Dear friends,

Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Having already entered the second half of an election year, things have really begun to heat up. As I listened to a little of the morning news and much of it being political rhetoric, I had this thought, “God is not a republican or a democrat.” There would be those who would say He favors republicans and others would say He favors the democrats. Those who care what He thinks might be tempted to ask Him whose side He is on. That brought a few scripture verses to mind that I thought might be appropriate for this season.

“Whoever is on the Lord’s side___come to me! Exodus 32:26b

These were Moses’ words after he had come down from the mountain and broken the tablets of the law in anger. Only the Levites gathered to him. He sent them forth with swords to slay those were caught in sin. 3000 men were slain. The day the law came and was broken 3000 died by the sword. The day the Spirit came in power at Pentecost 3000 were saved. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. The kingdom came in power just as Jesus had told His disciples.

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with his sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Joshua 5:13,14

As one brother put it, the Lord didn’t come to take sides, He came to take over. If we are asking the Lord whose side He’s on then we are asking the wrong question. We should ask ourselves “Are we on the Lord’s side?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36

We serve a government that is not from this world. The kingdom we serve is in the Spirit. So what do we know about the kingdom.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit it. 1Cor. 15:50

Those who practice the works of the flesh cannot inherit it. Galatians 5:19-21

It is not in word, but in power. 1Cor. 4:20

It is not eating or drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

The Kingdom of God is simply the domain, the rule, reign, dominion, of the King. The Kingdom of God is here and Jesus is the king.

We are citizens of a spiritual kingdom. Does that mean we should not have anything to do with earthly government? No, in 1 Peter 2, Peter gave some instruction as to how we are to live here, though we are sojourners and pilgrims. Should we neglect the privileges of citizenship because we are subject to the King of Kings? No, exercise those privileges and heed especially the exhortation of Paul. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 1 Timothy 2: 1-3

If we are citizens of the kingdom we will be exemplary citizens here.

Can a political party solve a nation’s ills? Absolutely not, our nation is kind of like Humpty Dumpty and Obama and his party, nor McCain and his party can put it together again, but the King can. As we look at soaring oil prices, inflation, deflating home values, war, and division; what must we do? Two passages come to mind:

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

The things in the context of this verse is our physical needs. If we put the rule of the king first in every area of life, then your need will be met in that area. In every area of life that the King reigns there is the provision of the King.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon who will commit to your trust the true spiritual riches? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16: 10-13.

What are true spiritual riches? Wisdom, peace, understanding, love, and joy to name a few. Could it just be that the reason these guys go to Washington and then act like there is something funny in the water up there is because they have wrong priorities? Just a thought. Many have not been faithful with what they have been given. It is time to seek His reign; his righteousness. Righteousness exalts a nation.

Yes, why don’t we ask ourselves, “Are we on the Lord’s side?” The great thing about being on the Lord’s side is that you always win. Love never fails. And the other great thing about being on the Lord’s side is that when you are on His side, He’s also on yours.

If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, let Israel now say–“If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.” Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 124

Lord, we choose to be on your side.

Blessings,

Herb Dean