By Dennis Petersen

“WHO WILL RISE UP FOR ME AGAINST THE EVILDOERS? WHO WILL STAND UP FOR ME AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY?” Psalm 94:16

Have you ever noticed the strong words God has for those who deliberately practice evil?  They are sometimes referred to as “evildoers” in the Bible.  Because we often tend to look at Scripture in a more personalized application, we can miss the fact that God’s word of condemnation often refers to the concerted efforts of organized evildoers.  Likewise, it’s important for us to realize that our Heavenly Father is working in us corporately as His body to unitedly pray and work together to “destroy the works of (our enemy) the devil.” With that in mind, hear some of what God says about these enemy “workers of iniquity.”

“evildoers shall be cut off…” Psalm 37:9 …destroyed… eliminated… wiped out.

Psa 37:2 “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.”

God is completely righteous, holy, good and uncontaminated by evil of any kind. That’s why

Psalm 97:2 tells us that “…Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” He’s talking about the basis for all of His authority and dominion.  It’s all based on that which is RIGHT and JUST. The implication couldn’t be clearer. If righteousness and justice are pre-eminent with God, that means that wrong doing and in-justice are the object of God’s absolute hatred.  How should we respond to that?

One of my favorite confessions in prayer to God is Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

The verses just before that declare from our perspective as His servants…  

“Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.” Psalm 139:21-22

That sure clarifies why our key verse today is so timely, doesn’t it?

“WHO WILL RISE UP FOR ME AGAINST THE EVILDOERS? WHO WILL STAND UP FOR ME AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY?” (Psalm 94:16).

God’s justice by nature makes it impossible for him to overlook or ignore wickedness.  How are we to think about such wickedness that is perpetrated on those who are the objects of His grace – those who have received His redemption by Faith in His forgiveness and love?

Psalm 101:8 declares, “Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.”

In all of human history, can you think of any wicked ruler who has not been eventually brought to judgement and justice?  You mean God didn’t have to wait until the final judgment in the future?

Paul teaches in Ephesians 5 about what it means to be an imitator of God in words and actions. He clearly tells that because of the evil actions of evil men, God’s wrath will surely come upon disobedient evildoers.

Paul continues, saying that as we “prove what is pleasing to the Lord,” we must be deliberate about refusing to participate in any of the deeds done by those who serve the powers of darkness.  Instead, we are commanded to even expose them!

What? You mean to say that those who are called “salt and light” have the God-ordained command to bring attention to the deeds of darkness by shining on those deeds and exposing them?  I don’t think that we’re being told here to go around as busybodies trying to make public all the dirty laundry of every individual sinner.  But when you learn anything about the wholesale evil that has been going on behind the public scenes of society today, you can’t miss the application of God’s call for His people in this evil time.

Remember what Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:12? 

“For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.”

Ephesians 5:13 reveals that…

“… all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”

And then he goes on in Ephesians 5:14-16, saying…

“Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

A lot more people today are now much more aware of just how evil our days really are. And the recent past – with all the exposure of corruption – is helping everyone see the desperately tyrannical actions being perpetrated by powerful people in high places all over the world.

So, lots of good, law-abiding, even peace-loving and God-fearing people are asking:

“Must people who love righteousness and humble submission to God, obey and comply with all the unjust and senseless demands of ungodly government?”

What does the Bible really tell us about submission to government?

Our dear friend, evangelist, Mario Murillo – Posted a timely blog on February 11, 2021. He gives us insight that energizes God’s people for the many challenges we all face in this evil day. https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com/2021/02/11/what-the-bible-really-says-about-submission-to-government/

It’s now becoming clear for many people that America’s Democratic party, and many compromisers with iniquity in the Republican party, have declared war on the American people.  But they’ve also exposed a much greater evil. They’ve revealed that the war is much bigger – globally bigger – than most Americans would have ever imagined. They are demanding unconditional surrender, not only from the church, but from innocent citizens. This war we’re in compels believers to look closer at what the Bible says about powerful demonic forces influencing our country’s laws and leaders.

When God’s prophets in the Bible declare, without any ambiguity, that God pronounces woe, destruction and condemnation on those who replace good behavior with outright evil behavior, do you think that should help us determine who is an enemy of Christ’s kingdom, and thus, an enemy of His Ekklesia? (Isa 5:20).

If a nation develops a public policy of lying to its people and preventing them from knowing truths and facts that would absolutely preserve them from harm and destruction, would you say that that nation is no longer filling it’s God-instituted job of protecting innocent people?

But somebody will ask you, “Doesn’t the Bible tell us to obey governing authorities, no matter what?” Absolutely not. And it’s shocking how many believers do not know their Bible or have been given false teaching about it. There is no verse in the Bible that tells you to obey evil government or lawless laws that are in opposition to God’s laws regarding right and wrong.

If we who call ourselves Christian, don’t seriously consider our reaction to this now, we will sit back and let our nation be destroyed.

Christians during the American Revolution understood that the Bible does not teach us to obey evil laws or leaders. There would be no America if Christian colonists believed they should obey the evil laws of England.

Benjamin Franklin was a vocal proponent of making a national motto of the popular saying back then: “Resistance (or rebellion) to tyrants is obedience to God.”

Would you like to know, beyond any doubt, that the Bible tells us what we must do in the face of wicked government and laws?

There is a pathetic heresy that has crept into the thinking of many believers in the modern, watered-down, milquetoast church that is all too commonly accepted as a pattern of acceptable behavior.  It’s a widespread excuse for submitting to outright treasonous edicts, when we should courageously disobey them and expose the treachery of them.

Someone who wrote to Mario Marillo, with complaints like you might hear from Christians who are under the influence of this false teaching:

“… how do you justify your argument against obeying the government when you read Romans 13:1-7. … Paul’s government.. was more oppressive than anything we can imagine. You could be martyred for your faith under the Roman government.  What was Paul’s response? Did he call for governmental reform? Did he call for us to protest the government? Did he demand his rights and call on the government to recognize his rights? … he said, in the face of a brutal government, to obey. He didn’t say obey if your rights are recognized, he said obey. The church of today has to realize that the government is not our arena as Christians. Never, in the history of the church, has God used the government to bring about change.”

This defense of submission to evil government is riddled with error and falsehoods. Let’s consider a few things that the critic wrote.

1.“You could truly be martyred for your faith under the Roman government.” First the writer tells us to obey evil laws, but then mentions martyrs. They would never have been martyred had they not broken the law by being Christians and defying government edicts.

2. Then he asks, “Did (Paul) call for governmental reform? Did he call for us to protest the government? Did he demand his rights and call on the government to recognize his rights? None of the above…” The truth is, Paul did all of the above. “Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, as un-condemned Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out” (Read Acts 16:37).

3. And finally, the zinger—the heresy that has sidelined the Body of Christ in the hour when we are most needed: “The church of today has to realize that the government is not our arena as Christians. Never, in the history of the church, has God used the government to bring about change.” This is totally untrue. William Wilberforce was a Christian politician in Britain. He stood on his faith in Jesus to work tirelessly in Parliament for many years to abolish slavery in England.

In fact, believers throughout history have created child labor laws, health regulations, and have exposed injustice, and corruption. It cannot be overstated that Christians, down through history, are more responsible for influencing government, bringing about reform by forcing laws to be changed, and standing up for justice, than any other social group in history.

So how did this critic demonstrate how utterly wrong he was in what he wrote? He did what so many other undiscerning people continue to do. He isolated one set of verses, taking them out of context, and arrived at a conclusion that looks holy, but is in fact, a reflection of pure and simple fear.

Let’s look at the verses that have been violated:

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor .”

Romans 13:1-7

It seems to say that we are to honor government in every form, right? Wrong. To demonstrate what Paul is saying Mario offers a sensible example.

Let’s say that some parents leave the house. They leave the oldest child in charge. The child is given strict instructions not to open the door for anyone, except for a postal messenger whom they are expecting to deliver an important package that very day.

The parents tell the child, “He will have blonde hair. He is wearing blue jeans and a white shirt. Don’t let anyone else in.” So later, a man with black hair, a blue shirt, and black slacks knocks on the door claiming to be the messenger with the package. Does the child let him in? Of course not.

What characterizes God-appointed government?

A lot of us, when hearing Romans 13 about submission to government, miss the most important part: The description of the ruling authority. The Bible tells us what they are wearing! Look at the description:

1.They are not a terror to good works. Any government that terrorizes the innocent is not of God. How can you say that Hitler was God’s will for Germany? Hitler and other tyrants are in fact the ones being warned that God-appointed governments would destroy them: “But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”  That is why the just powers of the world rose up and destroyed the Nazis.

And by the way… who is the “just power” that God is raising up now to destroy the modern-day Nazi tyrants? Could it be the patriots around the world who are standing up to evil dictators to defend common sense law and order that defends the defenseless?  In America, could it be those who take seriously their constitutional responsibility to be the rightful ‘king’ in America – We the People – those who obey their constitution and are willing to risk their lives to hold accountable those corrupt politicians and oligarchs who have deceived those who think they can get something for nothing by bowing to tyrants and their alluring bribes?

2. Did you notice another glaringly important feature of God’s properly delegated governing authorities? They praise good works. Authorities that are endorsed by God do not hate or oppose God-fearing, law-abiding activity, regardless whether they believe in God or not. In a civilized society, civil and peaceful citizens are the ones—even if they are not Christian themselves—who do not insult soul-winning or fight the redemptive work of God. They are the cops, the teachers, and even the politicians who are glad that children are getting out of gangs and off of drugs by following the King of kings.

3. Romans 13 also implores readers to be subject to authorities for the sake of conscience. When it becomes tricky, is when government is a mixture of right and wrong. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3).

Do what they say, but don’t partake of their hypocrisy. Watch them for that moment when they cross the line and come between you and your God.  Just as our conscience should drive us to obey the law, we should also know when our conscience tells us not to obey an evil law, or not to obey a man-made law when doing so would bring shame to God or harm to your fellow humans.  Just because your desire to obey the law by stopping at a stop sign is right, that doesn’t mean that you should stop, especially if a fire truck is barreling down behind you and you have to continue through the intersection without stopping to get into the side lane on the other side of the intersection to get out of the way.

Do you remember when Peter reached the tipping point?  Speaking of those very same Pharisees, listen to what transpired: “So they called them and commanded them (the disciples) not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:18-20).”

And again, in Acts 5:29, “Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.””

God not only does not endorse evil government: He will have no part in it. “Shall the throne of iniquity (unjust rulers) have fellowship with You—they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under [the sacred name of] law?” (Psalm 94:20). There is your answer. A corrupt throne (government) cannot be allied with God. He cannot have fellowship with it.

When a government creates evil laws, God has obviously been outlawed—because evil laws are the worst form of wickedness.

 They are damnable because they give a warped brand of societal legitimacy to evil.  Matthew Henry said, “Iniquity is daring enough even when human laws are against it, which often prove too weak to give an effectual check to it; but how insolent, how mischievous, is it when it is backed by a law! Iniquity is not the better, but much the worse, for being enacted by law; nor will it excuse those that practice it to say that they did, but do as they were bidden.”

Notice how at the end, Matthew Henry says we can’t use the excuse that we were just obeying the law.  That is why Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

The laws and edicts being written by unrelentingly evil political puppets of global tyrants, using the coronavirus as an excuse, are far worse than the virus itself.  Unlike the virus, new laws have a painfully long-lasting destructive impact on all of society. It is time for God’s true church to wake up and take action. Constant prayer is just the beginning. Without faithful corresponding actions of being involved in our community’s official business, the insane communists just assume the victory is theirs. Voting the evildoers out of office is a clear battle requiring constant vigilance, but we’ve all got to quit allowing our fellow believers to get away with calling our submission to evil rulers a godly action.  It is just a cowardly escape from being the salt and light that we are all called to be.

Our submission as Christians to government commanded in Romans 13 is conditional on the righteousness of our government. To deserve obedience, government must:

1) be a terror to evil works,

2) be a minister of God to the citizens for their good, and

3) execute wrath upon evildoers, but never those who do good works.

American Christians must also consider our unique form of our government. Unlike the Roman Empire, a military dictatorship over all local governments to which the early Christians were subject, America is the world’s first constitutional republic. In this system WE are the government, and all the rights and duties of Romans 13 fall to us, both as citizens and as rulers (by delegation of our powers).

That reality has given special meaning to Romans 13 for Americans. Why?  The Declaration of Independence stated that…

“whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.”

Remember that Psalm we started our program with today?

“WHO WILL RISE UP FOR ME AGAINST THE EVILDOERS? WHO WILL STAND UP FOR ME AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY?” (Psalm 94:16).

The whole psalm is really a conversational prayer to God, combined with an exhortation for believers and a decree against the enemies of God.

Why not make that psalm your prayer for your nation and the world?

1 O LORD, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!

2 Arise, O judge of the earth. Give the proud what they deserve.

3 How long, O LORD? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?

4 How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast?

5 They crush your people, LORD, hurting those you claim as your own.

6 They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans.

7 “The LORD isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.”

8 Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on?

9 Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?

10 He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?

11 The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!

12 Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.

13 You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.

14 The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.

15 Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.

16 Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers?

17 Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.

18 I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice?

21 They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.

Psalm 94

You have one question to answer now.

What are you going to do with the knowledge you have that can deliver others from the chains of deception that have kept them in bondage to evil-doers?

Well, for starters, you can listen to this important message again and even read it at ReclaimYourLegacy.com.  Then you can share it with others by sending them the link.

And while you’re there, click on the donate button and chip in whatever you think it’s worth to help us provide Godly insight to listeners like you, to share with others. When we all do our own little part of what God enables us to do, that’s just part of when God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven.

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Bonus segment for – Bible Commands for Gods people regarding Evil Tyrants… or Standing Up for Righteousness Against Organized Evil

In considering the Christian’s responsibility to stand up for righteousness in defiance of governmental tyranny, God-fearing, law-abiding patriots can be encouraged by the proclamations and actions of courageous contemporary leaders who are willing to be spokesmen for Biblical righteousness.

Did you see the recent proclamation to the world made by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano as he calls for Resistance Against the New World Order?

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano calls for alliance against world tyranny

In November 2021, the world-renowned archbishop, Carlo Maria Vigano, made a public proclamation to the world on his own behalf. He became famous for exposing financial corruption in the Vatican, and for confronting systematic child abuse by pope Francis and many church leaders. He is a bright light of truth in the Vatican, especially for his opposition to globalist schemes. Now he is speaking up to warn humanity about the New World Order.

ARB Vigano boldly makes public that a “global coup d’état” is being waged for the purpose of installing the “New World Order” that many national figureheads have boasted about for years.

Vigano implores listeners worldwide to express their opposition, saying: “it is necessary to form an international, Anti-Globalist Alliance, which gathers all those who want to oppose the dictatorship, who have no intention of becoming slaves to a faceless power, who are not willing to cancel their own identity, their own individuality, their own religious faith.”

He’s calling for international resistance. He says, “If the attack is global, the defense must also be global”

LISTEN TO THIS TRUE HERO OF HUMANITY

As one who knows much more than most of us could ever know about clandestine plans in high places, this man says what many of us wish was said by more of our evangelical leaders.

If you want to see and hear the whole 13-minute presentation, go to ReclaimYourLegacy.com and enter a search for today’s program – Standing up for Righteousness Against Organized Evil – or see it at https://www.stopworldcontrol.com/vigano/   

You can read the text of his speech at https://thenewamerican.com/archbishop-vigano-calls-on-people-of-faith-to-unite-in-a-world-war-against-the-new-world-order//?print=pdf    ARB Vigano addresses the world on video to expose the global coup d’etat, and call for a global faith-based coalition to unite in countering the NWO.

I believe his heart of seeming desperation reflects what we heard from Psalm 94:16, making the plea, “who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?”

 ARB Vigano’s statement is followed by a rolling endnote as follows: “In this time of global crisis, it is critical that we are not divided because of our different beliefs. We must join as one against this universal threat, that could destroy out world forever. This is not a fight about religion, politics or opinions. THIS IS A WAR ON ALL OF HUMANITY. Please unite with all the good people worldwide. Let’s stand together as one. The globalists want to enslave every soul on earth.

I fully concur with ARB Vigano in his plea for action to citizens of the nations of the free world. We must not remain silent. God’s word says, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). It is only because God is orchestrating a global resistance to vocally and actively stand peacefully against the incredibly powerful global tyrants of our time that we can be confident in our faith-filled prayer for God’s will to “be done on earth as it is done in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  Again, God is orchestrating it. Our part is to humbly do what He calls and assigns each of us to do.

My assignment from God with His direction to prepare these episodes of Reclaiming Your Legacy is to simply be faithful with what He has given and share liberating truth with our listeners. There are three core principles to help us in that objective.

1. Like the Bereans, I urge everyone to consider the Scriptures regarding the things we are exposed to (Acts 17:10-11). A generous dose of Bible insight is foundational to our discussions here.
2. We must also consider “former things” that happened in the past to get historical perspective on how God has guided His Story through mankind’s journey (Isaiah 46:9, Romans 15:4, and 1 Corinthians 10:11). That way, we might have hope, as Paul tells us in Romans 15:4.
3. And third, we must be devoted to God’s Holy Spirit as He helps us “renew our minds” (Romans 12:2) and be open to hear the timely prophetic guidance that will enable us to uniquely “prove what the will of God is” in our challenging times.

If you like listening to podcasts, be sure to use your favorite podcast platform to subscribe to our Reclaiming Your Legacy programs. That way you’ll not miss out when I post a new episode. Visit ReclaimYourLegacy.com and take advantage of the scripts and links there to assist you in sharing these programs with others. While you’re there, if Holy Spirit impresses you to help financially with this ministry, I want you to know that I deeply appreciate your response to His direction in your heart. When we all do our part in the battle, our Lord gets all the glory and accomplishes His goals in His time. We take seriously that we are appointed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

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