SOVEREIGNTY WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH US ABOUT GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY? BIBLE READING: Ezra 6:1-18 KEY BIBLE VERSE: The Jewish leaders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia. (Ezra 6:14) EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL HUMAN RULERS ARE CONTROLLED BY GOD. Ezra carefully pointed out that rebuilding the temple was commanded first by God and then by the kings, who were his instruments. How ironic and wonderful that God’s work was carried on by the discovery of a lost paragraph in a pagan library. All the opposition of powerful forces was stopped by a clause in a legal document. God’s will is supreme over all rulers, all historical events, and all hostile forces. He can deliver us in ways we can’t imagine. If we trust in his power and love, no opposition can stop us. BIBLE READING: Job 36:22-33 KEY BIBLE VERSE: Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number. (Job 36:26) GOD IS GREATER THAN WE CAN UNDERSTAND. One theme in the poetic literature of the Bible is that God is incomprehensible; we cannot know him completely. We can have some knowledge about him, for the Bible is full of details about who God is, how we can know him, and how we can have an eternal relationship with him. But we can never know enough to answer all of life’s questions (Ecclesiastes 3:11), to predict our own future, or to manipulate God for our own ends. Life always creates more questions than we have answers, and we must constantly go to God for fresh insights into life’s dilemmas. BIBLE READING: Job 37:1-24 KEY BIBLE VERSE: We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, yet he is so just and merciful that he does not oppress us. (Job 37:23) GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IS COMPLETELY AWE INSPIRING. Nothing can compare to God. His power and presence are awesome, and when he speaks, we must listen. Too often we presume to speak for God (as did Job’s friends), to put words in his mouth, to take him for granted, or to interpret his silence to mean that he is absent or unconcerned. But God cares. He is in control, and he will speak. Be ready to hear his message-in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances and relationships. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IS ABSOLUTE. Elihu stressed God’s sovereignty over all of nature as a reminder of his sovereignty over our life. God is in control-he directs, preserves, and maintains his created order. Although we can’t see it, God is divinely governing the moral and political affairs of people as well. By spending time observing the majestic and intricate parts of God’s creation, we can be reminded of his power in every aspect of our life. BIBLE READING: Job 38:1-41 KEY BIBLE VERSE: The LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. (Job 38:1) GOD IS NOT REQUIRED TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO US. Out of a mighty storm, God spoke. Surprisingly, he didn’t answer any of Job’s questions; Job’s questions were not at the heart of the issue. Instead, God used Job’s ignorance of the earth’s natural order to reveal his ignorance of God’s moral order. If Job did not understand the workings of God’s physical creation, how could he possibly understand God’s mind and character? There is no standard or criterion higher than God himself by which to judge. God himself is the standard. Our only option is to submit to his authority and rest in his care. BIBLE READING: Romans 8:28-39 KEY BIBLE VERSE: I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) GOD’S SOVEREIGN LOVE EXTENDS TO EVERY PART OF OUR LIFE. Some believe these verses mean that before the beginning of the world, God chose certain people to receive his gift of salvation. They point to verses like Ephesians 1:11 that says God “chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.” Others believe that God foreknew those who would respond to him and upon those he set his mark (predestined). What is clear is that God’s purpose for people was not an afterthought; it was settled before the foundation of the world. People are to serve and honor God. If you have believed in Christ, you can rejoice in the fact that God has always known you. God’s love is eternal. His wisdom and power are supreme. He will guide and protect you until you one day stand in his presence. God Save the World, Inc.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:45:03 +0000
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