sermon: Simplifying Life (Part Six)

Yielding to God's Laws & Man's Laws
David F. Maas
Given 25-Oct-25; Sermon #1843; 53 minutes

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For the past 8 months, we have been navigating through a sermon series on simplifying life. Including the topics. Eliminating physical and spiritual clutter. Part two time organization conserving and redeeming time. Part 3 managing human and spiritual relationships. Part 4 cultivating the ability to wait on God's timing. Part 5. Keeping the Sabbath to simplify life, bringing us today to the 6th and the penultimate message titled Simplifying Life Part 6 Yielding to God's Laws and Man's Laws. My SPS or thesis for this message is that life becomes unnecessarily complicated when we resist Almighty God's design and His authority structures. True simplicity comes only from living within God's order. Embracing his holy and spiritual commandments as well as respecting legitimate human, that is legitimate human authority. Please turn to I Corinthians 14:33. I Corinthians 14:33. I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints. The context of this verse is the apostle Paul's admonition to the congregation at Corinth to use their divinely given gifts responsibly. The amplified classic edition renders this passage, for he who is the source of their prophesying is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As is the practice in all the churches of the saints, God's people. Brothers and sisters, are we complicating our lives by resisting the very laws designed to bless us? Please consider A river's banks never restrict the water but instead give it direction and momentum. Likewise, God's laws and most of man's laws provide secure boundaries that bring peace, safety, and simplicity. Now this verse comes in the middle of Paul's extended teaching on orderly worship in the assembly of Christ's followers. I Corinthians 12 to 14. Chapter 14 specifically deals with the use of spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy in public worship. Paul insists that spiritual manifestations should only build up the church and never cause disorder or chaos. The Greek word translated as Confucian. Ataia connotes disorder, instability, or chaos. All feels compelled to correct inappropriate uses of spiritual gifts that were leading to disorganized, noisy, and unedifying worship service. His theological argument is simple. If the result of the church gathering is confusion. It cannot possibly reflect the nature of God, who is a God of order. True worship should reflect God's character, and since God is orderly, public worship likewise should be structured, respectful, and edifying. The Greek word ani suggests not only calmness or quiet but also a sense of harmony and right relationships between individuals in the gathered body of Christ and Almighty God. Paul is not advocating sterile, lifeless meetings, but instead those which are spirit-led and constructive. The apostle Paul's statement, as in all churches of the saints, appeals to a universal standard. In other words, this is not just advice for Corinth, but instead it is how all the churches right up to this very day should function. Hall asserts that God's nature and expectations for orderly worship applies to every local gathering or assembly of His chosen saints. To summarize this section, Paul insists on one order in worship. Worship should be intelligible, participatory, and edifying, certainly not chaotic and confusing. Secondly, the character of God, how we conduct ourselves in services reflects what we believe about God. If He is indeed a God of peace, our gathering should mirror that peace. Number 3, spiritual gifts with purpose. Paul in no way discourages spiritual gifts. But instead emphasizes that they must be used lovingly and wisely to build up or to edify the church. God's chosen saints have been instructed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul, and Jesus' brother James, that faith without works is absolutely stone dead, and law keeping is mandatory forever. Forever As the apostle Paul told Craig Sablelich down on the bayou. Our Lord did not nail the 10 commandments to the cross. He nailed our death penalty. Paul never, never said that we are no longer had to keep the law. Now in antiomeian Protestants, both mainline and fundamentalist evangelicals claim that God's holy law is no longer in force, including the seventh day and clean and unclean laws. Which have been in force from creation and will exist throughout eternity. Psalm 11944152 160. They are proclaiming themselves spiritual anarchists, subject to the apostle Paul's warning in Romans 13. More about that later. Our savior on his last Passover as a human declared, if, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. All of God's holy and spiritual laws are rooted in love. When we keep them in the letter and the spirit, we fulfill the law of love, aligning our behavior with the greatest commandments to love God and to love our neighbors, including our enemies as ourselves. Please turn over to Psalm 19 verses 7 through 11. Psalm 197. Psalm 197. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Verse 8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. You know, brothers and sisters, it's too bad that Mother Eve never heard or read this psalm. Verse 9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Verse 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yeah, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Now interestingly, in the article, a slice of time with honey on the side in Torah.org, there is a custom in the Jewish community of dipping an apple in honey on Rosh Hashanah, alluding to the desire to renew one's understanding of Torah, but on a deeper level. Verse 11. Moreover, by them, your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 197 to 11 presents the word of God as living, luminous, life-giving, accomplishing what human wisdom cannot accomplish, that is total transformation from within. Each separate description, law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear, and rules focuses upon a different facet of God's Revelation. Yet all amazingly converge in the profound truth that Almighty God's word is perfectly sufficient and supremely satisfying. We see in this Psalm a foreshadowing of Christ Himself, the word made flesh and through whom our soul is truly revived and rehabilitated. Please turn to James 1:25, where our Lord and Savior's brother equated the law with liberty or freedom from bondage. James 1:25. James 1:25. But he who looks into the perfect law. The law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. The amplified edition adds the following clarifying details. James 1:25, but he who looks carefully into the perfect law and faithfully abides by it, not having become a careless listener who forgets, but an active doer who obeys, he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does. In his life of obedience. This verse sits within a passage, James 1:22 through 25, contrasting hearing God's word with doing it. Using the image of someone looking into a mirror likening this behavior to hearing God's word but not acting upon it, James encourages the opposite. The person who truly looks intently into God's word and then acts upon it. In the phrase, but the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, the Greek verb paraquito connotes bending down or stooping to look closely. Namely, an intentional careful examination, not a casual glance, but rather a serious reflective engagement with God's word. The perfect law points to God's will, which was fulfilled and revealed through Jesus Christ. It is perfect because it is whole, complete, and leads to maturity. James 1:4. The expression law of liberty seems paradoxical and a blatant contradiction to most professing antinomian anarchistic Protestants. How can any kind of law bring freedom? While Jesus' half brother James insists that true freedom can only be found in obedience to God, not in autonomy. When God's chosen saints follow God's word, containing God's law, they are liberated from sins, bondage, and self-deception. We must remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's teaching in John 8. 31 for 32 if If you abide in my word, the truth will set you free. That was a favorite verse of one of my dear friends, late friends, Fred. Ed Sorenson, who was also an atheist. In verse 25. James uses the expression and perseveres, suggesting that the blessing does not come from merely a single act of looking or doing but from continued sustained faithful practice. The word suggests endurance and steadfastness. My dear brothers and sisters, we must regard our discipleship as a sustained habit, not just a momentary impulse. When James uses the phrase being no hearer but a doer who acts. He continues his contrast between passive reception and actual obedience. The forgetful hearer represents superficial religion, that is, hearing sermons or reading scripture without an ounce of transformation taking place. The doer That should be us who acts, lives out the word embodies faith through conduct. When James uses the phrase, he will be blessed in his doing. He maintains that this blessing is not merely a reward after obedience, but it is in the doing itself. When we obey God's word. Containing his holy and spiritual law, we obtain spiritual flourishing joy and alignment with our own divine purpose, a concept which is echoed in Psalm one. Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord. James 1:25 forms the thesis or central theme for his entire letter that authentic faith expresses itself in action. Rejecting both legalism, that is mechanical and rote rule following and passive religious behavior, asserting that obedience to Christ's teaching is not bondage but true freedom. Consequently, brothers and sisters. We are obligated to meditate deeply. Engaging scripture with attentiveness, reflection. And an ardent desire. To apply it to our own behavior. We must exercise perseverance, making obedience a consistent practice. Rather than an occasional response. We are urged to actively live out faith, realizing that spiritual maturity does not come from information itself but instead transformation, converting God's holy and spiritual law into genuine behavior. We must find joy in obedience, realizing that the blessing which James refers to is the inner satisfaction of walking in absolute alignment with God's will. As God's called out saints, we must keep God's word central in our daily decisions, simplifying our choices. By asking What does God's word say? Please turn over to Romans 13 verses 1 and 2. It's Romans 13 verses 1 and 2. Romans 13:1. Let every soul be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except from. God Verse 2. Therefore, whoever resists the authority, resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. The amplified classic edition adds a few more salient details. Let every person be loyally subject to the governing civil authorities, for there is no authority except from God. That is, by his permission, by his sanction. And those that exist do so by God's appointment. 14 Verse 14. Therefore, he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged a divine order, and those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves, receiving the penalty to them. Brothers and sisters. All authority. All authority. All authority Including Gavin Newsom. Tim Walsh. Tina Kotick. And JB Pritzker. Were established by God. And resisting authority complicates our lives. You can't possibly realize all the times I've had to resist the urge to grab a pitchfork and drive up to San Cramento to set things right. Romans 13:1 and 2 is encapsulated within Paul's larger exhortation encompassing Romans 12 through 15. Explaining how God's called out saints should live in the world, especially in relation to others beyond their own families as well as their spiritual siblings. After teaching about love, humility, and peace in chapters 12, Paul turns the follower of Christ's relationship with the civil government. During the time of Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul, the Roman governed was primarily under the rule of Emperor Augustus. And his successors such as Tiberius reigning from 14 through 37, Caligula reigning from 37 to 41, Claudius. Raining from 41 to 53 and Nero reigning from 54 to 68, probably the most cruel and evil of all the Caesars. Augustus came to power in 27 BC, significantly expanding the Roman Empire, including Judea as a province, appointing Herod the Great, who played a crucial role in the life of Jesus, including the events surrounding his birth and crucifixion. Historians have characterized the Roman government as a centralized government establishing extensive road networks and having a common, a common language. Which thankfully facilitated the rapid spread of Christianity and missionary activities of the apostle Paul. Paul understood that the Roman government was an extremely powerful and sometimes evil oppressive system. Yet Paul still calls believers to recognize the legitimacy of governmental authority within God's sovereign order. Now, sadly, Many of my former ambassador students and colleagues, sadly. are feverishly working overtime. Attempting to overthrow the current government of the United States, tossing out what they have labeled as the anti-Christ Nazi dictator, May Almighty God rebuke their insane behavior. Please turn to I Peter 2:13 through 15. First Peter 2:13 to 15. I Peter 2:13, submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, verse 14, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. Verse 15, for such as the will of God that by doing right you might silence the ignorance of foolish men. Please allow Wrangler Dave to read this passage from the amplified classic edition. First Peter 2:13. Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord. Whether it be to the empire as supreme, verse 14, or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance, punishment, justice to those who do wrong. And to encourage those who do good service. Verse 15, for it is God's will and intention that by doing right your good and honest lives should silence, muzzle, gag the ignorant and ill-informed criticism of foolish persons. Brothers and sisters, traffic laws, tax laws. Community ordinances have been designed for order and peace. In verse 13. Peter urges God's chosen saints to submit to human authorities, not out of fear or blind obedience. But instead for the Lord's sake. It is important to remember that our motivation to submit is not merely civic but theological. God's chosen people honor authority because it reflects God's order in the world. The phrase every human institution. Literally every human creation. Itemizes the various social and political structures humans live under. Peter includes the emperor. Who during Peter's time would have been Nel. Reminding us that submission should not be unconditional. Are on the ruler's character, as many of my former ambassador students currently believe. But instead on the believer's commitment to God's authority. We should never suggest that Peter is endorsing tyranny. But rather he reflects a call to live peaceably within society so that the gospel is not hindered by unnecessary rebellion. When Peter wrote this letter around 18063 64, God's people were living under the tyrannical Roman Emperor Nero. Nero's reign That is AD 62 to 64 began with relative stability. But ended with notorious cruelty and prosecution, I mean persecution of Christ's fault, probably prosecution too, especially after the great fire of Rome, AD 64, which Nero blamed for igniting. Followers of Christ. God's chosen saints were a minority often misunderstood and viewed with suspicion. Because they refused to worship the empire. The Romans considered them. Politically subversive and enemies of the state. In this intense tumultuous environment, Peter's command to God's people to be subject to every human institution was both radical and wise, showing that followers of Christ were not revolutionaries aiming to overthrow the empire. But instead They were citizens of integrity, obeying laws and serving the public good, even acknowledging that Jesus alone was Lord. Peter's words reflect a delicate balance. Submission to government is an act of obedience to Almighty God. But ultimate loyalty remains with Jesus Christ, not Caesar. Acts 5:29, we must obey God rather than men. Historians claim that this teaching. Help protect the early Christian community from unnecessary persecution. Giving them a moral reputation that even pagan observers like Pliny the Younger in the early 2nd century later acknowledged, what are we supposed to do when man's laws conflict with God's laws. Peter and the other apostles in Acts 5:29 declare. We must obey God. Rather than man. All of us are familiar with the accounts in Daniel 3, where Shadrack, Meshach, and Oedigo obeyed God even when they believed it would cost them their lives. Likewise, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, which he assumed would be his eminent death. God's people must live responsibly by paying taxes, obeying civil laws. Um, And honor leaders Romans 13:7 but we should never. Never compromise. Our faith when man's law contradicts God's laws. Back on June 14, 2025. Doctor Anthony Fauci was confronted by GOP lawmakers scrutinizing his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Examining theories of the origins virus. Sadly, Most Americans. And most Church of God members do not realize that this horrible virus did not originate in Wuhan, China. But in the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Under the supervision of Doctor Xi Jingi, also known as the Bat Lady, who was transferred to Wuhan when alarmed scientists warned the government that these gain of function experiments were deadly, capable of wiping out millions of people. According to Tim Brown in his May 6th, 2020 Gateway pundit article titled Doctor Anthony Fauci Likely Broke US Law when he funded Wuhan Lab with the Millions and millions of American tax dollars. To continue the Corona project banned in the US in 2014. Reveals that the know-how behind the weaponizing of this killer virus was developed at the University of North Carolina Virology Laboratory conducted by a team of scientists including Doctor Xi Jingli, who was later transferred to the Wuhan. Uh, laboratory after her work at North Carolina was suspended. So I get upset with President Trump when he keeps calling it the China virus. It was, it was, it was made here, brothers and sisters. Doctor Rand Paul has conclusively proved the disastrous consequences of Doctor Fauci's experiments, as well as his continuous perjury before the US Congress. Another thing most Americans and most Church of God members We were not aware of Was that the vaccine for COVID was every bit as dangerous as the virus itself, and that the government mask mandate and vaccine mandates were evil attempts at tyrannizing the American and people as well as those Jacob's offspring in Britain, Australia, Canada, Uh, New Zealand, South Africa, and brother Judas postage stamp domicile, the state of Israel. The evil pandemic was foisted upon the world by the criminal WHO CDC and Big Pharma, currently under scrutiny by Robert F. Kennedy Jr as he tries to push back on this evil, attempting to make America healthy again. RFK Junior also wrote the first divinitive book exposing Doctor Fauci's evil plans. When those government mandates were enforced, one of my former students from England. Incidentally, the same one accused me of worshiping the Sabbath day rather than God tried to convince me that the apostle Paul would have worn a mask and also would have been vaccinated. I replied to her that the apostle Paul might have worn a mask. But that he would have drawn a line at accepting an experimental vaccine with deadly DNA alternating substances he would have not taken. Now in retrospect. After many of my friends both in and out of the church took the vaccine. And then died. I felt a sense of profound alarm. Too many of our sister congregations in the greater Church of God knuckled under to government pressure, and they have reaped the lethal, deadly consequences of their spiritual timidity. As I have said in a previous message. Dave Moss's opinions do not constitute Church of the great God policy, nor do I ever want to violate anybody's conscience. But nevertheless, when something conflicts with my conscience, then I feel a necessity to speak. My first pastor, the late Charles Searle McMichael, never directly told people what to do in financial matters or health matters. But he would say, I personally would not do this. And the members of the congregation would get the point. Consequently, the last time I ever took a vaccine was 1956, namely the Salk polio vaccine. The government and the medical community were just as pushy and aggressive then as they are today. Up and down the highway 169 along the Minnesota River Valley, about every miles were billboards of a man in a wheelchair with a caption. Don't press your luck. Get your vaccine today. Another motivator was visiting the Leseur County Fair, where one of the exhibits was a man. In an iron lung Too many of us have been intimidated with propaganda, and that propaganda will wax more bizarre than ever in the years ahead. Congressman Brad Winthrop, Republican in Ohio 2nd congressional district. Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Corona pandemic stated that Americans during the deceitful pandemic have been aggressively bullied, shamed, and silenced for merely questioning or debating issues such as social distancing, masks, vaccines, or the origins of COVID. Congressman Weinshrop, who said he was seeking accountability in his hearing. Accused Doctor Fauci of overseeing one of the most invasive regimes of domestic policy the US has ever seen. I would say all of Jacob's uh locations. several have told me that they took the shot because Their doctor forced them to. Well, My doctor A cousin of my daughter-in-law or my niece-in-law for several years tried to make me take a flu shot or a COVID shot only to be given a vituperative lecture on the evils of Anthony Fauci and the Gates Foundation from her crotchety old uncle. Brothers and sisters, I do not know what the source of the next government overreach might be. But I counsel all of us. To develop some spiritual intestinal fortitude. Not to compromise. Defiling our precious bodies and minds. One major lesson I took away from the feast of tabnacles this year. was to yield and embrace our trials for the results they will bring. Our Savior tells us in John 15:2 that every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. Now Jesus's half brother James encourages us. My brethren, count it all joy. When you fall into various trials, verse 3. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work. That you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. In his October 9th message. The feast of Tabernacles and unleavened bread. David Gray in showing the chiasmic symmetry of the holy days, states that unleavened bread focuses upon cleansing, sincerity and feeding on Christ, the bread of life. Consequently, when we remove food from our dwellings, we purify every sphere of authority under God, thereby building a spiritual house upon Christ. Now tabernacles in contrast emphasizes impermanence. Impermanence and humility. Dwelling in temporary booths, reminding us of our dependence on God's daily provision in the wilderness. Together the permanence of houses. And the transient of booths teach us that security lies not in possessions or in comfort, but in almighty God's sustaining presence. The physical symbols of food and dwelling illustrate some divine paradoxes. Doing unleavened bread, we concentrated on self-sufficiency and sin, but during tabernacles, housing lacks permanence, worldly security and control through abundance and lack permanence and transience, God's people learn to dwell in His presence, feed on his word, and trust in His timing. No The Feast of Tabernacles 2025. Was the best feast I have ever kept in my life. That's 59 feasts. It was also the most Unstable and shaky, almost like Tevye's description of the fiddler on the roof. 5 distinct experiences during the feast, which, which seemed like I was heading for disaster. Miraculously turned around and I was able to see God's hand intervening on my behalf. The first day, for example, we had choir practice. For which I thought that I was more prepared than I turned out to be. I could see there are a couple of my remer. Had a lot of concern on his faith. But miraculously, after several hours of ketchup practice, God bless the result. Rex If you send next year's choir music to me tomorrow. I promise that we will have a flawless feast in Nashville. Speaking of Nashville to those planning the dance next year. Why do not we combine it with a country western variety show. With members from the local congregations participating. Including the Dixie hymns. And the men's ensemble furnishing some Statler Brothers numbers. I could probably throw in a few Johnny Cash. Daddy sang bass. The second disaster happened when my son, who packed his cornet among his clothes in the suitcase, only to find. That he could not pull the mouthpiece off. He called Julie and said, Mom. I'm afraid to tell Dad because he probably will get very upset. Well, we arranged to go to the music store on the mall. To have his mouthpiece pulled off only to find that he still could not get it to play. Aaron asked about getting a newer trumpet. To which they said they had one professional Yamaha trumpet used but in mint condition which they would sell for 1/3 the price of a brand new trump instrument. We bought it for him as a feast present. And he played it for the first time 20 minutes later at the Elmer Trio reunion taping, which many of you have seen on my YouTube channel. I'm going to give another shameless plug. If only 3 of you join my YouTube channel, it will bring the subscribers over 100. Four more heart stopping occurrences happened after that at the feast, and God mercifully turned. Some near disasters into miraculous turnarounds. By the time Julie and I discovered we had COVID. I was able to take that petty annoyance in stride. After I asked Mark Schindler for an anointed cloth. The scary symptoms started to clear up. Last night. Julie told me that she had never seen me so calm before. Now there is a guy I have from time to time have deep philosophical discussions out at the old Susannah Cafe. At the edge of Corriganville. Name of Kevin Maguire. Very similar to the discussion Craig had with the apostle Paul. Down at the Louisiana B. Now Kevin Maguire knows about 10 times as many Bible scriptures that I do. And is more skillful. At arguing than I am. I related to him some of the frustrations I had experienced at the feast the previous week and why In my estimation, I seem to have more than my share of those kind of tests. Kevin looked at me intently asking me, Dave What does the Bible teach us? It's the polar opposite of faith. And I replied, well. I, I suppose it's fear. To which he replied, No, it is not. The opposite of fear is courage. Well, I Muttered, How about doubt? To which he replied Noel. It is not, it's courage. How about disbelief? To which he replied. The opposite of disbelief is belief. I then got somewhat frustrating, muttering Kevin. I'm getting tired of your word games. What does the Bible say is the opposite of faith. To which he replied. For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7, Romans 8:24, Hebrews 11:1 through 2. I replied, oh. Yielding to God's and man's law brings simplicity. Obedience narrows the options, leaving fewer choices. For example, God's chosen saints never have to agonize over dishonesty in business, for God's holy and spiritual law makes the choice abundantly clear. Yielding to God's law reduces. Conflict and strife. Please turn over to Proverbs 3 verses 1 and 2. Proverbs 3 Verses 1 and 2. My son, do not forget my law. But let your heart keep my commands. Verse 2, for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. The amplified classic edition adds the following clarifying details. Proverbs 3:1. My son, forget not my law or my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments for length of days and years of life worth living and tranquility inward and outward and continuing through old age till death, these shall add to you. Please turn over to Isaiah 32:17. Isaiah 32:17. Isaiah 32:17. The work of righteousness will be peace. And the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever. The amplified classic edition renders this passage. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, internal and external, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. To summarize this message. We must remember that to simplify life. We are required to submit to God's infallible order. When we resist, we hopelessly create complexity. But when we choose to obey Almighty God, it brings peace. This week, let us identify one specific area. Where we have resisted God's law or man's law. And make the college effort to yield it to Christ. To conclude this message, please turn to my second favorite scripture in the Bible, that's Psalm 119:165. Psalm 119165. Psalm 119165. Great peace have those who love your law and nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing causes them to stumble.