Civil Disobedience

Hi Friends,

I have an important vision to share with you today. I understand this vision to refer to civil disobedience because the Lord confirmed the vision with a passage of scripture.

The Vision

I saw a scene that appeared to be in the interior of an airplane.  There were people standing in rows shoulder to shoulder like people tightly packed in a church.  One black man was standing near the window of the plane.  He stood placing his hands on the “pew,” in front on him, pushing down on it to transfer some of his weight from his legs onto his arms.  People usually do this in church when the service is long and they are getting tired of standing.  

Just this past Sunday, I went to three different churches.  At 8:30 in the morning,  I went to my church for the early service because I needed to leave to go to my next destination which was the 10:30 service at my friend’s church.  Her husband was going to give the sermon and share his testimony.  Then at 12:15 I went to another friend’s church, for the christening of her baby daughter.  My church is “full gospel,” or Pentecostal.  The second church is a Protestant denomination, with an evangelical focus, and the last church where the baby Christening was held, is a Roman Catholic church. 

In the vision, the people were standing in their pews, reminding me of my own upbringing in the
Episcopal church. The Episcopal church is very similar to the Roman Catholic church in that the service is a celebration of the Eucharist.  The mass that is celebrated in both churches have had the same format for centuries.  Within the service is a time of corporate prayer when a priest or person of the laity reads a short list of prayer requests with the congregation making a simple response as “Lord, hear our prayer.”  These prayers are made on all occasions.  However at a Christening or baptism, there are declarations of faith and vows taken on behalf of the child getting baptized.  There is an expectation of agreement by people of the faith.  The declarations made by the congregation are purposeful. 

At the christening, I was careful to take in what the deacon said regarding their stated beliefs. I was in agreement with about 90% of what was said.  I agreed with them in prayer with the things that rang true from my understanding of Biblical truths, and remained silent when they prayed to the many saints that they called upon, to pray for those children who were being baptized. 

A Catholic is expected to be obedient to the church’s teachings.  A Protestant is expected to be obedient to the church’s teachings that line up with the word of God.  But for me, I had to leave not only these two types of churches, but several other churches over the past twenty five years because I was not in agreement with their doctrine.  We must know the word of God for ourselves.  How can we say “Amen,” if we are not in agreement.  We want to be faithful in our devotion to the Lord God Almighty, and not to the teachings of men.

Now going back to the vision:

The black man in the vision who stands with his hands leaning on the pew represents those in the church who must decide for themselves if they agree with the authorities, the laws and the belief systems of religious and/or secular authorities.  He also represents those outside the church who are weighing the secular ideologies that the political and social elites are promoting, with expectant approval by their citizens.  

I wondered why was God showing me that everyone was in an airplane, high above the ground, and at the same time in church. I first thought of travel bans, and vaccine passports as intrusions on our freedoms. But I believe now, that these people were in the air to get a higher perspective. I frequently pray that the Lord that he would take someone up higher to get a “lay of the land,” and to understand things from God’s vantage point. That is why I believe that the church pews were in the airplane, for the man and the others were seeking God for his input, for his good counsel.  “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9

As I was praying about this vision, I asked the Lord to confirm that his message was about obedience.  And He did!  The Lord is faithful! Sometimes when I think of his willingness to communicate with us, such tiny specks on the earth, I become overwhelmed! He hears our prayers!  What an awesome and wonderful God we serve!

As I opened my bible these were the words that appeared at the very top of the page: “...during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you O king, would be thrown into the lion’s den.”  Daniel 6:12

This passage comes from the familiar story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den.  The story is not that  long, so I decided to include it here:

 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.  Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.  Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.  Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!  All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.  Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”  Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.  Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.  Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”  Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.  Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”  And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.  Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.  As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”  Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”  Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.  And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.  I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel is an important Biblical example of a God-fearing prophet who did not cow-tail to civil law that conflicted with God’s commands.  He would not bow down in worship or pray to anyone or anything other than God himself.

The Lord has given us this vision and confirmed his message with this passage of scripture as a reminder, and as a warning to us as Christians, that we will face authorities that will demand obedience to their laws and commands.  We must know that we cannot obey laws that conflict with God’s laws or laws that inhibit our ability to follow and serve the Lord.  We must be willing to stand up for the Lord and our faith, and not compromise just to keep the peace, or to stay out of trouble.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  Matthew 16:25

There are many examples of how the church has compromised with the world’s values and with civil authorities.  In doing so, they have dismissed or minimized the importance of following the word of God.  For example, the word of God says, “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrew 10:25

Yet, how many churches gladly closed their doors, for months and “sheltered in place,” to accommodate the “lock-down,” of healthy people?  Never before has the world demanded healthy people to stay home!  It is the sick that we quarantine, not the  healthy.  What happened to faith?  Isn’t the church the place where we are to bring the sick?  “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.   And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.  And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”  James 5:14-15

Why should we be fearful of Covid or any sickness?  “They shall take up snakes in their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  Mark 16:18

A church that I used to attend, considered themselves a hospital.  If there are people of faith in the church then we should all expect to be healed and delivered by the power of God.  

If we are Christians, then we should ask ourselves, “Are we truly in the faith?  Do we believe that God heals?  Do we believe that he loves us and will protect us?  Are we earnestly seeking him?  Do we trust him? Are we expecting him to come soon for us, his bride?”

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:8  

Why did the church choose to stay home?  Did the church not trust God? Did their fear of governmental authorities override their desire to please God?  Was it out of fear of the Covid that they closed their doors? Were church leaders afraid of offending their congregation if they stayed open?  Were the leaders afraid of taking a stand?  Were they fearful of losing their status in the community by not conforming to secular wisdom?  

Where is the fear of God??

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”    Matthew 10:28

We cannot fear man and his opinion and ignore God.  We cannot love money more than God.  We cannot love our lives more than God.  We must realize that everyone, great and small, will be held accountable for his thoughts, and  actions.

Why should we be afraid of sickness, when the Lord is the healer? Why should we be afraid of the church losing its charitable status?  Doesn’t the Lord own “the cattle on a thousand hills.”  (Psalm 50:10) Isn’t he our provider?  What does the Word of God say?  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

If we compromise today about something that is in direct opposition to our faith, what will be the next compromise? If we compromise with the world’s view, our faith is worthless, and we become hypocrites like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. 

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus  and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.  (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.  When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!  For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’  But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.  Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”  Mark 7:1-13

Now we understand that the Law of Moses, (O.T. Law), was fulfilled by Jesus’ death on the cross, so we are not bound by the Law any longer.  However, we are to follow the Lord’s teachings for he said that “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  John 14:15

Also:  “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’”  John 14:23

Now Let us discuss the idea of civil disobedience.  In the story of Daniel, he did not announce his defiance of the king’s decree, but just went about his business honoring God with his devotion and his daily prayers as he had always done.  He did not hide himself either.  His window was open. Anyone could peek in to see that his devotion to the Lord had not changed.  

We need to understand the Lord’s perspective on the laws that are our government passes. Do the laws of our land align with God’s commands and his teachings?

The word of God declares that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.”   Romans 13:1

So we have to respect the God given authorities, and at the same time, give the Lord our uncompromising loyalty.  “Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17

I personally struggled with the mask mandate during the period of Covid restrictions. I do not believe that the governor had Constitutional authority to mandate that we wear masks. In addition, I had seen an interview with Dr. F.  stating very clearly that the only ones who should wear masks are those who were taking care of Covid patients.  The WHO website, at that time, made a similar statement.  Both Dr. F. and the WHO said that cloth and ordinary masks were ineffective to stop the spread of the virus.  Later when the CDC, Dr. F. and the WHO demanded that everyone should wear masks, I knew that it was a political maneuver to impose social control over our citizens.

Yet, I chose to wear my mask in public, to keep the peace. “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18

However, I was quite disturbed when I saw a video of a mother being arrested for not wearing her mask while seated on empty bleachers outdoors, watching her daughter play soccer.  None of the girls playing soccer were arrested for not wearing masks—just the mom.   Later we saw these same authoritarians break their own Covid rules. Even Dr. F. in an outdoor event, on bleachers went mask-less.

This reminded me again of the hypocrites of Jesus’ day.  “‘Woe to you as well, experts in the law!’ he replied. ‘You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.’”  Luke 11:46

Now a mask might be a simple inconvenience.  But now that we see so many lies and cover-ups of governmental corruption, and the government’s facilitation of lawlessness in our nation, we need to be very clear as to where we stand and to whom we are loyal.  To follow the world and its values, will shipwreck our faith.  The Lord shows us what is truly important:  “Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You follow me.’”  John 21:22  

And “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

Also:  “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”  1 John 2:15-16

The Lord will be returning soon for his bride, the church.  We have to live our lives in such a way as to please him. We must be engaged in praying for others and sharing the gospel so that everyone will have an opportunity to know the Lord, and be reconciled to him.  We want everyone to receive his forgiveness and his peace, for he wants none to be lost.  

So let us be obedient to the authorities that the Lord places over us, even when we do not like their policies.  And at the same time, let us take a stand against the laws, the mandates and the executive orders that are in direct opposition to God’s law.  If it is legal to kill an unborn child, but the Lord’s law says, “Thou shalt not kill,” then we do not follow the law of the land.

The Bible says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10

Also:  “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Romans 5:1

And we must recognize that the Lord has allowed wicked men and women to have authority over us for a season, but it has been for our benefit.  Most of the young people in our nation are not fully aware of how possible it would be to lose our freedoms to an elite few who control the social media, the news, and the government and its agencies.  

We have been a rich nation, with a population driven to achieve wealth and social status. Our politicians have used their positions to amass personal wealth, and political power.  The social elites have used their wealth to influence public opinion, and promote their political ideologies.  The educators, having been indoctrinated with liberal ideologies from the colleges that they have attended, are now teaching our children to embrace socialism as the preferred socioeconomic order.  Where are the champions that are concerned with protecting the Constitutional freedoms for the generations to come?  Why are the governmental mandates not challenged? Why is no one held accountable for their crimes against the state? 

If we lose our freedom of religion, the freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, the Church will have to go underground.  Persecution against the Church will be inevitable.  

It is time for us to seek the Lord.  We need to fast for our nation and the church.   We need to repent of our own sinful ways and return to God.  There may be little time left—we must get right with him now.  He may come this very night, or perhaps at daybreak.  But one thing we do know, the Lord said: “When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Luke 21:28

Let’s be ready and waiting for him. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

God is good. Hell is bad. And eternity is forever. Please make the right choice!

God bless you! And please share this message. Everyone needs to understand that the time is short!