When the policeman comes along he wants to see a license from the state that is supervising you. He says, "May I see your driver license?"
You say, "I have no state driver license to show you because I'm not being supervised by your agencies."
"Then we're taking you to jail! And we're going to try you for not obeying our laws."
I ask, "What obligation do you have to obey their laws, to obey their conscience, the God that is within them?" Maybe they have an obligation to obey the God that is within them, but why do I have an obligation to obey the god that is within them? They're quick to have me obey their god. What about my God! Why don't they obey the God that is within me? I won't persecute them for what they believe. If they believe they need to go to Department of Motor Vehicles and obtain a license, fine, go for it! If that is what their god is telling them, I'm not going to hold them back. And yet why do they come boldly out of the dark places and try to persuade me to come in and obey their god? I don't do that to them.39 Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
I don't follow their god because I'm going to hell if I do. I believe it is eternal damnation to obey their god. I can't go to them for permission. If God directs me, I'm to do it. If God tells me to set up His Church, then I'm going to do it. Imagine Jonah's dilemma. God directs Jonah and all of a sudden Jonah is doing what? - responding to the pressures of society, responding to what the people might do to him. But God is intent, "Jonah! Do as I instruct you."40 Jonah 1:2-3 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
How about Moses? "Moses! Take my people out!" But Moses is in line for a very important position, he's next in line to be Pharaoh - the highest seat in that worldly government. Should he ask the Pharaoh for permission to take God's people out? No, Moses acts upon a single voice, the voice of God, the voice that is within him, and he leads the people out.41 Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"
What if today God says, "I want you to be Paul Revere. I want you to open the eyes of the blind. I want you to give hearing to the deaf. I want you to lead my people out. I want them to return to the Kingdom of Heaven. I want their names written in the book of life."42 Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To preach deliverance to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To preach the acceptable year of the LORD." Do I go down to the governor of the state and ask for permission? Do I go to a court with juries and let them decide? I have failed if I ask for permission. We're dealing with a situation where you do not ask any man for permission. You do not allow any man to rule over you. You do not allow yourself to be brought under subjection to any man for that which God has instructed you to do.43 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
When God says do something, He means do it.44 Psalms 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Jesus gives us the command, "Go to all nations preaching the Gospel."45 Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." If you hear His voice, obey Him. Don't say, "Wait a minute Jesus, let me check with the city authorities and see if it's okay with them."46 Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD! The city authorities are doing what they are doing because they are responding to the voice of god that is within them. It isn't your voice. That is their voice. They have been instructed to do whatever they are doing. You are called by another voice. And you are to act on that voice and that voice alone.47 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.