1. Greater Than Government
In terms of where God has told us that our ultimate allegiance lies, government is a distant third at best. One of the lessons that Israel had to learn, and seemed never to learn, was that no earthly king would make them a great people. Only God would make them a great people. When they got this, they were blessed. When they did not, they fell into utter disarray, and felt God’s justice as enemies defeated them a took them off into captivity.
Our God has a claim on our lives that is much greater than any government’s. God protects. God supplies. God saves. God blesses. Yes, God has established governments to approve what is right. However, the only authority any government has is that which God gives to it. Not every government is of God, even if God allows it.
Let’s look at one or two passages that encourage us to recognize God’s delegation to governments and our relationship to governments.

2. Greater Than Government
1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

3. Greater Than Government
17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
What is the role of government?
What are some of our responsibilities and privileges under God?
Which is the emphasis here, being good citizens or being good servants?

4. Greater Than Government
Submit to government that acknowledges and advances what is good for the Lord’s sake.
This upholds our integrity as believers and as God’s people.
Live righteously.
Do not live as if under compulsion.
Why do we struggle with submitting to government?
What are we supposed to do when a government no longer upholds what is right and good?
Why do we not have to worry about being good citizens if we are good servants of God?

5. Greater Than Government
Titus 3:1-8 NIV 1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. 3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

6. Greater Than Government
5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

7. Greater Than Government
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Why is the current political climate in our nation at odds with verses 1 and 2?
What should believers remember as we engage others in the public realm?

8. Greater Than Government
You were once morally and spiritually bankrupt like everyone else
Demonstrate changed lives – among which is a life of submission to your government
I want to take a few moments to underscore some important issues related to how we understand the relationship between God and government in our nation.

9. Greater Than Government
What is different in the Christian and Muslim view of God’s sovereignty over government?
Why did Jefferson write a letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802?
What does the First Amendment to the Constitution say about the relationship between God and government? Do you know why?

10. Since many of our principles of government are derived from the Bible, it is fair to say that God is greater than government. Let me show you briefly the direct connection between the Bible and our founding documents.

11. Greater Than Government
John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

12. Greater Than Government
Galatians 5:1 NIV It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

13. Greater Than Government
John 15:9-14 NIV 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.

14. Greater Than Government
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness (para. 2 Declaration of Independence).
So here is the application of these three divinely revealed truths.
You will notice that our founding fathers believed in the divine establishment of government, but we exist as a nation today because they also believed that unjust governments can and should be confronted and changed by just and Godly people.
No government is God. No government has a right to be unjust. No government will last that does not acknowledge that its authority is derived from God.