Amen and amen. Would you please stand for the reading of God's Word?

We're in our 29th week in our study in the book of Romans. I'll read Romans chapter 13

verses 1 through 7. God's word says this. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God and those that

exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resist, the authorities resist what God has

appointed. And those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one

who is an authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval. For he is God's

servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid. For he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is the servant of God,

the avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection,

not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this, you also pay taxes. For the authorities

are ministers of God attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them. Taxes to whom

taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honored to whom

honor is owed. Would you please pray with me?

Our good and gracious Heavenly Father, God, as we walk through this text, inspired by you, written

by the Apostle Paul, landing on us today in the 21st century in the United States of America,

God may we submit ultimately to you and you alone.

God, as we walk through this text, God, I pray that you would remove me, and folks would only

see you, your word, and your cross.

God, I pray that you would do in the hearts and lives of men and women all over our

campuses what only you could do. Convict and comfort. We prayed in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be

seated. So this is a doozy. Romans chapter 13. I'm going to be honest.

What's happening here is Paul is continuing his exhortation to us that started all the way back for us like four weeks ago.

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