Calvin History regarding Geneva

Calvin was originally a lawyer before becoming a theologian. His major fault (in my opinion) that was getting involved the organization of church governance and the social organization of the church and the city in Geneva (civil government). He was, in fact, the first major political thinker to model social organization entirely on biblical principles. In 1540, city officials in Geneva invited Calvin back to the city and he set about revolutionizing Genevan society. His most important innovation was the incorporation of the church into city government; he immediately helped to restructure municipal government so that clergy would be involved in municipal decisions, particularly in disciplining the populace. He imposed a hierarchy on the Genevan church and began a series of statute reforms to impose a strict and uncompromising moral code on the city. What kind of government was it? THEOCRACY Civil government is recognized by the sovereignty of God-ordained institution. Government is necessary and divinely ordained by God (Rom. 13:1–7). We are called to render service and obedience as to submit to civil authority (1 Pet. 2:13–17 ; Matt. 22:21). THEOCRACY ( Gr. theokratia, "government by a god"), constitution, or polity, of a country in which God is regarded as the sole sovereign and the laws of the realm are seen as divine commands. By extension a theocracy is a country in which control is in the hands of the clergy. The typical example of a theocracy is that established by the Hebrew lawgiver Moses which also used by theologian John Calvin in Geneva. How many countries today have "Theocracy" type of Government? Theocracy is a form of government in which a religion and the government are allied. Currently, in the Middle East Muslim Countries such as Iran.

Act on Dreams of $$$ ?

This dream of "extra cash" on "what if" comes down to this: How we earns our money and how we spends the money will tell us about our own character, and we will know all we need to know about our own standards, our motives, our driving desires, and our real idol. When we know, we must accept and believe; until we know we can maintain our spiritual integrity only by admitting our ignorance; and that very ignorance will encourage us to search the Word carefully. This is where we should have a serious responsibility in this matter to search in our hearts about our motives when we try to glorify God. As for ME...... I will have dreams but when I do receive extra cash, the Holy Spirit will convict me how I will use the money, not my desires and dreams (even though I have them, will I act on them?). Reading 1 Timothy 4 explains that Christians must choose their priorities carefully like an athlete as to have disciplined lives forgo some desires that may hinder doing God's will and please God as you are after God's own heart. "If you are a Christian , you are in the same circumstance as the early followers of Jesus. You have been commissioned to manage an asset for your Master. Your asset is your life-the sum of your talents, strengths, personality and interests. [Live every day to answer the question]. How will I steward what my Master has placed in my care?" Bruce Wilkinson, "A Life God Rewards"Nothing wrong with prosperity but the desires and the dreams of prosperity ties to idolatry. When we accumulate our possessions for our own selfish sake--those possessions have become idols. Idols when a Christian have a selfish heart of greed is your master.Money don't change my life. Only CHRIST changes my life. Happiness from the flesh point of view or from the spiritual point of view. Temporal blessings does not change us but God does when He changes us from within as we walk in Spirit. Our glory lies in withdrawal from all that builds on dust (temporal). 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.