~ GODS SOVEREIGNTY DIRECTS MANS STEPS.. ~ The Apostle Paul does not hesitate that Gods creatures move and have their being in God. Compare Daniel 5:23- ...But the God in whose hand are your life breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.. This was about Belshazzar not humbling his heart before God.. He was exalting himself against the Lord of heaven. In Prov 16:1 it states: The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Man can plan, dream and hope, but the final outcome is from the Lord. So who is the first mover in the work of conversion? Can man prepare his own heart for the *grace* of God? The Lord takes the stone out of the heart so that it may *feel*.. The Lord draws the heart so that it may *follow*.. And in essence the Lord gives *life* to the heart, creating in him a heart of flesh. The Lord opens the heart that He may seal it with His own Spirit and mold it in His own image.. This work begins with God... Prov 16:9 - A mans heart devises his way but the Lord directs his steps. As rational beings we think, consult and act freely... We are however dependent beings and the Lord exercises His own power in permitting, overruling, or furthering our actions... Man proposes but God disposes.. God orders our will without infringing on our liberty or stopping us from being responsible creatures. Prov 19:21 - There are many devices in a mans heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Remember the Rich Fool had gathered much fruit and had no place to store them..all he thought about was increasing his riches..I will..I will..I will.. And he said,This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I store all my fruits and goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; at my ease I will eat,drink and be merry..LK 12:16-21 And what did the God of heaven say to him? You fool,this night your soul will be required of you.. It is useless to attempt to fight against God. Our freedom does not interfere with His secret purpose. We must be careful that we do not miss Gods *declared* will as His providence chooses our lot... The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Pov 16:33 When kingdoms are tossed up and down like a tennis ball, not one event can fly out of the bounds of Gods providence.. (Polhill) An example of Gods *declared will* is Jonah.. Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh to tell them to repent of their evil deeds, lest God destroy them... God said: Arise, go to Nineveh.. Jonah 1:2 Jonah despised Nineveh and did not want to go so he fled by ship to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.. Did Jonahs will surpass Gods will? NO. God created a storm so that he was thrown overboard and prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah up... Out of the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed and repented to God.. I called out of my distress to the Lord and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol,and You heard my voice. Jonah 2:2 So God had the fish spew out Jonah on the ground.. Now the word of the Lord came a second time to Jonah saying, arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.. Jonah 3:2 Jonah acknowledged Gods sovereignty and submitted to it... Jonah 2:1-9 In creation Gods sovereignty is seen as well... When I said, this far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop. Job 38:11 The Lord emphasizes His control of the sea and its proud waves.These forces were considered down through the ages to be chaotic and threatening.... But God had put a divinely set limit on these proud waves... Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt, To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man. Job 38:25-26 Read further on His Creation in Job Chapters 38 and 39... The Scriptures are replete on the Attributes of God...Sovereignty being one of them... Dear Friends, the eye of faith looks to a Throne that is unaffected by the storms of earth. It is a Throne that is set, stable and secure... Upon it is seated the ONE whose name is the Almighty, and who works all things after the counsel of His will Eph1:11 This is our confidence- God is on the Throne... The helm is in His hands.. And His purpose cannot fail... **********************************.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 23:57:09 +0000
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