to them you would have no authority over me unless it had been given to you from above for this reason he has who delivered me to you has the greater sin see so that means that political and religious rulers are responsible to God for how they rule believe it or not I believe sometimes people don’t realize that our government officials who are actually in power right now will give an account to God someday on how they fulfilled their office all right and the reason why is because God is the one who gave them that office and the power another thing would be that God gave Society the right to enforce laws in order to prevent chaos and to maintain peace there they do that so it will promote the free flow of people throughout the world and also the protection of those peoples and the rights of those peoples God has given to government Security Forces like police and military so they can keep the peace he’s also given to those governments Judicial Systems and even to make use of capital punishment to punish evildoers when it is necessary like it says in First Peter chapter 2 and verse 14 or to Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right and then of course also government keeps the infrastructure built and maintained to make life live livable don’t you like driving on nice roads don’t you like stop lights where they ought to be and stop signs where they ought to be don’t you like water that you can turn your faucet on and it comes clean well they are to protect the water supply and the storage system and the transportation system and how do they do that by us giving them taxes right so taxes take care of the infrastructure so I would say this that when we think of voting vote this election for the candidate that believes government is a servant to the people and not the people’s master so vote that way of course that means you have to know something about who you’re voting for and and what the issues are you’re voting for to even vote that way no Christian should go and vote with without certain knowledge of what’s going on in the country what our country really needs where our country is failing where government’s failing who are the candidates where are their good points and bad points and who would be the best fit for being the president of the states that we live in the United States all right so but the first principle is always in our mind as Believers that human governments or are are ordained by God with privilege that that really we from so that would mean that the second P principle to consider would be this that no person can accept all the benefits which human government gives them and then opt out of all the responsibilities of a citizen we can a principle goes with the first one that listen we have responsibilities as Citizens and of course I want to share with you four responsibilities from the word of God that we do have take your Bibles and turn to Romans chapter 13 all right so the first responsibility that we have this morning would be this we responsibility to seek the good of the country and do nothing join in nothing that tends to disturb the peace that means that we ought to be respectful law abiding citizens which have the right attitude towards those in leadership over us now notice in Romans Chapter 13 Verse two why are we to have respect for government well it says in verse one every person Romans 13 ver1 every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no Authority except from God and those which exist are established by God therefore whoever resists Authority has opposed the ordinance of God and they who oppose will receive condemnation upon themselves so in other words if God or government then we ought to have a understanding of how government works and a respect for those God has placed there and allowed to be there let me say it like that allowed to be there in that place to rule people now the second thing would be how are we to respect government well very clearly in verse number four we see that Civil Authorities act on God’s behalf to main maintain order to uphold Justice to punish wrongdoing and of course to restrict the practice ractice of evil in verse number four of Romans 13 it says for it is a minister of God to you for good so respect government because it is it is good as a good institution but if you do what is evil be afraid for it does not bear sword for nothing for it is a Min God an Avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil verse 5 says therefore it is necessary to be in subjection not only because of Wrath but but also for conscience sake see in other words that we are to really have a attitude towards government because that government is there place there for really Us by God to keep a certain amount of order the world all right so that would be the first thing the second responsibility we have we shall really do everything in our power to promote its we Welfare by being prayerful citizens now again take your Bibles and turn to 1 Timothy Chapter 2 so this is our responsibility as Believers we are to be prayerful citizens Christians are to be a Praying people we know that but we must pray for ourselves but we must also pray for all men for the world of mankind really in general even however we are specifically commanded to pray for rulers and those in Authority notice what it says in 1 Timothy chap 2 verse 1 three it says first of all then I urge that in treaties and prayers petition and Thanksgiving be made on behalf of all men verse two for Kings and all who are in Authority so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity and then in verse three it says this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior in other words that we as people are to pray so peace will be maintained in the country so we can grow in godliness I don’t know if if we always take peace to grow in godliness we usually take peace to fulfill our lustful desires to do what we want to do while it’s peaceful right well the Bible is saying to us listen pray so you can live not only a quiet life but a life in all God is growing in godliness and Holiness while we have peace may not have peace someday things can can change on us in this world and in this environment today it could change in an instant in a week it can change everything can change that’s a Poss with people manipulating currency out the world different count and you know saber rattling different countries all around the world with countries getting nuclear weapons that should not have them because of their very Doctrine and ideology are getting them see we live in a very dangerous place so but prayer is more powerful than any nuclear weapon as God’s people get together and seek God’s face in praying for those who are going to be leaders in the country see when Paul wrote these words the kings were heathens enemies of Christianity persecutors of Christians dictators dominated when Paul wrote this heavy taxes were the norm when Paul wrote this and of course yet they were told to pray because that would be the most important thing for God’s people now what do we need to pray for I think we need to pray for number one that the leaders are are are are power would be at least just you know when the nation of Israel Reed God to rule over them and Samuel Pro mourned over that God reminded Samuel because Samuel felt rejected God reminded Samuel Samuel they’re not rejecting you they’re rejecting me but then he gave the guidelines on if when the nation gets an Earthly King what kind of King should that person be and he gave him a few pointers like in 2 Samuel 233 he said the god of Israel said the rock of Israel spoke to me he who rules over men righteously so see in other words somebody who’s going to be a king has to know how to rule in a righteous Manner and in our country somebody knows not only knows how to rule but knows how to interpret the form of we have and to know how to use the constit of the United States which is really a very good instrument that many smart men put together learning many many lessons from having bad kings and living underneath those kings and how horrible could be and to have balances in our government so there could be some kind of fair righteousness uh across the whole board so it’s not one person who gets the power it’s not one group of people who gets the power it’s not one party who gets the power but the power is spread out so it’s Consolidated into one particular area and there balances on that particular power so we’re to pray that they are to just we should also pray that they will rule in the fear of God this is what else God told Samuel in 2 Samuel 23 he says the god of Israel said the rock of Israel spoke to me he who rules over men righteously who rules in the fear of God that a person really doesn’t NE doesn’t necessarily have to be a believer to fear God they could know that there is a God and that he’s an almighty God and that they’re responsible to him and that what they have is been given by him now of course that would lead to why we would pray as people that they would be converted to we know that many of our politicians like to kind of hold up the Bible talk about religious things kind of like give a hint of what they believe but not people come out and say that I’m a Christian I I was I was shocked when uh the vice president Trump Pence uh said that he was a Christian first that he was secondly uh conservative and thirdly a republican you know but to come out there the first time he’s ever speaking and even knows who he is and he he come out with that is is quite shocking I’m sure that he’s going to be also torn Pieces by that comment if he has further political uh exposure but uh that they would be converted to Christ but then also that they would actually have the guts to punish evil you know like it says in Romans that really they’re a minister of God an Avenger who will bring wrath on those who practice evil you know I’m I’m still in favor of the Bible’s in favor of the death penalty you can’t let somebody go along and and you know commit multiple Mur murders and and crimes and just keep in their hand and just let let them go because that propagates more evil see the the death penalty is there for a purpose but not many people uh are for it in fact people who get on death row and are they they they stay on death row sometimes their whole time and they never do get executed for their crime so so we’re to definitely pray a third thing we’re to do third responsibility is that we are to of course right there in Romans chapter 13 we are to pay taxes pay taxes now let me just say this taxes are never enjoyable if you are a person who enjoys paying taxes then you need your head exam some people have likened paying taxes to going to the Dennis for canal and I don’t know anybody who enjoys that at all cost I try to avoid the dentist whatever it is that’s not good though I mean but so and you have heard the saying of course two things are certain in human existence death and taxes and people will do anything they can’t to avoid vote and I add that if tax reforms are uh reformed and they sometimes then we of course Christians should exert whatever influence we can to affect those changes I want you to notice in Romans 13:6 and 7 it says for because of this you also pay taxes for rulers are servant Gods devoting themselves to this very thing verse 7 render to all what do them tax to whom taxes due custom to whom custom Fear To whom fear honor to whom honor see the Roman government of Paul’s day deified Nero and Nero ran welfare state and sponsored many Pagan practices Rome certainly did not use its tax money all of it as Christians would desire it’s even true today is it not government uses our tax money on things we hope and pray they would not and yet they do like government giveaway that really don’t work and they don’t really reform them they just keep pumping money into it and then also even things like uh taxpayer funded abortion which is something that is a a black mark on America I think it’s 58 so far since row vers Wade have been killed see America we the Lord will hold America responsible for that and its leaders so the list goes on and on and we all know that federal government is is extraordinarily and extraordinarily inefficient in its uh and often creates even more problems than it solves so so again when you’re voting in this election a vote for the candidate that tells you that he or she is going to cut taxes and regulate government spending all right that should be part of it because soon as our taxes go up our government gets bigger and powerful and more intrusive into our lives and that’s not the intention of government that’s not the B biblical uh reason for government but that’s where we’re heading so see have a responsibility to pay taxes and we have a responsibility to pray that God would put somebody in there who has some level of common sense to know these things aren’t working these these tax are a burden on people that we can’t keep heaping the burden on the people we have to spread it out and let everybody pay their fair share of tax so everybody has a stake in the matter so see we we need what we need is drastic Cuts in taxes and drastic Cuts in government spending in order to release the power of the private sector that can produce and productive jobs and increase productivity in our country that’s what we really need and so it’s our responsibility to pray and pay our taxes our fair share sometimes one group pays more than they ought to but nonetheless we’re to pay it a third responsibility is we should vote we should vote realizing that God has already determined the outcome nonetheless on Tuesday November 8th 2016 just nine days from tomorrow millions of Americans will turn out to the election Booth to cast their Vogue this is one of the greatest privileges of being a citizen of the United States of America matter of fact our 30th President Calvin kulage said the whole system of American government rests on The Ballot Box unless citizens perform their duties such as such a system of government is doomed to fail so voting not only is a privilege in to an American citizen but voting is a responsibility of Believers in that country in the country in which we live some one president said this is the last great hope on planet Earth America Reagan said that I believe and it is where where else can people go where where do you go for Freedom where do you go for a new chance to to make a life where do you go there’s no other place to go the moon see that’s why they’re quitting all the money Moon projects and and Mars projects hopefully we’ll colonize Mars right so that means then vote this election for the lesser of two evils in other words which candidate can you discern to be the more the more for the people listen what Proverbs says Proverbs 22 says this when the when the righteous increase the people Rejoice but a Wicked Man rules people groan see I I think people are groaning today they’re groaning because they see a lot of things that should not be taking place and they are taking place so when it comes to moral and judicial decisions relating to unborn infants and sexual values and family values and religious freedom who is the most truthful who has the most discernment who is going to be the one that will cause us grown less not more and remember we are not voting for a pastor or a holy man we are voting for a president who is flawed so with Grace grateful Humble Hearts Americans once honored granted her blessing and but slowly almost unnoticeably she began to blessing not so much to but to man see the god of secular human began to infiltrate all her institutions the courts that had once legislated against immorality began to Grant freedom in every to every person until they did that which was right in their own like judges tells us the one of the worst times in Israel’s history see lines of right and wrong are blurred almost gone in time all sorts of ungodly Behavior becomes acceptable even admired Americans no longer shocked and as the scriptures say they no longer blush over sin so so in other words when God Fades from a nation’s conscience one can justify almost anything she said Thou shalt not kill Americans gave murder a new name abortion I said already like 58 million more than that have since row vers Wade Wade and the IRS has made abortion clinics organizations therefore exempt from taxes God calls it the sin of drunkenness and its continuous practice bars one from entry into the kingdom of God Americans call alcoholism a social dis we now a large part of our nation which are addicted to alcohol and also addicted to both illegal and Pres rtion drugs God calls it the sodomy the new name is homosexuality gay rights an alternative lifestyle see God calls it perversion and the Americans call it also graphy harmless adult entertainment some results have been polluted Minds broken marriages incest sexual child abuse and the depraved list goes on and on and on a study was conducted some Years Ago by the Michigan State Police using the computer to classify 355,000 sex crimes in a in the state over a period of 20 years and found that 43% were pornographic related so since pornography infected America with its fatal disease it is now a strong multi-million maybe billion dollar industry that has also spilled over and tarnished almost single other industry the movie industry for sure can anyone deny that movies are dirty and dirtier and more perverted than ever can anyone deny that the internet has made has been made into the pornographic highway I would say this how we have come a long way from L to baver The Andy Griffith Show and Mr Rogers Neighborhood see American once legislated against those things that God said to be wrong but gradually we began to then to accept then to condone openly and even promote vote that which was once Unthinkable and so when a nation no longer acknowledges the Creator and the laws that he has given to regulate Society the only thing left is God’s judgment in fact while you’re there writing Romans turn to Romans chapter 1 want to read something you probably read several times but I want to read it again in verse number 2 432 Romans chap 1 of course God’s of God’s righteousness upon Humanity in Romans 1 it clearly delineates the progress the downward spiral of those rejecting God and committing idolatry and then sin in verse number 20 it says therefore God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity that their bodies might be Dishonored among them for they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever amen verse 26 for this reason God gave them over to degrading passions for their woman women exchange the natural function for that which is unnatural verse 27 in the same way also the men abandon the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their verse 28 and J they did not see fit to God any longer see that’s that’s the key right when a nation doesn’t IGN God any longer what’s the what does it say there God gave them over to a depraved mind that’s judgment to do those things which are are not proper verse 29 being filled with all unrighteousness wickedness greed evil full of Envy murder Strife deceived malice they are they are gossips slanderers haters of God insolent arrogant boastful inventors of evil disobedient to Parents Without understanding untrustworthy unloving unmerciful and although they know the ordinance of God they know what they’re doing that those who practice such things are worthy of death they not only do the same but also give hearty approval to those who practice them we have a government for the most part are giving approval of evil practices you know what was wrong is right and what is right is wrong so then see vote this election for the candidate who will appoint Supreme Court Justices who are honest just and who will Advocate moral standards and at the same time upholding and properly interpreting the Constitution of the United States their job is to interpret that which is there already not to give new meaning to it Noah Webster clearly wrote the moral principles and precepts contained scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws all the miseries and evils which men suffer from I crime ambition Injustice oppression slavery and war war proceed from their despising and neglecting the precepts contained in the B so that is the second principle there is one last third principle there’s more principles but these are the ones I’m sharing this morning and the third principle to think about is that government has its proper limits boundaries and demands and must remain there all belong to God God is Sovereign over over all human Affairs including political Affairs there are duties of government that do not infringe on the ultimate duties to God as long as our responsibility to government does not interfere with ability to honor to work and serve God Almighty then that’s we should keep that balance the legitimate purpose of government since the founding of America has always been to protect the lives the liberty and the property of its citizens it was W woodro Wilson Wilson one of our president who said the history of Liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power not the increase of it concentration of power is what always precedes the destruction of human Liberties in other words the bigger the government gets the less liberties we have and today with all the internet and with all the ability for them to spy on us uh there’s nowhere you can go and there’s nothing you can hide from them anymore where they would not know about it so nobody you know Big Brothers watching that kind of thing you know to live in that kind of uh environment we’re not there yet but I tell you what if the government gets bigger and bigger and this whole uh failed experiment socialism takes over our country we’re doomed see our country is on a slippery slope of those who want to entangle us more and more in the failed experiment of socialism now what is socialism well just a basic definition is this it e it is either it is either that the government owns the means of production or controls the means of production and distribution they have the full control so simply the government takes from you and may gives to someone else who need more the government must must in other words have the power because the government is God the government will be the provider for the needs of the people so then the people’s Allegiance will be to the government that’s the essence kind of of socialism see the end in the end socialism takes away the person’s initiative and Independence and for lack of better words it makes them a Slave if we continue down this path it will move our country more and more into despotism socialistic type of programs and mannerisms and then also finally economic room so then vote election for the candidate who will makees that will shrink government and restrain the power it has over its citizens vote for the candidate who will be able to negotiate deals from benevolent strength and not weakness vote for the that will keep our military strong and will keep our borders secure vote for that candidate so if the government tells you to do something immoral or anti-biblical or if the government tells us not to do what God said we should then what we do well that means this that our there are limits to our obedience a good example is found in uh the book of Acts chapter 4 the Roman authorities were trying to get the Apostle Peter to stop speaking publicly in the name of Jesus Christ Peter and John told the authorities that if they came down if if it if it came down to whether they would obey God or man they they said we would obey God in fact in Acts chapter 5:29 Peter the Apostle answered and says we must obey God rather rather than men so the bottom would be if the Civil power and something that God forbids or forbids something that God commands we must disobey so it if the time comes that we must disobey we must disobey respectfully we must use every legal channel of expressing our protest if we resort to Anarchy to promote our cause or then really uh we we really would be violating God’s principle of submiss submission to government we would we would violate submission to authorities we can’t resort to that those kind of means we have to to the in the right way and in fact we have many examples in scriptures the midwives in Egypt refused to murder the newborn Hebrew boys they went against Authority right Moses asked Pharaoh for permission to let the Israelites leave Egypt he didn’t take no for an answer because he knew it was doing God’s will he kept coming back until he let Daniel participated in various govern administrations but he drew the line when they came against him about praying three times a day and not worshiping uh bowing down and worshiping any kind of idol Esther laid aside all official protocol in an effort to savor people from Annihilation uh and demanded by unjust laws and promoted by evil men Shadrach Meshach and abedo refused to participate when the king ordered citizens to become idolators John the baptizer spoke against the immoral life of King Herod and his wife and that me meant him going to prison so there are ways there are ways to disob uh in the right way and of course when that time come have to figure out which way to do that it was Daniel Webster who wrote Webster’s Dictionary he said whatever makes men good citizens Christians makes them good citizens true as as individuals we can be part of a political process all of us in we must we must really fight for the candidates that come the closest to the ideals that we hold while recognizing that no one may agree with us on every single issue our priori is as Christians is still the gospel and our message must be clear repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior or judgment is inevitable however our identity priorities and Mission are not defined by our citizenship on Earth they are defined by our citizenship in heaven where our savior awaits or we await his return yet while we remain here on Earth we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world see salty Christians vote with knowledge and discernment they do vote Christians of light vote in order to keep the candle of America burning a little while long it’s our the power that the government’s given us power of The Ballot Box to vote I pray this morning that as we think of this really important election coming up that we exercise our Privileges and our responsibilities to the powers that be and put our maybe it’s just two cents in and vote for the right candidate right you can do that you can do that but don’t sit home and not vote because if you don’t vote it’s a vote for the you probably don’t want you have to vote and you have to do it in eight days on November 8th right hopefully you are registered and ready to go but I tell you one thing may God help us let’s amen let’s pray God of our fathers whose Almighty hand has made and preserved our nation Grant Lord that your people may understand what it is they are they will be participating in this next presidential election Lord may we remember how bitterly our freedoms Freedom was won the down payment that was made for and the installments that have made sense this Republic was Lord we there’s still a price to be paid to keep our Liberty and preserve it Lord May Freedom be seen not as the right to do as we please but as an opportunity to please to do what is right Lord you know our habitation and the boundaries of our life and the and Dwelling Place it is you who commands all people everywhere to rep repent because you have fixed the day on which Jesus Will judge judge the world in righteousness until that day Lord please continue to preserve this nation which came being for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith and Lord grant us some more time forgive us our our nation’s sins and Lord put a person in the office of president who could be humbled under your Mighty hand Lord may your will be done on Earth as it’s done in heaven we commit all these things to you Lord and thank you Lord for this place that you allowed us to live called United States thank you Lord for all its freedoms and Liberties and I pray Lord you would truly grant us some more time before all comes crashing down and I pray that we would always be that in whatever Times May Come that we would always be prepared to give the gospel always be ready to give an answer that lies within us with fear and trembling I pray Lord you would make us people ready for whatever comes and I pray Lord whatever cir we may find ourselves whether it be in poverty not curse your name because we’re poor or whether it be wealth that we would not forget you because we’re wealthy pray Lord we would always use our circum IR an to grow in godliness and I pray Lord godliness would be coupled with contentment for we know Lord that that would be great gain not only for this life but for the life to come and Lord that’s what we look forward to but until then Lord sustain us give us what we need to maintain what we have I I pray this all in the name of Jesus Christ amen