Page 18 - The Christian Life and the Church Life_Government of God
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The Universal Government of God                            17


        message on living in the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. Oh, this is the
        most pleasant realm in the universe where you are under the government
        ruled by love, light, and life. I am looking forward to that message. We need
        to have this view. Yes, the government is based on righteousness. But once
        we are in harmony with God’s righteous government, the way is opened for
        this bountiful supply.

           God’s Governing by Judging; This Judgment of God Being for the
                         Carrying Out of His Government

            God governs by judging; this judgment of God is for the carrying out of
        His government. First Peter 4:17 says that judgment begins at the household
        of God. Do not try to avoid this. You are elders and responsible ones and part
        of your responsibility is to take the lead in every aspect of the living out of
        God’s economy and God’s purpose. Then the church will be what you are.
        You may learn that the Lord needs to judge certain matters in your life that
        are not in harmony with His government. We are still in the old creation and
        there are certain things in us that the Lord wants to deal with. Then Christ has
        more room to grow in us and in the church it’s the same. We co-workers do
        not go floating around and governmentally judging anything. We are not the
        government. We are not the governor. I do not have any authority. The Son
        of Man has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). I just know to
        minister life and truth and to enjoy fellowship and shepherding in mutuality.
            Because 1 and 2 Peter are concerned with the government of God, in
        these Epistles the judgment of God and of the Lord is referred to repeatedly
        as one of the essential items. There is no threatening but there should be a
        sober thinking here. Judgment starts with the house of God. He cannot go on
        to bring righteous government to the world, to politics, or whatever it is, if
        He has not first gained the church. This is parallel to Ephesians 1:10 where all
        things will be headed up in Christ in heaven and on earth. But first the church
        must be headed up in Christ, then the Lord can head up countries. Brothers,
        I have the responsibility along with my fellow serving ones to release as
        faithfully and as purely as we can this word that the Lord has put in us. Then
        we will follow that up with personal prayer for you all. But once you have
        heard this word, there is a responsibility on you that you might never have
        had before. You should just realize this and accept this as a man with some
        maturity and say, “Lord, I want to learn to live under Your government in
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