Genesis 4:9-16, Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod east of Eden.

 4 Spheres of Government

1. Self-Government:

Individual’s internal disciple under Christ 

2. Family Government:

Parents training children in righteousness

3. Church Government:

Spiritual oversight for the Body of Christ

4. Civil Government:

State authority to maintain justice and order

What Others Are Saying About Self-Government

• “When a man refuses to be self-governed, he asks to be a slave.”

- R. J. Rushdoony

• “Biblical self-government: The desire and the ability to willingly submit to God-given authority without being forced, coerced, or constantly reminded to do so.” 

- R. J. Rushdoony

• "The only way, then, to self-government is to reach beyond ourselves toward righteousness, to find the power of righteousness reigning in us, to govern ourselves and hold us in the way of righteousness.”

- A. T. Jones

What Scripture says about Self-Government

Proverbs 16:32, Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Judges 21:25, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Proverbs 25:28, Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Enemies of Self-Government

1. The Flesh – Internal Rebellion

Galatians 5:17, For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Romans 7:23, … but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

2. Pride – Self-Rule Without God

Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Judges 17:6, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

3. Lawlessness – Rejecting All Authority

1 John 3:4, Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

2 Peter 2:10, This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings…

4. Anything that Masters Over You

2 Peter 2:19, They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

Romans 6:16, Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

How to Govern Yourself

1. Stop Hiding - Face What You’ve Done

Genesis 4:9-10, Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 

• “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but by confessing the truth.”

- Augustine of Hippo

2. Accept the Full Weight of Responsibility – No More Blame-Shifting

Genesis 4:10, The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

• “The first step to forgiveness is taking full responsibility for what you did without blaming anyone else for your choice.”

- Lewis Smedes

3. Receive the Mark of Grace – Move Forward Under God’s Protection, not Perfection

Genesis 4:15, But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

• "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

- C. S. Lewis

In Case You Missed It …

Answers:  

1. Flesh
2. Pride
3. Lawlessness
4. Masters
5. Hiding
6. Responsibility 
7. Forward