Christ lives in us to manifest His life through us. Christ in us accomplishes His own purposes. Part of His purpose is intimacy with us, but His plan encompasses more than that. He is working toward His own ends, and we are the vessels through which He works. We are the visible manifestation of what God is doing, with Himself as the ultimate goal, 'that God may be all in all' (I Corinthians 15:28).
Dan Stone

MAGISTRATES

MAGISTRATES

MAGISTRATES

  1. Are appointed by God # Ro 13:1
  2. Are ministers of God # Ro 13:4,6
  3. Purpose of their appointment # Ro 13:4 1Pe 2:14
  4. Their office to be respected # Ac 23:5
  5. Are not a terror to the good, but to the evil # Ro 13:3
  6. To be wisely selected and appointed # Ex 18:21 Ezr 7:25
  7. To be prayed for # 1Ti 2:1,2
  8. SHOULD 8a) Seek wisdom from God

    # 1Ki 3:9

8b) Rule in the fear of God # 2Sa 23:3 2Ch 19:7 8c) Know the law of God # Ezr 7:25 8d) Be faithful to the Sovereign # Da 6:4 8e) Enforce the laws # Ezr 7:26 8f) Judge wisely # 1Ki 3:16-28 8g) Hate covetousness # Ex 18:21 8h) Not take bribes # Ex 23:8 De 16:19 8i) Defend the poor # Job 29:12,16 8j) Judge for God, not for man # 2Ch 19:6 8k) Judge righteously # De 1:16 16:18 25:1 8l) Be impartial # Ex 23:6 De 1:17 8m) Be diligent in ruling # Ro 12:8 8n) Subjection to their authority enjoined # Mt 23:2,3 Ro 13:1 1Pe 2:13,14 9) Wicked-Illustrated # Pr 28:15 10) Good-Exemplified 10a) Joseph # Ge 41:46 10b) Gideon # Jud 8:35 10c) Samuel # 1Sa 12:3,4 Ezr 10:1-9 10d) Nehemiah # Ne 3:15 10e) Job # Job 29:16 10f) Daniel # Da 6:3 11) Wicked-Exemplified 11a) Sons of Samuel # 1Sa 8:3 11b) Pilate # Mt 27:24,26 11c) Magistrates in Philippi # Ac 16:22,23 11d) Gallio # Ac 18:16,17 11e) Felix # Ac 24:26